By Precious Akutamadu

The Rabiu Kwankwaso Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), says its presidential candidate will defeat its nearest rivals by no less than three million votes at the Feb. 25 polls.

The PCC made this known on Monday in a statement by Chief Precious Elekima, Coordinator, South-South and member of Kwankwaso’s PCC management team.

According to the Council, Rabiu Kwankwaso will convincingly win the forthcoming presidential election to prove that Nigerians can elect very competent and vibrant leaders.

The Kwankwaso group also said that it was not true that it would collapse its political structures to accommodate the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

The council said that Atiku would rather “collapse his structure and join Sen. Kwakwanso Presidential campaign team at an event scheduled for Feb. 22, 2023, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel”.

”His supporters are expected to be compensated with some good positions in government, but not himself Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential candidate, for obvious reasons.

“We are putting everything to ensure that we don’t carry baggage that may rob the Kwakwanso government of trust,” it stated.

The statement also appealed to ”the good people of Nigeria to come en masse and vote for a man known for his trust and integrity which will save Nigeria”.

Elekima also expressed the Kwankwaso team’s appreciation to “all those who have been calling to authenticate the false statements”.

He also advised members of the media “to verify all stories before publishing because falsehood spreads like a virus”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Vincent Obi

By Kingsley Okoye

The National Union of Blacksmith and Thinkers Workers of Nigeria (NUBTWN), has endorsed the presidential bid of Sen. Bola Tinubu in the Feb. 25 general elections.

National Secretary of the union, Alhaji Ishaku Kontagorah, announced the endorsement at a forum in Abuja on Monday.

The forum, attended by blacksmiths across the 19 northern states, was organised by project 774, a National Support Group for Tinubu’s presidency.

He said given the current development and support by the current government, the union was endorsing the candidacy of Tinubu for the presidential election.

He said the endorsement would ensure the APC government continued the good work started by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said members of the union, who were blacksmiths and thinkers across the nation, were satisfied with antecedent of Tinubu and his agenda for Nigeria, especially his plan for a bottom up approach of development.

The National Coordinator of Project 774, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, said project 774 was designed to mobilise grassroots support for politics, to positively affect the local people.

According to him, project 774 for Tinubu and Shettima, which is a national grass roots support group, was designed to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu and Shettima.

Abdullahi expressed gratitude to members of the union for making the endorsement possible.

“We believe that the project 774 should be local, it should be bottom up and our hope is to make sure we get to those who are affected with whatever we do in our government.”

He explained he had course to engage with the blacksmiths and thinkers union through his empowerment scheme as Representative of Niger-North in the Senate.

Abdullahi said Nigeria and most part of the north were reputed for agriculture, adding that bulk of the rural populace, who engaged in agriculture, could not do so without the tools produced by the blacksmiths.

“There is no village or market that you go to, that you will not see the blacksmith or the Thinkers.

“This group of people represents a part of our agriculture heritage and this informed their desire to stand with our presidential candidate, Sen. Tinubu.

“He has shown tremendous interest in the development of this nation, and he does that via bottom top development process.”

He said Tinubu had demonstrated his bottom up development approach with what he had done in Lagos State, adding that his running mate, Shettima had also shown knack to bring development from the bottom up approach.

Abdullahi said the group coming to endorse the candidature of Tinubu was significant because they were in every single village and town across Nigeria.

“This group we have here that are also in all the northern Nigeria, is a force that we cannot ignore on any way.

“So I thank you all from the 19 northern states for coming, if Nigeria is to succeed we cannot underrate your role in agriculture.

“This group has the skill to contribute and when they have been upgraded, as we have done in the empowerment scheme I did.

“They have a lot to contribute in developing new tools and supporting farmer’s production capacity with the tools.”

Abdullahi said Tinubu’s presidency would be inclusive and bottom to up.

The union was established in 1987 to improve standard of its production from old method to new technology, to meet the demand of the nation.

The association has more than 4 million members in Nigeria, with experience in production of cutlasses, planting machines, holes, harrowing tools, fertiliser application machines, among other simple implements. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Idris Abdulrahman

By Emmanuel Afonne

Mr Chinedu Onyeizu, the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Abia South, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a free and credible 2023 elections.

Onyeizu expressed his confidence on Monday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“Now, the people have the power of choice because of INEC’s introduction of BVAS system which will ensure that the peoples vote this time will count,” he said.

NAN reports that the race for Abia South Senatorial seat has become hot and interesting, considering the candidates jostling for the position.

The senatorial district parades the most popular candidates for the 2023 senatorial election with incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is poised to contest for a fifth term in office, and incumbent Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

While Ikpeazu is representing the PDP, Abaribe this time, is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), having lost the PDP ticket to Ikpeazu who wants to be a senator after serving two terms as governor.

Onyeizu, however, said that he was optimistic of emerging victorious with the youth population behind him.

“I am a young person, the youth demography makes up over 65 per cent of registered voters and in addition to that, the two major gladiators contesting against me have been tested before and they know they failed us.

“I am talking about the governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, and incumbent Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe. We are to slug it out for the Abia South Senatorial seat and I know I will defeat them on Saturday.

“The time of manipulating votes has gone, so anybody that will vote, should be rest assured that the vote will count; that gives me hope and makes me optimistic.

“So, I urge the people of Abia and Nigerians in general to come out in their numbers on Saturday and queue up and vote for Labour Party all the way.

“And after voting, also make sure you stay back to ensure that your votes are counted and transmitted using the BVAS solution,” Onyeizu said.

According to him, his leadership, if elected, will focus on a seven-point agenda of Energy, Infrastructure, Health, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Education, and Empowerment.

“I will promote bills to eliminate fuel subsidy payment, bring down NNPCL to only regulatory functions as well as accelerate establishment of small local refineries and commercialise natural gas infrastructure development for domestic use.

“I will strive to promote bills that will prioritise high economic impact roads and infrastructure in Nigeria and ensure that the Port Harcourt-Aba road and Ikot-Ekpene federal roads are fixed to enable more local trade transactions.

“We will work closely with the executive to ensure that our Primary Healthcare support sector receives adequate attention.

“For the agricultural sector, we will establish regional cassava and maize processing clusters in the rural parts of our senatorial zone, using some of Abia South’s constituency project funds.

“And for education, I will promote a bill that will grant financial autonomy to tertiary institutions and allowing them to raise funds and generate their own revenue.

“We will also attract two private universities in Obingwa and Ugwunagbo with exchange programmes between the universities and world class tertiary institutions like Harvard University and MIT in the U.S.,” Onyeizu said.

The presidential election as well as the National Assembly elections are expected to hold on Feb. 25 (Saturday). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Kwara NNPP governorship candidate

By Razak Owolabi.

Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Kwara State NNPP governorship candidate, says he will embark on urban and infrastructural renewal, if elected as Governor of the State.

Speaking on his agenda for the people of Kwara during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Oba said he would embark on massive rehabilitation and maintenance of major urban and sub-urban roads.

The NNPP governorship candidate said this would translate to increase in access to parts of the state through construction of strategic roads.

He said feeder roads which would facilitate ease of traffic flow, aiming at economic cost benefit, would also be constructed to link rural areas in the state with urban centres.

“My administration will embark on rehabilitation of bridges, culverts and drainages in anticipation of flooding during the rainy season.

“We will also ensure maintainance of the sanctity of set-backs on major highways to protect lives and create enough room for vehicles without hindrance,” Oba said.

The NNPP governorship candidate who holds the traditional title, Talba of Ilorin, also spoke on local government reform among his agenda.

“We will restore the structures, dignity and efficient operation of the local government authorities within the extant laws.

“This will include holding local government elections within six months from 29th May, 2023,” Oba said.

On security of lives and properties, he said this was a major concern and a very important agenda adding that all citizens have the inalienable right to life and property.

“The onus of supplementing/complementing the Federal Government’s efforts rests on the state goverment to rise up to the incipient challenges of banditry and kidnapping.

“This is by recruiting unarmed volunteer community policing outfits and harmoniding/regulating non-formal votunteer groups,” Oba said.

He reiterated his mission and vision for a better Kwara as creation of a governable environment, piloted by a vibrant economy and underpinned by quality service, equity and justice.

“I believe that our state is in need of a fundamental political reform, which requires honesty, integrity and forthrightness in order to support good governance, so as to make it transparent and accountable to all Kwarans,” Oba added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Angela Atabo

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) says the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. Boils Tinubu will win Saturday’s poll at first ballot.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Dr Danladi Bako, Chairman, Publicity Committee, Sokoto State APC gubernatorial campaign council.

”The Leader of APC and former Governor of the State, Sen. Aliyu Wammako has reaffirmed that Tinubu will not only win the presidential ticket in the state, but will on the first ballot in the Feb. 25 presidential race.

Bako said: ”’Wamakko, who was speaking to newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto commended President Muhammadu Buhari for endorsing Tinubu for president even while out of the country in Addis Ababa.”

He quoted Wamakko as reiterating that Buhari has not only shown his astute leadership qualities but has also boosted the ego of all APC members across the country as we march towards Saturday’s general elections.

”Sen. Wamakko, who is also the APC Senatorial candidate for Sokoto North assured Nigerians that he will not only win his seat but will also ensure that the party wins all tthreehe Senatorial seats in Sokoto as well as majority of the House of Representatives seats.

“He reaffirmed that the Sokoto State Government House will be occupied by the APC by May 29 , 2023,” Bako added.

It will be recalled that APC had a very successful Presidential and Governorship rally in the state last week.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Action Alliance (AA) in Lagos State says Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be defeated with the action plans and strategies the AA party has put in place in the forthcoming March 11 governorship election.

Alhaji Nureni Ayinla-Oniru, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

“Noises and dances on the streets in the name of campaign do not translate into votes. The voters are indoors and those are our target.

“We have our own strategies and we are working on them and they are very sweet and they will give us what we want. We don’t have money but we have our game plan.

“We have plans to defeat Sanwo-Olu. To some people, it is difficult but it is not impossible.

“I can assure you that Action Alliance will win 13 local government areas of Lagos during the polls,” he said.

According to him, the party is concentrating only on the March 11 governorship and house of assembly elections.

He expressed confidence that the party would emerge winners of the governorship election in the state, considering its homework of reaching out to the masses.

On campaign, Ayinla-Oniru said that the party had adopted a campaign strategy different from the usual rallies, to reach the people at the grassroots.

“Our mission is to get Lagos State back to the people and residents of the state rather than the few it is currently working for.

“We are touched by the suffering of the poor masses and want to lead a government that will make the poor live a comfortable life. To us, lives of the masses is very important.

“The masses are entitled to their rights and what belongs to them in terms of welfare, hence the reason why AA is on the ballot.

“The party is not for the rich, it is for the poor to unite and rescue themselves from hardship. We have taken our governorship candidate from the masses.

“We have trust and confidence that the masses will prevail in the election, defeating the ‘money bags’.

“No matter how hard the ruling party try, the masses will defeat Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the polls,” he added.

He said that the party had developed REBIRTH AGENDA.

Explaining the REBIRTH agenda, Ayinla-Oniru said that R stands for Restoration of Security, E for Energy and Education, B for Broad- Based Governance, I for Infrastructure and Traffic Management, R for Rural Development, T for Tourism and Transportation while H- stands for Housing and Health system. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ehigimetor Igbaugba/Vincent Obi

By Diana Omueza

Action Alliance (AA) party has endorsed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the Feb. 25 general elections.

This is contained in a statement signed on Sunday in Abuja by Mr James Vernimbe, the party’s National Secretary.

Vernimbe said that the endorsement was made during PDP’s mega rally in Yola, Adamawa state.

According to him, the endorsement was informed and agreed after critical consultation with the party’s hierarchy and state chairmen.

“AA has joined some other parties to endorse PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the 25 February, 2023, presidential election.

“The event was led by the party’s National chairman, Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze, accompanied by the National Secretary of the party, Vernimbe A James, with Six North East state chairmen of the party in attendance.

“What led to the endorsement is that our presidential candidate, Hamza Almustapha, is not contesting to win.

“Since 9 June, 2022, that he emerged as presidential candidate of the party till 16 February 2023, there have been no flag-off campaigns any where, no poster any where indicating his presence in the presidential race.

“And Atiku Abubakar is the only candidate that has assured us of forming the government of national unity where other political parties will be accommodated because what we have today in Nigeria is winner takes all,” he said.

Vernimbe said that the endorsement was done in the presence of the state chairmen of Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe and the Adamawa state Secretaries representing the state chairmen, Representative of Borno and party chieftain from Bauchi State. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment says Nigeria’s opposition has scored an own goal, by refusing to take side with the masses on naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

Keyamo, also a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said the opposition failed to align with the Nigerian masses on the matter.

“Now you see a situation that we found ourselves, a very convoluted and confusing situation, a situation where the government policy on naira redesign is affecting the masses negatively because of wrong implementation and wrong timing.

“Instead of the opposition siding with the masses and urging them to vote out the ruling party, it is now the opposition that is telling people to be patient.

“It is the same opposition that is telling Nigerians that Buhari is an honest man and he meant well for the country.

“They have over dribbled themselves and scored an own goal in the process, ” he said.

Keyamo, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said that the opposition turned the entire issue into politics and ended up shooting themselves on the foot,

“They perceived that the policy was crippling Sen. Bola Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate because they see every thing as politics.

“In their bid to heat Tinubu, they now decided to go against Nigeria masses, this is where they over dribbled themselves.

“Meanwhile, Tinubu who is in the ruling party has spoken against those implementing the policy to say that they are sabotaging the policy.

“So, the masses now see Tinubu as their hero,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa