Politics

Why Some Top APC Stakeholders May Not Work For Tinubu’s Candidacy

Published

3 years ago

October 2, 2022

There are feelers that some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are one way or the other unhappy with the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may either sit on the fence or work against him in the 2023 election.

Some stakeholders of the party fell out with the former Lagos State Governor after he clinched the APC presidential ticket during the June 8, 2022, primary elections.

Recall that prior to the party’s national convention, which produced Asiwaju as APC flagbearer, National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu had announced Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as APC consensus presidential candidate.

The move was, however, swiftly antagonized by some governors and party members believed to be loyal to Asiwaju who insisted on a Southern presidency.

Similarly, some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, kicked against the move and insisted that other Presidential aspirants, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Engr. David Umahi and Rotimi Amaechi must be allowed to contest the primary election.

Tinubu, who was finally declared winner of the indirect primary election, told Ahmad Lawan during his victory speech at the Eagles Square, Abuja that the lawmaker can now lick his wounds.

According to him, “I’m a little agitated that you contested against me, but thank you, you can now lick your wounds.”

Tinubu scored 1,271 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Rotimi Amaechi, who polled 316.

An APC chieftain, Dr. Martins Apeh, who spoke with DAILY POST in Abuja on Saturday, claimed that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo actually rejected the offer to be included in the recently released APC Presidential Campaign Council.

According to him, the vice president and the former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi have no confidence in Tinubu’s candidacy and would distance themselves from the campaign.

He said, “You see, Osinbajo believes in the New Nigeria Project, he doesn’t believe in the old politicians who may not have anything to offer to Nigerians but only see power as property that can be acquired.

“When Osinbajo lost the primary election, he stated clearly that his dream to support a New Nigeria has not changed. That should send a message to you and other Nigerians. Don’t be surprised if the VP makes a big announcement to support a candidate of another party”.

On the former Rivers State governor, Martins opined that “Amaechi is still very angry with the party on what played out during the APC primary. It was a shock to him and other Nigerians.”

He said Amaechi, Osinbajo and Lawal “may work for the presidential candidate of another party”, stating that those who want the country to work again will not jeopardize another four years in the “hands of people they don’t believe can deliver”.

It would be recalled that there was an indication that the immediate past minister of Transport, Amaechi, may not accept his appointment as the Special Adviser on Infrastructure of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

Recall that Amaechi had in July 25 said in Port Harcourt that the delegates who voted Tinubu during the APC presidential primary were regretting their decision.

According to Amaechi: “Those who voted at the APC primaries, who are they? They are ordinary Nigerians. The small money they got solved their immediate problem, now they are saying they made a mistake, you are now hearing different things.”

Another chieftain of the party, Mr Patrick Okwori, who spoke with our correspondent, alleged that the cabals in the presidency were not happy that Tinubu clinched the party’s ticket.

“Even some of us that are trying hard to push our party even to the grassroot levels, we are doing it not because of any candidate but because it is our party and the party must work.

“We have several stakeholders who are not happy that the party is fielding Muslim-Muslim ticket. If either Amaechi of Osinbajo had won the primary, the campaign would have been very easy because they are Christians and getting a Muslim northerner would have been a simple thing”, he added.

DAILY POST

Politics

Ijaw Leaders Commend Gov Diri Defection to APC, Describe Decision As Bold, Strategic

Published

59 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Editor

The Ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum (ILCF) has commended Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by the Convener, Hendrick Opukeme, the ILCF described the governor’s move as a “strategic and a “bold declaration of statesmanship”.

The group noted that Governor Diri’s decision has repositioned the Ijaw voice within the national equation, rekindled hope, relevance, and responsibility for the Ijaw people across the Niger Delta and beyond.

The ILCF pledged its unwavering support and collaborative commitment to ensure that the transition becomes a redefinition of Ijaw destiny in the Nigerian project.

The statement reads, “The Ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum (ILCF), on behalf of the elders, stakeholders, and traditional leadership across the length and breadth of the Ijaw nation, conveys its heartfelt solidarity, commendation, and national applause on your courageous and strategic decisions to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Your Excellency, this historic political realignment is not merely a matter of partisan affiliation — it is a strategic national statement, a bold declaration of statesmanship, and a clear assertion of Ijaw political maturity in the unfolding
dynamics of Nigeria’s democracy. By this act, you have repositioned the Ijaw voice within the larger national equation and rekindled a sense of renewed hope,
relevance, and responsibility for our people across the Niger Delta and beyond.

“Your decision resonates deeply with the Ijaw consciousness — that of courage in conviction, resilience in adversity, and foresight in leadership. It has sent a message
of awakening and unity throughout the three zones of the Ijaw nation: Western, Central, and Eastern Ijaw.

“The Stakeholders meeting was coordinated by the Hon. Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Bayelsa state government, HRM, God’spower Tam Oporomo, Tara Eza 1st, Pere of Kierebiri – Mein, Bomadi LGA Delta State
At the enlarged stakeholders’ political consultative meeting convened by the Executive Committee of the Ijaw Leaders Consultative Forum (ILCF) on Saturday, November 3, 2025, at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, leaders, youths, women, and opinion moulders from all three zones of the Ijaw nation were in massive attendance.

“The collective resolution of that meeting was an overwhelming
endorsement of your political movement and an expression of total solidarity with your visionary step toward national integration and transformative partnership.

“Your Excellency, this move, properly consolidated, will reposition Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation at the heart of Nigeria’s developmental agenda. We see in your action the dawn of a new political synergy that transcends rhetoric — a synergy of purpose, unity, and strategic engagement with the centre.

“The ILCF, therefore, pledges its unwavering support and collaborative commitment to ensure that this transition becomes not just a change of party, but a redefinition of Ijaw destiny in the Nigerian project. We call on all Ijaw sons and
daughters, at home and in the diaspora, to rally around your leadership and align with this evolving national movement anchored on inclusion, justice,

“May the Almighty continue to guide and strengthen you as you lead our people with wisdom, courage, and divine purpose.With profound respect and patriotic regards”, the group added.

Meanwhile, the governor’s defection to APC was celebrated at a grand ceremony in Yenagoa, attended by top government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other governors. Governor Diri stated that his decision was not driven by personal ambition but by the desire to advance Bayelsa’s unity and development.

The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, urged Governor Diri to deliver Bayelsa State to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, saying, “Take this as a symbol of strength, symbol of unity, unite our party, make it stronger and bring all the votes”.

Politics

Trump’s Threat: You’re Responsible For Nigeria’s Rising Insecurity – ADC Slams Tinubu

Published

12 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has blasted President Bola Tinubu, blaming him for the escalating insecurity in Nigeria and the tagging of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Monday, the ADC said the action by Trump again highlights the urgency and scale of Nigeria’s security collapse.

The party said that the US President’s designation underlines the global expectation that governments must protect the lives of citizens living within their borders.

“We are guided by the painful reality that what is really at stake on this issue are the thousands of human lives that have been lost to insecurity in Nigeria, irrespective of their tribe, religion, or region.

“The statement by President Trump reminds us of the greater global concern about the sanctity of human life, and the cardinal responsibility of national governments to protect the lives of people who live within their borders.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” he stated.

Beyond the security failures, the ADC decried Nigeria’s weakened international standing, linking it to what it called the administration’s diplomatic negligence.

It questioned the continued absence of ambassadors in key countries more than two years into the government’s term, asking: “How can a government that has been boasting of unprecedented revenue success continue to give lack of funds as an excuse for not appointing ambassadors?”

“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria has declined both as a continental and a regional leader.”

Politics

How Obama Plotted My 2015 Election Defeat – Jonathan

Published

12 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has alleged that ex-US President, Barack Obama, plotted his defeat in 2015.

Jonathan made this allegation in his new book, ‘My Transition Hours’ due to launch on Tuesday.

He said Obama displayed an unusual level of bias during the 2015 elections, describing him as overbearing and ‘condescending’ in his message to Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general election.

According to Jonathan, “On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians all but telling them how to vote.”

Giving the details in the book, Jonathan said, “In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.

“Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government.”

According to Premium Times, which obtained a copy of the book hours before its unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan had kept the book secret in order to avoid excerpts of it being published ahead of its formal launch.

Recall that Jonathan lost the 2015 elections to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, marking the first time an incumbent president would lose reelection.

He assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, getting his own mandate of four years at the 2011 presidential election.

“The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them,” Jonathan said of the video message.

He lampooned Obama, who was American president from 2009 until 2017, for saying all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear, but was reluctant to allow the Nigerian security forces drive Boko Haram insurgents away from the Nigerian territories they had been occupying in order to free Nigerian citizens there ahead of elections.

Jonathan also took a harsh aim at former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying the diplomat was nonchalant in his attitude towards his government, despite all efforts to make him understand that the decision to postpone election was in the overall interest of Nigeria.

“How can the U.S. Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigeria’s own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the North East and were killing and maiming Nigerians?

“Not even the assurance of the sanctity of May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the Constitution is very clear: No President can extend his tenure by one day,” Jonathan said.