Politics Archives - Page 40 of 87

Ekiti Governorship Election: INEC Declares APC’s Oyebanji Winner

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abiodun Oyebanji as the winner of the governorship election in Ekiti State.

Oyebanji who won 15 out of the 16 Local Government Areas of the state gathered 187,057 votes.

The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Segun Oni came second with 82,211, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bisi Kolawole gathered 67,457 votes.

The returning officer for the election, Professor Kayode Oyebode at 3:04 am on Sunday declared Oyebanji winner of the governorship election.

A total of 16 candidates partook in the election. The total valid votes in the election were 351,865, void votes, 8,888 and total votes cast, 360,753.

See the final result below:

A: 166
AAC: 409
ADC: 5,597
ADP: 3,495
APC: 187,057
APGA: 376
APM: 290
APP: 1,980
LP: 195
NNPP: 529
NRM:347
PDP: 67,457
PRP: 856
SDP: 82,211
YPP: 618
ZLP: 282

Kwankwaso Hints Nigerians on 2023 Collaboration talks with Peter Obi

NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he is in talks with his Labor Party counterpart Peter Obi over the possibility of co-operation in the 2023 elections.

He made the remarks in an interview with BBC Hausa.

He said: “We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it. ”

The former governor of Kano State said their collaboration was especially important as the APC and PDP had not fielded an Igbo vice-presidential candidate.

Obi and Kwankwaso’s collaboration is widely seen as a strong ‘third force’ against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

More to come..

BREAKING: Labour Party unveils Doyin Okupe as Peter Obi’s Running Mate

The Labour Party has submitted the name of Nigerian physcian cum politician, Doyin Okupe as Peter Obi’s running mate.

To beat the Friday, June 17 deadline given to political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Labour Party submitted Doyin Okupe name as a placeholder running mate and would later be changed after the party stakeholders must have agreed on the suitable vice presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

JUST IN: Kogi Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Mohammed Impeached

The Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed has been impeached.
It was gathered that Mohammed who represents Akpa 1 State Constituency was impeached during an emergency sitting held at the State Assembly complex in Lokoja.

Hon. Enema Paul, the member representing Dekina/Okura Constituency made this known in a motion of urgent importance reason the floor of the assembly.

The assembly accused Muhammed alongside 3 other principal officers of gross misconduct and arbitrary use of their offices. The three principal leaders are; Bello Hassan Balogun (Majority Leader), Idris Ndako (Deputy Majority Leader), and Hon. Edoko Moses Ododo (Chief Whip).

Wike’s Camp Fumes As Atiku Picks Okowa Running Mate

The camp of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has condemned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar for picking the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Naija News had earlier reported that the former Vice President on Thursday announced Okowa as his running mate at the National Secretariat of the party.

The loyalists of Governor Wike who stated that it was the right of Atiku to pick his running, condemned him for not following the decision of a committee set up to pick the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.

The Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike in an interview with Punch said, “There is a local proverb in my village that says nobody will tell a man that eats yam to go and drink water.

“If you are eating yam, you must look for water to drink because if you eat yam without drinking water, it will choke you.”

“If he kept to his words like he said to go with the party’s overwhelming choice, then he would have respected the decision of the panel, the party’s national chairman and his team set up.”

According to Nwanosike, the Rivers State Governor was nominated by all stakeholders of the party as Atiku’s running mate.

Nwanosike when asked if the decision of Atiku would not affect his presidential ambition, he said, “He has made his calculations. And since he has made his calculations, he (Atiku) will live with the result. He will see out of his calculations. It is not the first time he has been the candidate of the party.

“He was the candidate of the party in 2019. He knows what the result was. Now he has made a decision. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait for the decision of the electorate. Right now, it is no longer in the hands of Dr Iyorcha Ayu and his team. It is now in the hands of the electorate.”

A former member of the House of Representatives representing Etche-Omuma Constituency, Ogbonna Nwuke on his part said Governor Wike would speak at the appropriate time.

Nwuke further stated that Atiku did not reject Wike, but he rejected Rivers State.

Nwuke said, “I believe that our leader will speak at the appropriate time. We are members and whatever decision he makes will be okay by us because he is the one wearing the shoe now. I think it is not Governor Wike that Atiku rejected; it is Rivers State he rejected.”

Senate Moves To Establish Another Varsity In Kano

A bill seeking the establishment of a Federal University of Education (Technical) in Bichi, Kano State was read the second time yesterday on the floor of the Senate.

Naija News understands that the bill was instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Kano North, Jibrin Barau.

At the plenary yesterday, the lawmaker maintained that there was a need to have a strong system in the educational sector with the establishment of more institutions for the training of teachers.

Narrating the objectives of the proposed Federal University of Education in Bichi, Barau said it was to encourage the advancement of learning to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction.

He added: “To develop and offer academic, technical, and professional programmes leading to the award of certificates, first degrees, post-graduate research, diploma, and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, developmental and adaptive skills in Education.

“To produce socially mature educational men and women with capabilities not to only understand the educational and technological needs of Nigeria as a nation, but also to exploit existing Educational infrastructure and improve on them to develop new ones, and;

“To bring quality change in Technical Education by focusing on teacher education, through teaching and learning innovations.”

Barau again charged the Red Chamber members to consider the bill, noting that its enactment will go a long way in transforming the decayed educational infrastructure in Nigeria and change the educational fortunes of the country for the better.

“It will also provide a balanced educational development in Kano State and indeed, the entire country,” he said.

Naija News understands that lawmakers responded positively to the bill and gave it overwhelming passage for the second reading when put to voice votes by the Senate Ahmad Lawan.

It was sent to Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND for more legislative input.

APC Reportedly Picks NorthWest Governor As Bola Tinubu’s Running Mate

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has reportedly been chosen as the running mate of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement to newsmen issued by the Director-General of Ganduje’s Support Group, Suleiman Magaji.

According to the statement, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC picked Ganduje to run alongside Tinubu in the 2023 general election based on his loyalty to the ruling party, commitment and infrastructural development of his state.

The group admitted that the issue of religion was extensively discussed during the selection.

However, they stated that Nigerians are more interested in developmental stride rather than religious affairs.

Ganduje’s support group praised the APC NWC for picking the Kano State Governor for the vice-presidential ticket.

They urged APC members both in Nigeria and in diaspora to support the Tinubu/Ganduje ticket to emerge victorious in 2023.

“It is time we close ranks to ensure victory for all our candidates from the ward levels to the presidency,” Daily Post quoted group as saying.

PDP Distances Self From Wike’s Emergence As Atiku’s Running Mate

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has distanced itself from reports that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has been chosen to be Atiku’s running mate.

The party insisted that robust discussion among stakeholders will continue until the right person is chosen to create a winning ticket.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, was refuting reports of Wike’s emergence on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking on Arise News.

Ologunagbe said, “We have a process as a party, because we are organic. We follow through the processes. We recognize the importance of participatory democracy, ensuring that every stakeholder and organ of the party is involved in our decision-making process,”

He explained that, “This is the beginning of the process, consideration and advisory body need to get to the level where, in consultation with the presidential candidate, they will deliberate on who is most suitable.

“That process is ongoing, so any report of a particular candidate at this point is probably premature,” he said.

According to him, the National Working Committee of the party will be meeting today (Wednesday) at 11 am, to provide further input.

He said, “We do our things in processes, the process doesn’t just come like you press a computer and get an answer. We follow the process, because human elements are involved, with interests and concerns. We have considered all interests of the country, particularly in terms of unity and capacity,” he said.

On Tuesday, various reports emerged that Wike had been chosen from the committee set up by the party and scored 13 out of 17 to emerge as the running mate.

This was as the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, had said the party’s running mate would be announced by Thursday, a day ahead of the closing date as set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Peter Obi To Critics: My Trip To Egypt Was Scheduled Before Party Primaries

Presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has defended his trip to Egypt, stating that the 3-day tour was already planned before the presidential primaries for political parties began.

He said it was good to learn firsthand about how an African country like Egygt boosted its electricity generation capacity within 4 years.

Obi’s reaction on Wednesday through Doyin Okupe, Director General of his Campaign Organisation, is against the backdrop of reactions to his trip when it was announced on Tuesday.

Obi had tweeted, “I just departed for Egypt on a 3-day visit as part of my detailed study of comparable countries to Nigeria. In Egypt, I am expected to understudy, among others, the Egyptian Power Sector, Education, Planning and Finance Sectors. –PO”

But presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, activist Aisha Yesufu, among others, have criticized the trip.

They tweeted that Obi’s trip was insensitive and proof that he is unprepared to govern the country whose general election is few months close.

But Okupe insisted on Wednesday that Obi’s tour was a good one for the country’s energy sector.

He stated via his Facebook page : “Peter Obi’s trip has been scheduled previously, even before primaries. His mission principally is to see the plants installed by Siemens, which doubled the generating capacity of Egypt in 4years. To hold talks directly with the company on what will be feasible for Nigeria and at what cost?”

Ekiti rally: Fayemi Officially Labels Governor Abiodun as ‘Eleyi of Ogun State’

Supporters and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress were treated to a hilarious session when the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, officially referred to Governor Dapo Abiodun as the ‘Eleyi of Ogun State.’

This was even as the party’s presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, labelled Oyebanji as the ‘Emi Lokan of Ekiti’ who would perform beyond the expectation of his people.

The banter took place at a political rally where the Ekiti governorship candidate of the APC, Biodun Olabanji, was unveiled to the electorate ahead of the June 18 election.

After Fayemi’s hilarious jab, a blushing Abiodun was seen giggling as party leaders patted him on the back in a jovial manner.

Tinubu had on June 3 set the social media on fire when he vented his frustration during a presidential campaign in Abeokuta, saying it was through his efforts that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), made it to Aso Rock after failing thrice.

He also pointed at Abiodun whom he described as ‘Eleyi’ absentmindedly as one of the products of his political hard work.

“Look at this one (Eleyi) seated behind me, Dapo, he wouldn’t have become governor without my support,” Tinubu had stated.

Tinubu made the statement while addressing the APC delegates in Ogun State.

His outburst evoked mixed feelings from Nigerians, with many loyalists of the party including the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, saying the remarks were meant to slight the president and Ogun State governor.

24 hours after the drama, the Bola Tinubu Media Campaign Team dismissed insinuations that the presidential candidate disrespected the Ogun State governor.

The Director of the BAT campaign team, Bayo Onanuga, said that the comment was “mischievously interpreted.”