News / politics

2023: I’ll never drop presidential ambition – Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor-Kalu, has said that he did not drop his 2023 presidential ambition, as reported by some sections of the media.

He said he would contest the presidential ticket of the All Progressive Congress if the party zoned it to the South-East.

Kalu, who cleared the air over a statement he released on Tuesday, maintained that equity demanded that the South East should be supported to get the presidential ticket of the APC.

He said, “My stand is very clear, I didn’t drop my presidential ambition and I will never drop it. “I only urged our brothers from the South-South and South-West geo-political zones who came out en masse to contest for the office of the president to drop their ambition and support us because of equity.…

News / politics

Breaking: Finally, Osinbajo declares for 2023 presidential race + Video

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has finally declared his intention to stand for the 2023 presidential election.

The declaration, in the early hours of Monday, comes after several months of waiting by Nigerians for Osinbajo.

He made the declaration via his Twitter handle at about 7am on Monday.

This came a few hours after he met Governors elected on the platform of the APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday. He broke the Ramadan fast with the Governors.

Among those in attendance were the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Others included Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

In a tweet accompanied by a video of four minutes 40 seconds, Osinbajo said: “I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.

“At the direction of Mr. President, I have represented our country in several international engagements.

“I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms.

“I have visited our gallant troops in the North-East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps.”

…

News / politics

2023: Why PDP chairmanship won’t determine zoning of presidency – Obi

The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 elections, Peter Obi, has adduced reasons whey the zone from which the party’s National Chairman comes may not determine the zone that will produce its presidential candidate.

The Eagle Online recalls that the party has scheduled its National Convention to elect a National Chairman for October 30, 2021.

Obi, who spoke on Arise TV on Monday over speculations that if the chairmanship of the party goes to the South, the zone would not be given the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate in 2023, said things would be different.

He said: “I cannot speak on what the zoning committee is going to do, but let me assure you that even in the discussions that we have had in various meetings, I do not see the zoning of the chairmanship as a determinant that the other zone would produce the presidential candidate.

“Everybody today knows that things are not what they should be in Nigeria and we have to get it right in 2023.

“If we get it wrong in 2023, it would be very bad for the country.

“So, we have to get it right.

“We must look for competence and someone who has capacity in the knowledge of what it means to serve or lead this country.

“We are on the wrong road and we cannot continue this journey on this road.

“So, if the chairman comes from one zone, it would not stop people from the other zone from contesting.

“We are dealing with something that can be moved from one zone to the other.

“I can tell you that 2023 would be totally different because everybody is struggling to make sure that we do not get it wrong.

“I cannot determine where the zoning would go but we would wait and see, then we would look into it.

“In the event that the PDP zones to the North, I cannot speak for any state in the South East on how they would vote, but I …

News / politics

2023: Tinubu won’t be president, polls may be postponed — Primate Ayodele

The Founder of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has spoken on what to expect of the 2023 polls in the country.

Ayodele spoke during the presentation of the 2021/2022 edition of his book of prophesy: “Warnings to the Nations.”

The book is a compendium of prophecies for countries of the world, with special focus on Nigeria.

On the 2023 general election, Primate Ayodele dismissed the threat that there would be no polls, adding that it could, however, be moved forward.

“Nobody is going to stop the election.

“Though the date of the election might be shifted, but there will be elections.”

On the presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Servant of God ruled out the chances of his taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: “Tinubu taking over this country from Buhari is going to be another disaster.

“The best Tinubu should do for himself is to keep away from politics now.

“Tinubu cannot become the president of this country.

“APC will not even give him the chance.”

Primate Ayodele also spoke of more problems ahead for the Peoples Democratic Party, adding that two more governors would desert the party for the ruling party to worsen the crisis rocking the party.

He said: “If the elections were to hold today, APC would definitely lose out, but the question is: does PDP have the right candidate for the election now?

“Nigerians are definitely tired of the APC, but the PDP does not have anybody.

“It’s only if the PDP can present a credible person.

“Mark my words.

“(Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar) Malami factor will decide a lot of things in APC.

“Likewise in PDP, (Aminu) Tambuwal, (Abubakar Bukola) Saraki, (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and (Nyesom) Wike will determine a lot of things in PDP.

“PDP will have a lot of problems because of the plot to remove (National Chairman of the PDP, Uche) Secondus.”…

News / politics

PDP will bring desired change in 2023 Bayelsa Governor Claims

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the Peoples Democratic Party will in 2023 bring about the desired change Nigerians are yearning for.

Diri also advocated the strengthening of the party at all levels in order to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre in the 2023 general elections.

In a statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor noted that the PDP was the only reliable alternative party that could provide purposeful leadership at this point in time.

Diri, who decried the worsening insecurity in the country, said it behoved on the PDP to rescue the nation.

His words: “Nigeria is ripe enough for change. We have experienced the change that the APC brought and now it is time to change the change.

“PDP is the only veritable and reliable alternative party for now. So, you and I have been given the mandate to rescue this nation. We have the best times to bounce back to the national scene.

“Our appeal is that the APC should allow the people to determine who becomes their president in 2023. We don’t want Nigeria to go down.”

Diri also cautioned that the party and country’s interests should be placed above personal considerations in the choice of a presidential candidate, noting that political power should be utilised to positively impact lives as it was ephemeral.

On the proposed use of electronic registration of party members, he urged the zonal leadership to prevail on the national leadership to kick-start the process.

While commending the zonal leadership for its role in getting Edo back into the PDP fold, Diri said South South would remain a stronghold of the party.

While highlighting some of key projects being undertaken by his administration, particularly in the area of road infrastructure in the last one year, he assured the people that they would be ready for inauguration next February.

The projects include the construction of the Yenagoa-Oporoma and Sagbama-Ekeremor senatorial roads.

The construction of a media complex to accommodate the …