Politics

Two Injured As Tinubu Arrives Abuja Rally Late

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2023

Editor

Supporters at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

No fewer than two persons were reported injured at Eagle Square, venue of the rally of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

The first victim was a middle aged woman who fell while leaving her seat in the stand to greet a friend.

An official of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, who craved anonymity, told our reporter that she was brought to their ambulance bleeding through her nose and was treated.

“She did not sustain any serious injury. We treated her and allowed her to go after we ascertained she was alright,” he said.

The second victim allegedly sustained a fracture while scrambling for a plate of food at the venue.

After administering first aid on him, the FCT emergency rescue team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said they were shocked to hear him and other grassroots supporters, saying they would seek alternative treatment for the fracture.

The coordinator of the NSCDC rescue officials expressed shock when she said, “I have not seen this kind of thing before. He and his other friends just put up a show and said they won’t allow him to go with the ambulance.”

Meanwhile, the look of despair and fatigue on the faces of anxious supporters at Eagle Square was a summary of the rally in Abuja where Tinubu did not turn up at the venue until 7.25pm, after over five hours into the campaign.

The APC candidate arrived the venue in the company of his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the APC candidate was slated to feature in two political rallies in both Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday.

In a phone chat with The PUNCH , the Chief Spokesman of the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, told our correspondent that while the Kebbi rally was expected to begin from 11.00am to 1.00pm, the Abuja campaign would commence from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.

However, as of 7.00pm, clearly five hours past the commencement time, the poster boy of the APC had not arrived the venue.

Sources told our reporter that the former Lagos State governor left his campaign ground in Kebbi late and might not arrive on time for the FCT rally.

Prior to his arrival, the disc jockeys and comperes did their best to engage and entertain the supporters at the carnival-like rally in vain.

Despite screaming into the microphone at intervals that “the presidential candidate is on his way” a number of supporters were strolling out of the venue disappointed.

Policemen, immigration officers, private security guards were seen mounting guards at major entrances to the campaign ground.

A horde of support groups wearing colourful ‘Aso Ebi’, T-shirts and caps customised with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ marched and danced around waving banners carrying his campaign picture and other APC candidates vying for other positions at the 2023 election.

Petty food and drinks vendors were also spotted making brisk business while the wait for the party presidential candidate continues.

Among some notable dignitaries at the venue were Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi; wife of the APC vice presidential candidate, Hajia Nana Shettima; Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission Board, Lauretta Onochie; spouse of the Governor of Borno, Dr Falmata Zulum; Minister of State for the FCT, Ramatu Tijanni; Secretary of the APC and other members of the APC PCC

Also in attendance were Nollywood artistes such as Saidi Balogun, James Faleke, Abimbola Akintola and Zack Orji

Gbajabiamila himself arrived at the Eagle Square venue at exactly 5.50pm, about four hours late.

Politics

BREAKING: 17 ADC Reps Follow Join NDC

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

About 17 African Democratic Congress, ADC, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

This was disclosed by Speaker Abass Tajudeen on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

Tajudeen also announced the defection of Leke Abejide from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Lawmakers who defected to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.

Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene and Abdulhakeem Ado.

This comes barely a day after former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso defected from the ADC to the NDC.

Obi and Kwankwaso have pledged to continue their pursuit for a better Nigeria in the NDC.

Politics

JUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given reasons why he resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a long post on X on Monday, Obi insisted it was not out of anger or ambition.

Rather, he said the move is a continuation of the quest to build a new Nigeria.

Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I formally joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside my dear brother, Engr. Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian.

“As I stated yesterday, this decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading.

“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my conviction that politics should never be about individuals, positions, or personal gain. It must be about the people, especially the millions of Nigerians who today can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, whose children are losing hope, and whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain.

“I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process. I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother YE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.

“As we join the NDC, I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties. Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer.

“Nigeria today is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Poverty is rising. Hunger is widespread. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion.

“Our decision to join the NDC is therefore not an abandonment of values, but a continuation of the same mission we have always stood for: building a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where public resources are managed responsibly, where institutions function independently, and where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, region, or social status, can live with dignity, security, and hope.

“I remain committed to working with all Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation.

“I thank Nigerians, especially our youths and women, for remaining peaceful, resilient, and hopeful despite the enormous challenges confronting the country. I urge you not to lose faith in Nigeria. Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.”

Politics

Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Join NDC, Warn Members Against Litigation

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned party members to steer clear of any form of litigation that can plunge the party into chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday after he was formally joined the party alongside the former governor of Kano State,

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), urged members to embrace dialogue in the interest of the party

“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers,” he pleaded.

The two political figures were received into the opposition party on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, Obi had announced his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso had indicated he was engaged in “wide-ranging consultations” with the NDC.

The National Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, presented membership cards to both leaders at the event.

Speaking afterwards, Kwankwaso said their engagement with NDC stakeholders was driven by a shared vision and ideological alignment.

“We came to discuss with stakeholders of the party and found that our ideologies and beliefs are largely the same,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to register with the NDC ahead of the deadline for party membership registration, stressing the need for broader participation in the political process.