By Femi Ogunshola

A support group, Likeminds Initiative for Tinubu, says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress(APC) is better qualified to lead Nigeria, than any other candidate in Feb. 25 presidential election.

Mr Augustine Esiekpe, the National Coordinator, LikeMinds Initiative For Tinubu, said this at a strategic meeting to mobilise voters for Tinubu/Shettima for the general election in Abuja on Saturday.

According to him, an Asiwaju as president will do a better job as president than Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, he will be sagacious, strong will and effect the needed change in the country.

Esiekpe said that Tinubu had a better character than any other presidential candidate in the race.

He said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar shouldn’t have joined the 2023 presidential race, because it was the turn of the South to rule.

“The North as represented by President Muhammadu Buhari has had its eigth years share, so what is Atiku looking for, where is he representing.

“The presidency should rotate between the North and the South because there must be justice, fairness and equity.

“If we give Obi or Atiku our future is not secured, we should look at Tinubu who is better with record of performance to show,” he said.

He said the group would mobilise voters in the Federal Capital Territory to ensure landslide victory for APC.

Speaking on mobilisation, he said it was key to winning election, adding that in Lagos people hardly vote but rather resort to playing football on election day.

He said that the group’s major work was to identify people with PVC and move them to vote on the day of election, adding that it would also bring INEC officials to educate members on BVAS.

This according to him, would enable the group to sensitive others so they would understand process on election day and would be able to educate others.
“The Obidient camp is doing this sensitisation seriously.

These are some of the sensitisation we need to embark upon, campaign isn’t about gathering people at rallies, but going from place to place to sensitive voters.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Femi Ogunshola

Rep. Tunji Olawuyi (APC-Kwara) has shown excitement over the judgement of Appeal Court which recognised him as the candidate of APC for the House of Representatives in the Feb. 25 general elections.

Olawuyi is contesting to represent, Ekiti, Irepodun, Isin and Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara.

The legislator said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday against the backdrop of the judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on Jan. 12.

He expressed gratitude to the court for setting aside the ruling of the High Court which earlier declared Mr Segun Adebayo, the plaintiff as the winner.

Olawuyi however commended the judiciary for remaining steadfast, stressing that the judiciary remained the hope of the people.

The legislator promised to be magnanimous in victory, while calling his opponent to sheathe his sword and work for the collective interest of the party.

He said a divided house would be injurious to the collective interest of the party in the state, adding that it was time to jettison the lingering intra-party crisis in the state.

According to Olawuyi, bickering, internal squabble and other ill-feelings are capable of polarising the party thereby shortchanging it from winning the general elections.

He extended an olive branch to the his opponent, adding that any attempt to allow the court case fester could be disadvantageous to the party, thereby allowed opposition to reap from the crisis.

“The general election must be a win for our party, we have worked so hard, we have impacted lives and our people are happy with us, they want us on the ballot, they don’t want to go back to the years cankerworms,” Olawuyi said.

According to him, the victory is for the party.

“There is no loser in this case, we are all members of the same family and we will ensure that no stone is left unturned to ensure party cohesion,” Olawuyi said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

An Abuja-based Islamic Cleric, Imam Yahya Al-Yolawi has urged political parties and their flag bearers vying for various elective positions to fear Allah and fulfil their electoral promises if elected.

Al-Yolawi, who is the Chief Iman of Nurul Yaqeen Jumma’at Mosque Life Camp, made the call while delivering his Jumma’ during a sermon titled: “Amana (trust) in leadership”, on Friday in Abuja.

The cleric said that trust in Islam implies honouring, fulfilling commitments, accountability, transparency, covenant, keeping promises, and perfection of obligation assigned to someone.

Al-Yolawi also stated that being truthful in promises and covenant was one of the best characteristics by which the true believers were known with.

He said that prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) was recognised even before His prophethood to be al-Amin or the trustworthy one.

” It also covers moral, social, legal, religious assignment, political appointment duties and obligations people entrusted upon you.

” I will like to remind our brothers and sisters in Islam, particularly our political parties, candidates and those who want to be entrusted with public funds, lives of people, property and political leadership by election or appointments; that they should fear Allah and keep their Amana (trust) as their duty toward Allah and His messenger.

“They also need to learn from the mistakes of their immediate past predecessors; leadership is a trust and they will be asked on what they were entrusted upon on the day of judgement.”

Al-Yolawi noted that Islam encourages entrusting people with trust and integrity, saying “indeed Allah commands you to render trust to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.

” Excellent is that which Allah instructs you, indeed, Allah is ever hearing and seeing.” (NAN)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The people of Okunland in the Western Senatorial district of Kogi, have expressed strong desire to produce the next governor of the state in the November 2023 governorship election.

The people under the aegis of Okun4Governor Strategy Committee, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, read by Prof. Mike Ikupolati.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement read at the conference was jointly signed by Committee Chairman, Clarence Olafemi; Co- Chairman, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye; and Secretary, Barr. Tunde Bello.

Ikupolati said the group’s agitation was based on spirit of equity and fairness which were virtues to be promoted to deepen democracy and promote inclusiveness.

According to Ikupolati, the right to rule is a combination of attitudes and abilities that lead people to set goals for themselves and to take the initiative to reach these goals.

”The quest for an Okun person to become governor has become the strongest wish of Okun people in recent times.

”It is, therefore, pertinent to inform the good people of Kogi that we are designing and putting in place effective strategies to actualise this goal.

”We shall remain resolute on this agitation until our quest receives the attention it richly deserves, especially by leaders of the state from all persuasions – political, religious, community and opinion leaders.

”It is imperative to put into perspective, that the Igalas of the Eastern flank of Kogi has held on to power for about 16 years with Late Prince Abubakar Audi, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Ibro) and Capt. Idris Wada as governors of the state while Alhaji Yahaya Bello is presently occupying Lugard House in his second term.

‘According to him, this implies that the East has had 16 years of rule and the Central, eight years with Kogi West having no appearances at the Lugard House in Lokoja.

”We hereby bring to the attention of all and sundry that Late Alhaji Adamu Attah from Kogi Central, was also governor from 1979 to 1983, making it 12 years of rule by the Central zone of Kogi.

”If equity and fairness are virtues to be promoted to deepen our democracy and promote inclusiveness, it will be natural for an Okun person to be the next governor of Kogi.

”Unfortunately, politics and political reasoning are encapsulated in the saying that; ‘power is not given but taken’

”We, are therefore, determined as good people of Okunland to demand power. We will take whatever steps that are necessary to ensure the realisation of this objective.

”With God and Providence on our side, we shall take it,” Ikupolati said.

He said that their desire to demand for power shift from the Central to Okunland, Kogi West in 2023 was not borne out of a parochialism of selfish motive but considered as a right.

He described it as a genuine demand borne out of their divine right to rule and the need for governance in the state to be more inclusive, participatory, fair and just to all senatorial districts.

”It is on record that Kogi West had supported Kogi East for 16 years during which they provided a governance structure that sought to serve the interests of the people of the state.

”We have, therefore, ruminated on it as a people that, it will only be fair and just for an Okun person to secure the governorship ticket under all political parties in the state for the 2023 governorship election.

”We must re-emphasise it that we are truly taking an apolotical stance here as we will like to see all parties in the state such as APC, PDP, Labour Party, SDP, ADC etc select their governorship candidates from Okunland.

”We have heard it mooted at some wrong quarters ‘the 16-16-16’ rule proposed for the state instead of in ‘the 8-8-8’ rational and logical rule.”

Ikupolati added that “it is quite inordinate ambition at this time, to be promoting irregularities, unfairness and injustice in the state.

He expressed the group’s belief that every rational leader from Kogi would see reason with them that fairness demanded that the governorship ticket be left to an Okun person.

He said that was not mindful of the political party that would provide the platform for the actualisation of our dream.

”We are however, not unaware of the political sensitivity of our demand but we do not intend to hurt the sensibility of groups or persons in the process. This is why we have come to the People’s court for the way forward.

”We are hopeful and optimistic that our humble demand will find favour in the sight of God and right thinking people of the state.”

He said the group was not proposing anything in connection with their right to be given power.

He said that beyond the presentation, the group’s strategy was to engage and negotiate with all stakeholders across the other two senatorial districts after forging a consensus within our own home front.

”We are not proposing anything in connection with our right against the two other senatorial districts. No!

“For we are very much aware of the right of every Kogi person to aspire for any political position in the state at any time.

”However, we are standing tall on the grounds of history, equity and justice that we collectively fought for the creation of the state in the first instance.

”Consequently, we are here on behalf of our people to request that an Okun person gets the full support of the East and Central senatorial districts to be the next governor of our dear state.”

Ikupolati emphasised their resolution to demonstrate a strong commitment to intensify their genuine demand for their right and to achieve sufficient equality with other ethnic groups in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Bashir Rabe Mani

Danladi Bako, Co-Director, Strategic Communication, All Progressives Congress ( APC) presidential campaign council, says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu deserves victory in the Feb. 25 election, because he is most qualified.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bako, a veteran broadcaster, spoke on Friday in Abuja, shortly after being inducted by a group -Progressive Nation Initiative inducted as its National Patron.

Bako said: “Tinubu should not be voted for because he is Yoruba man, but he should be voted for because of his capacity and his past records of service.

“He designed the 25-year master plan for Lagos State that includes the rails to the blue line and all the structures he put in place.

“It also includes LASTMA, Eco Atlantic city, Lekki deep seaport and sanitation activities.

“Tinubu also shored up the revenue of Lagos State to about N51 billion per month and the list is endless.”

According to the former Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Tinubu, deserves to be given the chance to occupy the highest seat in Nigeria.

On Tinubu’s running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, Bako recalled that when he was elected as Borno Governor, 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.

He said: “Before the end of his tenure, Shettima brought down the LGAs to only eight.

“By 2022, Gov. Babagana Zulum told President Muhammadu Buhari that there is no any LGA under the control of the insurgents.”

Bako, also a former Director-General, Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria, said a Nigeria under Tinubu would ensure sustenance of Buhari’s achievements as he would build on them.

“Tinubu’s presidency will benefit everybody and we should massively vote for him and Shettima, and APC candidates at all levels,” the Co-chairman said.

Earlier, the National Secretary, Progressive Nation Initiative, Pastor Olarewaju Omolayo, said that a Tinubu presidency would be a prophecy for faith.

“As far as Tinubu is concerned, there is no shaking as it is all about his antecedents and in all ramifications, he is the answer to the problems facing Nigeria,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The United Nigeria Movement (UNM), a political organisation, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar to transform Nigeria, if elected in the forthcoming presidential election.

The National Chairman of the movement, Alhaji Abubakar El-Nafaty, made the statement at a news briefing to endorse Atiku and Okowa’s presidential ticket, on Thursday in Abuja.

El-Nafaty said that the organisation had after the assessment of all thevariables in respect of the election decided to pitch its tent with the PDP and by extension the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

He said that the PDP had done well in their first 10 years, adding that in spite of all its failings, the party managed to stabilise the country and increased the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by more than 20 per cent during its tenure.

El-Nafaty said: ” We have carefully studied the three political parties that are the front runners namely APC, PDP and the Labour Party.

“We have taken time to go through the records of their presidential candidates and assess them based on the following four criteria.

” National spread and acceptance, political experience and will, the political manifesto of each party, leadership qualities and charisma and ethical standing.”

The national chairman of the movement said that based on the assessment of the group, Atiku was the only presidential candidate who has what it takes to pull Nigeria out of the doldrums.

“We have endorsed him for several months now and we have registered with the PDP as s support group. If by the will of God he becomes our President, the movement will remain by his side and offer our support in any way possible.

“Atiku is the most experienced national politician amongst the three candidates. He was VP from 1999 to 2007. Political experience and will are paramount because of the great challenges ahead.

“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 complete unity,’’ he said.

Mr Charles Ojugbana, National Vice Chairman, UNM, said already the group in collaboration with other organisations was mobilising electorate across all over the country to vote for Atiku.

“Many of us just returned from our various electoral wards and polling units, Local Governments and states.

“The bulk of the votes come from the grassroots and we have mobilised our members in 774 Local Governments in Nigeria to ensure victory for Atiku.

“In addition, the United Nigeria Movement is not standing alone, we are in coalition with several other support groups across the country and our greatest strength reside at the grassroots,’’ he said.(NAN)(www.nannews,ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Bashir Rabe Mani

Ahmed Abba

Gov. Mai Mala Buni has commended the people of the state for their support and cooperation during the recent visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.

Buni’s message is contained in a statement signed by Mamman Mohammed, the Director General, Press and Media Affairs to the governor on Thursday in Damaturu.

“I sincerely extend my warm appreciation to our traditional rulers, opinion leaders, stakeholders, illustrious sons and daughters of the state for making the visit very successful,” Mohammed said.

He quoted Buni as describing the support, cooperation and orderly behaviour of the people of the state as a true reflection of the culture of good hosts identified with the people of the state.

“We thank Almighty Allah for the hitch-free visit and the orderly behaviour of our people who trooped out to welcome the president, his entourage, and other guests.

“We are proud of hosting the president who spent the night with us in Damaturu, this is a confirmation that peace has returned to our dear state” he added.

Buni also commended Buhari, security forces, members of vigilance groups and the good people of the state for the collective fight against insecurity.

The governor charged the people to remain focused and determined towards building sustainable peace in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Akeem Abas

An anonymous staunch supporter of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, has donated a two-storey building to the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in the South-West.

Alhaji Mutiu Are-led Contact and Mobilisation Directorate of PCC in the South-West, took possession of the edifice on Thursday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the magnificent building is few metres away from the residence of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Oke-Bola area of Ibadan.

The building has about 12 rooms for offices, waiting rooms, stores, canteen and parking space.

NAN reports that the Contact and Mobilisation Committee Directors were in Ibadan for a strategic brain storming session aimed at revving presidential campaign activities in the South-West.

Speaking after inspection of the building, Are expressed satisfaction with the quality, location and suitability of the building.

He said the donor was supporting the campaign, because he believed Tinubu would run a government that would guarantee peace, unity and prosperity in every part of the country.

“This beautiful edifice has been donated by one of the strongest believers in the
Tinubu’s dream to aid the Contact and Mobilisation Committee in the South-West
Region.

“We have just inspected the building. We have also done sundry checks on it and we found it excellent in all aspects.

“The location, here, Oke Bola, close to the residence of our great leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is symbolic,” he said.

Are said he was really moved with the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the donor who did not want to be named.

He said that the donor was still evidently mobilising people across the country in support of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ambition.

According to him, the building to serve as the South-West Secretariat for Tinubu-Shettima Campaign will help in enhancing organisation and expansion of the activities of the campaign council.

“It will enable the council to attend more effectively with myriads of support groups, associations and volunteers, daily indicating interests in the Tinubu Presidential bid.

“Of all the candidates, only Tinubu has been consistently unswerving as a progressive politician, he has all his life been following Awolowo’s footsteps, playing progressive and development politics.

“Now, having our South-West Campaign Secretariat near Awolowo’s House is very exciting.

“My committee members and I are fascinated about it. This building is suitable for the purposes of our campaigns. We are very grateful to the donor,” Are said.

Commenting, Mrs Wunmi Ohwovoriole, Secretary of the committee, expressed satisfaction with the quality and symbolic location of the building.

Ohwovoriole appreciated the closeness of the building to the house of the late Awolowo, whom she described, as the bastion of progressive politics in Nigeria.

“Talking about the location of the building, it is also instructive; it is located in the heart of Ibadan. It is accessible and quite significant that we have such a big office here.

“The donor has been magnanimous enough to give us such a place and we are very grateful to him,” she said.

Ohwovoriole said that the facility would benefit the work of the campaign council, especially in the coordination of hundreds of groups, associations and volunteers working tirelessly toward Tinubu’s victory.

Among the executive members of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee on the inspection tour were: Titi Oseni; Kaoli Olusanya; Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle; Bamidele Faparusi and Waheed Akanbi.

Others were: Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan; Kolawole Kingsley; Adekunle Olayinka; Nkem Sofela; Olayinka Shitta-Lawal; Falade Barde; Segun Fawibe; Ramoni Rotimi; Toyosi Kolade; Amb. Olugbanmu Adetokunbo; Aina Adebayo; Mathew Sunday and Dayo Iyaniwura.(NAN)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says the commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the elections’ timetable, let alone postpone the 2023 general elections.

Yakubu stated this at the presentation of electronic copy of the 93,469,008 voter register to leaders of political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that more than ever before the commission was more prepared for the 2023 general elections and had now successfully implemented 11 out of the 14 activities on schedule for the elections.

“Already, substantial quantities of sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been deployed to various locations across the country.

“The last batch of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been received while the ongoing configuration of the critical technology in readiness for elections will soon be completed. In the last two days, we commenced the airlifting of other sensitive materials to States across the country.

“Already, some of the materials for 17 States in three geo-political zones have been delivered. Furthermore, 13,868,441 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been printed, delivered to States and are being collected by citizens as new voters or by existing voters who applied for transfer or replacement of cards as provided by law.

He added that similarly, following the display of the voters’ register nationwide and the conclusion of claims and objections by citizens, a new national register of voters has been compiled.

“In short, at no time in the recent history of the Commission has so much of the forward planning and implementation been accomplished 44 days ahead of a General Election.

“Therefore, the commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable, let alone the postponement of the general elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday Feb. 25, 2023 while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday March 11, 2023.

“The repeated assurance by the security agencies for the adequate protection of our personnel, materials and processes also reinforces our determination to proceed.

“The 2023 general election will hold as scheduled. Any report to the contrary is not the official position of the Commission.’’

On the register voter, Yakubu said after the cleaning up of the data from the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) from June 2021 to  July 2022, where  9,518,188 new voters were added to the exiting 84,004,084 voters, the preliminary register voters was 93,522,272.

He said that when the register was presented to Nigerians for claims and objections as required by law, INEC received 53,264 objections from Nigerians to the prevalence of ineligible persons on the register by virtue of age, citizenship or death, which were verified and removed from the register.

“Consequently, the register of voters for the 2023 general election stands at 93,469,008. Of this cumulative figure, 49,054,162 (52.5 per cent) are male while 44,414,846 (47.5 per cent) are female.

“The distribution by age group shows that 37,060,399 (39.65 per cent ) are youth between the ages of 18 and 34; 33,413,591 (35.75 per cent ) are middle aged persons between the ages of 35 and 49;

“17,700,270 (18.94 per cent ) are elderly voters between the ages of 50 and 69 while 5,294,748 (5.66%) are senior citizens aged 70 and above.

“In terms of occupational distribution, students constitute the largest category with 26,027,481 (27.8%) of all voters, followed by 14,742,554 (15.8 per cent ) Farmers/Fishermen and 13,006,939 (13.9 per cent) housewives.

“The data on disability was not collected for previous registration. However, the cumulative figure of 85,362 persons from the recent CVR indicates that there are 21,150 (24.5 per cent ) persons with Albinism; 13,387 (15.7 per cent ) with physical impediment and 8,103 (9.5 per cent) are blind.”

Yakubu said that the softcopy of the breakdown and analysis would be uploaded to INEC website and social media platforms shortly.

He reiterated INEC commitment to transparent, credible and inclusive 2023 General Election, saying INEC would continue to take every step to protect the sanctity of the votes cast by citizens and to deal with infractions.

This according to Yakubu, includes the arrest and prosecution of persons that attempt to perpetuate illegality at Polling Units on Election Day, be they underaged voters or vote buyers.

On the collection of PVCs at 8,809 Registration Areas/Wards nationwide,  Yakubu said that locations for collection could be identified by sending a short text message to any of the two dedicated telephone lines

In his response IPAC Chairman, Yabagi Sani commended INEC efforts in ensuring that power is peacefully transferred in the country; in spite the challenges and plots by anti-democratic agents to truncate the process.

Sani, who was represented by IPAC General Secretary, Yusuf Dantalle said that political parties were resolved to ensure to support INEC, security agencies and traditional rulers for peaceful conduct of 2023 general election.

He said that party leaders were confidence in INEC technology for the election including BVAS and IReV for electronic transmission of result.

Sani said the deployment of the technology would discourage vote buying and situation where people write election results from their rooms and ask INEC official to declare it for people to go to court..

“It makes evidence that so many efforts are in place to ensure that this did not work but we are equally appealing to political party leaders in the country to see that power belongs to God and He gives it to whoever He will.

“We will try the best we can, but we political leaders must the country forward. We do not under intense pressure as if we don’t want this democracy or this election will not succeed.’’

NAN reports that Lagos has the highest number of voters with 7, 060,195, followed by Kano State with 5,921,370 and Kaduna with 4,335,208 registered voters.

Ekiti State has the least registered voters with 987,647, followed by Bayelsa with 1,056,862 and Yobe with 1,485,146  registered voters.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza