Politics
2027: Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Lamido in coalition talks
2027: Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Lamido in coalition talks
Key opposition figures yesterday began coalition talks ahead of 2027 polls, barely one year into the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also met with two PDP chieftains, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
Speaking on Obi’s meeting with Atiku, the ex-VP’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said although they discussed the proposal for coalition, he was not conversant with details of the discussion.
But Obi’s aide, YunusaTanko, was more forthcoming on the reasons behind the meetings.
According to him: “His (Obi) abiding devotion is to the emergence of a Nigeria that works for all its peoples and where the people are quickly pulled out of poverty.
“Worried about the state of the nation and the increasing uncertainty in the living conditions of the poor and underprivileged, Obi in Abuja on Monday visited some top Nigerians, among whom are Former Vice President, and PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki and the former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
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“At the centre of discussion during each of these visits was the state of the nation and how to reduce the suffering of all Nigerians irrespective of class and location.
“In particular, the desperate condition of the downtrodden in our midst was highlighted. Of particular interest and emphasis in these discussions was the worrisome situation in the Northern parts of the country.”
An excited Atiku posted the photographs of the meeting on his social media handle.
Ibe said Atiku was making a significant effort to bring the opposition into a coalition
He said: “Yes, they met at His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s residence for about 20 minutes this afternoon (yesterday). It was held behind closed doors. So, we wouldn’t know exactly what was discussed.
“We can only guess that it was in furtherance of efforts towards offering Nigerian citizens much better options.
“What is important is that there have been calls for the opposition to coalesce into a strong force and surely, they must have had very positive discussions on some issues of significance . But what we don’t know yet is the exact details of their discussion.”
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In 2019, Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the presidential poll on the platform of the PDP. They were defeated by the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.
During the last year’s poll, Atiku and Obi, who refused to work together, were defeated by President Bola Tinubu.
Shortly after the post-election litigations, Obi also rejected partisan overtures by Atiku, who mooted the idea of coalition.
Currently, both PDP and LP are contending with some internal contradictions, particularly leadership squabbles that have further polarised them.
The PDP, beset by leadership crisis, has been hit by a gale of defections, making it to lose many members to the ruling party.
Also, LP is split into two camps, and in the Southeast, which is its stronghold, it is ebbing away as many chieftains are leaving in droves.
The rift between LP and its acclaimed founder, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has escalated, with the Political Commission of the union rejecting Julius Abure as national chairman.
According to observers, Obi has not demonstrated the capacity to foster reconciliation in the party.
The direction of the proposed PDP/LP coalition upon during the separate meetings is cloudy.
2027: Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Lamido in coalition talks
Politics
Senator Adeola to INEC: Adopt NIN, driving licence as voter’s card like Ogun
Senator Adeola to INEC: Adopt NIN, driving licence as voter’s card like Ogun
Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to consider alternative means of identification during voting.
Adeola, who’s the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation,
pointed out that accepting multiple forms of ID for voting will make the electoral process more inclusive and transparent.
He praised the use of National Identity Numbers and Driving Licences as voter identification at the ongoing Ogun State local government election, local government election, calling it a strategy to prevent voter disenfranchisement and ensure everyone can participate.
The Senator, who voted at the U.A.M.C. Polling Unit in Pahayi, Ilaro, noted that INEC can address challenges associated with the Permanent Voter’s Card and promote a smoother voting experience for Nigerians by exploring alternative identification methods.
He said, “I want to strongly believe that if we mitigate against this idea of disenfranchising people from casting their vote for one reason or the other, I will believe that it is not a bad idea to use other means of identification.
“The only thing is that there should be a lot of processes into this that will make it more legal, and that can show to the whole world the level of using it transparent. As far as that process is concerned, this will convince Nigerians that going forward into the future, aside from the PVCs, we can also use other legal means of identification, like a passport or the NIN card.”
Politics
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Saturday’s governorship election Ondo State is leading in all the 13 local governments so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aiyedatiwa is also the incumbent governor of the state.
The collation of the remaining five council areas would resume by 5am today (Sunday), the collation officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi, said Saturday night.
Akinwunmi, who announced the recess, said it was to allow for the arrival of results from the remaining local governments.
He said, “We have five more local governments but we are going to take our recess now until 5am to receive from Akure North, Okitipupa and Odigbo, then Ilaje and Eseodo. We resume at 5am for these local governments.”
Politics
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
In less than 24 hours to the Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that Olusola Ebiseni would be replaced with Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party candidate.
INEC stated on X on Friday that the replacement of Mr Ebiseni with Mr Festus followed a judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court ordered INEC to restore the name of Festus as the Labour Party candidate in the Saturday election.
INEC was served with the certified true copy of the judgment on Thursday, which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
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“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on Sept. 27 ordered the commission to accept Ebiseni as the candidate of the LP for the 2024 Ondo state governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the LP, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out the judgment of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the commission has restored Festus, whose name was first published as the LP candidate for the 2024 Ondo Governorship election and uploaded the same to our website for public information,” INEC said.
INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election
(NAN)
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