By Stephen Adeleye

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi Central Senatorial district, Malam Abubakar Ohere, has promised to ensure quality representation if elected.

He assured at a campaign rally in Ajaokuta, Kogi, that he would defend the rights of the people in the Senate if he emerged victorious.

Ohere gave similar assurances when Prince Suleiman Onyekehi, Deputy Director of Humanitarian and Social Services (North Central) of Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, hosted him.

The Ohere campaign train earlier paid courtesy visits to traditional rulers including the Ohi of Ajaokuta, Alhaji Musa Achuja; the Adogu of Eganyi, Alhaji Mohammed Adambe; and the Ovanebira of Eganyi, Malam Idris Isiaka.

Ohere appreciated the traditional rulers and APC faithful for their show of love as they turned out en-masse to receive him in Ajaokuta.

He highlighted the numerous achievements of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s APC-led administration in Ajaokuta such as the newly-built general hospital, rural electrification and provision of employment.

He listed Bello’s other achievements to include the grading and upgrading of traditional rulers, women and youths empowerment in agriculture, trades, and skills acquisition among others.

Ohere promised to build more on Gov. Bello’s legacies through quality legislative representation that would enhance the standard of living and the well-being of the people of Kogi Central.

He solicited the support of the people of Ajaokuta and the entire Kogi Central senatorial district who he enjoined to vote massively for him and for all APC candidates at the 2023 general elections.

Also addressing the rally, Onyekehi assured the people of Ajaokuta that APC-led administration would do more for them, and also appreciated Gov. Bello for his laudable achievements in Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

On their part, Malam Abdulraheem Egidi and Malam Jibril Abu, APC candidates for Ajaokuta House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats respectively, promised quality and passionate representation if elected.

Traditional rulers present, in their separate remarks, appreciated Gov. Bello for his love for Ajaokuta people, and reaffirmed their support for his administration.

The Ohi of Ajaokuta, also Chairman of Ajaokuta Traditional Council, assured the candidates of Ajaokuta’s continuous support for Gov. Bello, stressing that the governor meant well for the community. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2023 general election is free, fair and credible.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said this on Tuesday, in his welcome address on resumption of plenary after Christmas and New Year break.

Lawan charged the electoral umpire to be on top of its game to ensure that the election met Nigerians expectations.

“No excuses. INEC has gotten everything it had asked for.

“We re-commit ourselves to ensuring that we support INEC and any other agency of government that works to ensure free, fair and credible election in this year and even beyond.

“We also want to assure Nigerians that this is an opportunity to vote whoever they want to vote for.

“Of course, we believe that citizens have done the right by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) because without your PVC, you cannot vote,” he said.

Lawan said that the National Assembly did a tremendous job by amending the Electoral Act.

“The electoral act as constituted today, will provide better outcomes of elections,” he said.

He said that security agencies have assured that the environment would be safe and secured for citizens to go out and cast their votes without hindrance.

The senate president also said that the senate would continue to look into the issue of insufficient revenue for government.

“Revenue deficit has been a major problem affecting performance of government.

“Our committee on finance and other finance-related committees must be on top of their game to ensure that we get these agencies of government to remit the revenues that they collect,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it’s leaving no stone unturned in its quest to ensure hitch-free and credible 2023 general election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said this when he addressed the press at Chatham House, London, on Tuesday.

Yakubu said that INEC was satisfied with the level of its of preparations for the election, saying that 11 out of 14 activities scheduled for the election had been accomplished.

He, however, said that in spite of extensive preparations, there were still some outstanding issues and challenges of concern, some of which were beyond INEC.

Yakubu said that one of the problems had to do with the current security challenges in the country and the possible impact on the election.

He said security challenges in many African countries remained source of concern for election managers.

“For many years, Nigeria has been grappling with its own insecurity in the North-East, the long-standing Boko Haram insurgency has continued, albeit with attacks now more intermittent than regular.

“In the North-West and the North-Central, banditry, terrorism and the herder-farmer conflicts remain major challenges.

“In the South-South, the threat of renewed insurgency by groups demanding more share of petroleum revenue to the Niger Delta continues to simmer.

“In the South-West, although an earlier surge by a group demanding independence for the region has considerably dissipated, recent violent attacks on places of worship, rise in the activities of violent cults and kidnapping groups, as well as a history of violence involving groups seeking to control markets and motor parks remain strong,” he said.

Yakubu added: “In the South-East, the lingering agitation for separatism championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) pose a major security threat.

“Not only have violent attacks by a number of armed groups increased, the long-standing weekly lockdown of the five States in that geo-political zone, continue to disrupt social and economic activities”.

He said that violence and threat of violence were major challenges to organising credible election in 2023.

He said that violence could make deployments for elections difficult, particularly where some of the attacks targeted at the electoral process and participants.

Yakubu, however, said the commission had been working with security agencies and other stakeholders to establish mechanisms to understand, track and mitigate security challenges.

“We are working collaboratively in the context of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

“We also have the Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT), which is a research and diagnostic tool for predicting and mitigating election violence prior to elections.

“In addition, there is the Election Risk Management Tool (ERM), which tracks and reports general risks to elections.

“In all, we feel assured by the actions we have taken and our collaboration with the security agencies. The 2023 general election will proceed as planned. There is no plan to postpone the election,” he said.

The INEC boss said that another challenge was the fate of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and rising attacks on INEC facilities, materials and staff.

He said that although INEC had revised its policy on IDPs voting, it was difficult to identify IDPs in some states as they lived in host communities or extended family members or in communities where they were not registered voters.

“As a result, it is very difficult for the Commission to provide necessary electoral services to such IDPs. However, those in camps within Nigeria will be catered for in line with the commission’s policy,” he said.

Yakubu said that between 2019 and 2022 INEC experienced 50 attacks on its facilities, mostly in the form of arson and vandalisation.

He said that the 2022 attacks constituted the deepest concerns for INEC.

‘’This is so not only because they are increasingly happening closer to the general election, but also because some of them seem to be coordinated,” he said.

He said that the implication of the attacks was that those facilities must be rebuilt and several election materials must be replaced.

“Further, the commission and security agencies must have to increase the number of their personnel to these facilities.

“Nevertheless, the commission is determined to continue its preparations for the general election in spite of these attacks.

“So far, all the destroyed facilities will be rebuilt, or alternatives found, and the materials lost are being replaced.

“However, the commission has repeatedly called for more concerted efforts to control the attacks,” he said.

He listed other challenges to include campaign violence, fake news and disinformation, campaign finance and vote buying as well as litigations.

Yakubu said that in spite of the challenges, INEC had promised Nigerians and friends of Nigeria that the 2023 general election would be free, fair, credible and inclusive.

“We have left no stone unturned in preparing for it, in spite of several challenges.

“But all elections, especially those involving the type of extensive national deployment like we do in Nigeria, will naturally come with challenges.

“We have worked closely with stakeholders and development partners to confront these challenges and we are satisfied with our preparations so far.

“Our commission does not take the pledge that we have repeatedly made to Nigerians lightly. We are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations,” he said.

Yakubu renewed INEC’s commitment to serving Nigerians only as an independent body.

“We cherish the institutional independence and integrity of the commission.

“With the enthusiasm of Nigerians, the goodwill of stakeholders and partners, and the commitment of the Commission, we believe that the 2023 general election will be among the best conducted in Nigeria,” he said.

He acknowledged that there were enormous expectations, both within Nigeria and outside, on the conduct and management of the election.

Yakubu said that those expectations placed a great responsibility on INEC, a responsibility that was not taken lightly.

“We appreciate that there are challenges and concerns. But we also realise that there is enormous goodwill and support, both in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts (ASSPT) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair to all political parties ahead of 2023 general elections.

The Director of the School, Dr Sam Amadi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday while speaking on the uploading of party agents for the Feb. 25 presidential election.

Amadi urged INEC to work hard and simplify its digital processes to enable efficient and timely upload of Polling Units (PUs) agents by political parties.

He equally advised the commission to factor the interests and challenges faced by the less established political parties in managing its deadlines.

Amadi said from the group’s interactions with some of the parties “outside the major ones, namely the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’sParty” the feedbacks were not encouraging.

“We receive reports of difficulty in uploading party agents including difficulty of using the INEC’s portal and the number of PUs to be uploaded.

“Some of the officials of these parties informed us that INEC official did not notify them that their method will only provide online forms suitable for self-service and not for enterprise use cases.

“Some of them have also complained that the tasks requires more time that INEC allocates.

“Some of these party officials are requesting INEC to adopt the Enterprise Data Upload Method which will be easier and faster to enable them to quickly upload their agents.

“And this will enable them be in a position to monitor and defend their votes, especially in the presidential and governorship elections where incentives for rigging and manipulations may be high.

“INEC should recognise the comparative disadvantage of the less established parties and grant them amply opportunity to meet the deadline.

“If INEC is not able to be flexible with its system to enable smooth upload, then it should, within its conveniences and schedule, consider to extend the deadline.

“This will enable effective participation by the less established parties, outside the Big Four to ensure fair participation in competitive election, “ Amadi explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school at the event launched a 2023 Election Observatory to monitor, analyse and provide solutions to issues that would affect the credibility and fairness of the elections.

Amadi said the gesture became necessary in order to help the INEC with necessary information in its preparations towards a credible exercise.

He said, “the objective of the observatory is to offer an independent analysis of the challenges of free and fair election to INEC as the country approaches its general elections.

“We believe that the most important aspect of the electoral process is not the actual voting, but actions taken by the electoral management body to make voting free and fair.

“We are not engaged in election monitoring but rather in observing and analysing the processes and procedures that guarantee fairness and credibility of voting and declaration of results.

“To this end, we will be having weekly press briefings to highlight challenges and offer solutions to ensure the conduct of the 2023 elections remain free, fair and credible.”

The school urged INEC to ensure that all eligible registered voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs) before the election dates to avoid disenfranchisement.

He explained that the logistics could be overwhelming for the institutions, adding that the election is a crucial one and its competitiveness requires more transparency and accountability than in the past.

He commended INEC for the decision to use its staff to conduct the election rather than academics outside its control.

“By establishing a committee of its senior management and taking ownership of the process, INEC is proving that it is learning from the failures of the past and is determined to conduct more efficient and reliable elections in 2023.

“This decision underlines a recognition of the needs to standardise the procedures and processes of the elections.

“This is more so as the returning officers make decisions that at times are arbitrary and capricious to undermine the fairness of electoral outcomes,” he said.

Mr Kenneth Eze of Speak Out Africa Initiative, urged INEC to put measures in place for all eligible registered voters, especially students who were now back to their various schools, get their voting PVCs.

“We all know that when the Continuous Voter Registration was conducted, Nigeria students were home due to eight months strike declared by ASUU.

“Today, as we are talking PVCs distributoon and collection, these same largest decision making constituency are currently back in their school busy with their studies.

“Its unfortunate and I am calling the attention of INEC. There is no way they will be in school and still collect their PVCs which they did at home.

“Youth population is over 26 million as we were told by INEC and they must be part of determining who governance us in the next four years, “he said.

He urged the Federal Government to declare public holiday for students for one week and mandate ASUU, Nigeria University Commission (NUC) and stakeholders in education sector to suspend every activity during this one week break.

Oh his part, Mr Law Mefor, fellow of the school, urged INEC to improve its delivery system and overcome some of the managerial shortcomings recorded in the past weeks.

He said some of these suggestions were made to provide fair and effective participation in INEC process and to avert litigations that might damage the credibility of the entire process. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

The Convener, ABAT Framework Outreach, Fola Tinubu (raising hands), during a Road Show in Somolu on Tuesday in Lagos.

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The ABAT Framework Outreach, a support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has said that the former Lagos State Governor’s ambition is not personal but in the interest of the masses.

Mr Fola Tinubu, the Convener, and the Director-General of the Bola Tinubu 4 President 2023 Support Group, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Tinubu, who is also the Managing Director, Primero Transport Services Ltd., operator of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in Lagos State urged Nigerians, especially electorate in South West region to vote massively for the APC presidential candidate.

He said that the outreach had organised its fifth Campaign Road Show in Somolu/Bariga and environs on Thursday to mobilise support for Tinubu.

“Only the APC candidate will put smiles on faces of the general masses in Nigeria and also actualise the dream of each region,” he said.

According to him, the Tinubu project should be for everyone in Lagos State and Southwest region, hence the group’s several road shows to galvanise support.

“People of Lagos and South West must come out massively to support Tinubu and vote for him for a better tomorrow for them and their children.

“He (Tinubu) is the right man that can lead us to the Nigeria of our dream, the Nigeria that we all want for ourselves and our children. Tinubu is ready, he is prepared and can do it.

“We know he has the best team for the job in every facet of the economy, security, health, education and what a few,” the convener said.

He said that only the APC presidential candidate has the antecedents to bring about Nigeria of everyone’s dream.

The convener said that the former Lagos state governor has “the best team to take Nigeria forward” if elected.

Tinubu, who noted that the group had toured Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo and Somolu Local Government Areas and environs, said the road show would move to some state capitals in the South West.

He said that the road show, which had attracted several party leaders and loyalists in each council, had recorded huge success.

According to him, the group plans to organise no fewer than 20 road shows in various local government areas of the state and in the region.

The convener added that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat had also done so well to deserve a second term in office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roadshow involves sharing of campaign flyers, T-shirts and caps to motorists and residents.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Ishaq Zaki

Eight former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State House of Assembly aspirants have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement issued in Gusau on Tuesday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris said the former aspirants announced their defection at a meeting with Gov. Bello Matawalle on Tuesday in Gusau.

Idris said all of them had participated in various PDP state assembly primary elections in their respective constituencies across the state.

According to him, the defectors included: Kasimu Jafaru from Zurmi west constituency, Rukkayya Abdullahi from Zurmi east constituency, Isah Ibrahim-Labbo from Anka constituency and Abubakar Abdulaziz, from Tsafe east constituency.

The other defectors were: Bala Ibrahim and Jamilu Bawa from Birnin Magaji state assembly constituencies, Ibrahim Surajo from Zurmi west and leader of the defecting team, Murtala Mainasara from Shinkafi constituency.

He said the defectors, who were presented to the governor by the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani, submitted all their PDP certificates of clearance to the governor.

“Our decision to join APC was due to lack of political focus and direction in the PDP.

“Our defection to the APC was informed by the focused and visionary leadership style of governor Matawalle in tackling insecurity and bringing economic transformation,” Idris quoted Mainasara as saying.

Idris also quoted Matawalle as saying while receiving the defectors that APC was a party for all reasonable and patriotic Nigerians focusing on development.

“The governor commended them for what he described as a wise decision of joining the APC.

“Matawalle said he is not surprised over their decision considering their level of exposure and determination to bring development to the door steps of the electorate,” Idris said.

Earlier, while presenting the defectors to the governor, Danfulani said: ‘Ín the next few days, more PDP supporters would join APC.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Stephen Adeleye

The All Progressive Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Kogi (KOSACC), has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of hiring supporters from seven neighbouring states for its campaign rally held last Saturday in Kogi

Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director of Media and Publicity of KOSACC, made the allegation at a news conference on Monday in Lokoja.

Fanwo, in his speech tagged, ”The Many Lies of PDP and its Traditional Illusions in Kogi State”, said that the PDP was dismayed by the poor turnout at the rally.

He claimed that PDP resorted to theatrics of rolling out expired individuals who had been expunged from the ranks of the APC for their unsavory deeds and characters as defectors and proceeded to canonise them.

”The rally turned into a farce when people like the former deputy Governor of the state, Elder Simeon Achuba and the former speaker of the state assembly, Rt Hon. Alfa Imam, were repackaged for Atiku as Kogi APC stalwarts who were decamping to the PDP at the rally.

”What Atiku and his entourage might not have known is that this is the same Achuba who was impeached from office by the state assembly for gross misconduct during the first term of the administration.

”Also, Rt Hon. Alfa Imam is another has-been, who has a running battle with his colleagues when he was Speaker of the State House of Assembly. At the cusp of being impeached, he pleaded to be allowed to resign, ” he said

He claimed that the duo were no longer active members of the party and it won the 2019 landslide without them.

He stressed that the PDP campaign rally in Kogi was a shadow of itself, saying the umbrella circus did not need anyone to tell them that Kogi people have rejected them.

Fanwo stressed that it was painfully obvious that the former ruling party had been fittingly reduced to a shadow of itself in Kogi over the last seven years.

”We know that PDP brought a lot of people from seven neighbouring states for the campaign rally in Kogi.

”Talking about 148,000 defectors at Kogi rally by PDP is too ridiculous and not true.” Fanwo said.

Fanwo, who is the State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, said there was no doubt that the Yahaya Bello led APC administration had changed the face of Kogi.

”The legacy projects executed, some of which were recently commissioned by Mr President, are too numerous to mention here.”

Fanwo also said that the pledge of Atiku to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company could only be classified as a ‘morbid joke’, which he (Atiku) must have made to insult the sensibilities of Kogi State and her people.

”President Muhammadu Buhari has taken a bold step on the gigantic project and we trust the President in Waiting, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see the process through.

”The PDP flag bearer also assured the lecture theater crowd culled for him from seven states that he would win the 2023 Presidential polls. This is the illusion of the decade already, as he will be resoundingly defeated by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

”We are on course to deliver Kogi State massively for the All Progressives Congress and maintain the legacy of the party in the state under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello.

”We urge our members to remain peaceful, law abiding and continue to work hard to ensure that we set a record with our numbers in the February and March polls”.

However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Austin Ochu,m, described the allegations of APC as the noise of a drowning party.

Ochu said, “the insinuation that we hired people from seven states is to ver strange and laughable because we have never for once engaged in such a merchandise.”

“By that press conference, APC is definitely threatened and jittery that the game is over for them as the people spoke last Saturday that they desperately want change. And the time for that change is now.

“Traditionally Kogi is a PDP State, we only faulted along the way but thank God we have gone back to the trenches and ready to make amend and take over the state this time around for the interest and good of our people.

“In fact, that is exactly what APC and are now going out flabbing around not knowing what to do as the difference and message is now very clear that the game is over, ” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Maureen Okon

Nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi East Senatorial District have thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LGAs on Sunday organised a mega rally in support of the candidature of the duo and show support to the APC.

NAN also reports that the mega rally was organised by Mr Suleiman Isyaka, the National Coordinator of an umbrella APC support group, ‘Tinubu/Shettima Ordained Movement’.

NAN further reports that a mammoth crowd of APC supporters attended the event and recommitted themselves to ensuring the victory of Tinubu and Shettima during the Feb. 25 presidential poll.

The event which held in Ejule in Ofu LGA also attracted APC supporters from Ankpa. Olamaboro,Idah, Ofu, Ibaji, Dekina, Omala, Bassa and Igalamela/Odolu LGAs.

Speaking to NAN, Isyaka said that the event tallied with the APC’s foundation which involved the actualisation of the Tinubu/Shettima ambition to win the 2023 presidential election.

“The purpose of everyone being here today as part of the activities lined up to secure a landslide victory for Tinubu and Shettima in the presidential poll.

“As at Dec. 30, 2022 when I was confirmed as the chairman of one of the strong support groups of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential candidacy, i came to my village in Ejule-Alle ward and swung into action.

“On that day, we had a lot of people who came for the occasion and they were very ready to support the APC at all levels.

“That proved to me that when i am out with the APC existing structure in my locality, I can replicate it to the other LGAs in the Eastern Senatorial District of Kogi.

“Also, our mission is to sensitise and to generate votes for our presidential candidate come Feb. 25,” he said.

Isyaka also urged all the members and the people of the nine LGAs to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), so that they can exercise their rights at the polls for the presidential candidate of the APC.

Mr Yahaya Shagari, the APC Chairman in Ofu LGA commended Isyaka for organising the laudable event by uniting all the party loyalists in Kogi East Senatorial District.

He added that the act displayed by Isyaka showed that APC was in the right direction in bringing all the nine LGAs in Igala land together to support the Tinubu/Shettima Ordained Movement.

What is on the ground shows that we are waiting eagerly for the general election to cast our votes for our presidential candidate and his running mate,” Shagari said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Amalgamated APC Support Group (AASG), Dr Nasiru Mohammed lauded the organiser of the event for putting together the laudable initiative.

Mohammed, who was represented by Mr Musa Otigba, the Director, Campaign and Mobilisation for AASG said: “A vote for Tinubu/Shettima is a vote for a renewed hope for you and future generation.

“It is remarkable to note that the Tinubu/Shettima Ordained Movement is already a registered member of the AASG and that is why we are here to give you moral support.

“We are also here to encourage you to continue to do more for the victory of our party at all levels come 2023 general elections,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===============
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Salisu Sani-Idris

A group, ‘The United Nigeria Movement (UNM)’, has evolved strategies to mobilise massive votes across the country to ensure landslide victory for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The National Chairman of the movement, Alhaji Abubakar El-Nafaty, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

El-Nafaty said the former Vice President remained the best option for Nigeria, adding, ”he has the ability to bring people together, assemble the right team from across the country and give everyone a sense of belonging.”

The chairman said already the group, in collaboration with other organisations was mobilising the electorate across Nigeria to vote for Atiku.

He said: “We are going to inaugurate our chapters in all the states of the federation and we are going to visit Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Gombe states this week.

” We are going to merge with the party’s structures in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

” This will enable us to deepen our engagements with the grassroots. Already, we have structures on the ground, so we will link up with those structures and hit the ground running.”’

El-Nafaty also said that the group would produce short video clips in English, Hausa, Fulfude, Kanuri, Yoruba and other languages and upload them on YouToube.

He said: ”This is to further educate the electorate on why Atiku is the ‘best presidential candidate for Nigeria.

” Before the end of this month, the scripts and video will be ready.

“Also , we will organize a seminar or hold an-evening- with-Atiku where we can sit together,discuss about the country and questions will be thrown at him toward enhancing his chances of winning the election.”

El-Nafaty said that the organisation decided to endorse Atiku after a critical examination and evaluation of all the three frontline presidential candidates.

He said: ”Based on the evaluation of the group, Atiku is the only presidential candidate who has the courage, qualities, capacity and capability to move the country to the desired level.

” Atiku has a degree of acceptability within the whole country. He is a patriot and a first class nationalist who believes in the indivisibility of Nigeria and unity,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Naomi Sharang

City Boy Movement, a support group for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) says his track record will ensure victory for the party in the Feb. 25 general election.
Gbodi Ajose, Director, Programmes, City Boy Movement, said this at ‘Door to Door’ campaign for Tinubu/Shettima on Saturday in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group visited Mr Bulus Yerima Pada, the District Head of Maitama Kubwa in his palace in Kubwa.
“The group decided to restrategise in a bid to ensure that the APC clinch the presidency.
“We have decided to ensure that in FCT we are going to deliver this town and city for Asiwaju come 2023.
“Though APC has never won the FCT, we are ensuring that with our new strategy, that is door to door campaign, we are going to tell everyone about Tinubu and Shettima.
“Through the door to door campaign, we are telling Nigerians the things he has done in the past because Tinubu is the person that has the track record that you can easily talk to any body about. It is seen, it is not something you are going to be debating about,” he said.
The director said that Tinubu’s manifesto has spoken about his programmes for Nigerians when elected.
“We are here to talk to the women, youths and we have a principal that is going to run an all inclusive government.
“Tinubu said it in his manifesto that he will ensure the public service system runs perfectly,” she said.
Also, the group’s Director, Mobilisation, Mr Francis Shoga said that the visit was to sensitise eligible voters on how to cast their votes on the election day.
He described Tinubu as a man who would move Nigeria forward and make it great
Similarly, former Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr Musa Dikko decried neglect of the area by previous administrations saying they never carried along FCT indigenes in the scheme of things.
“Since inception, we were resettled in 1990 alongside other Nigerians, no government under the PDP has ever remembered our existence.
“This palace was build under my administration in 2018-2019; the roads were build by APC-led government.
“The market was build under my administration within two years. The intra state motor park was build under APC administration in two years.
“You are in the home of APC,” Dikko said.
Dikko assured of continuous support to the group for victory at all levels.
“We want to assure the traditional leaders that we will ensure the traditional council in Nigeria is taken into consideration.
“Don’t give up on APC, Tinubu and the Muslim-muslim ticket. The only person that has not made a mistake is that person that has not tried a new thing.
“Therefore, we are going to try a new thing under democracy. The Muslim-muslim or Christian-christian issue should not be a disturbance.
“Traditional heads should help us to tell Nigerians living in Kubwa and the FCT that we must deliver APC and Tinubu come Feb.25,” he said.
NAN reports that the group also conducted a medical outreach in the community and its environs.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa