Ahead Of APC Primary: Buhari Pushes For Consensus As Northern Govs Back Southern Presidency - Newstrends
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Ahead Of APC Primary: Buhari Pushes For Consensus As Northern Govs Back Southern Presidency

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4 years ago

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President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday urged presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives  Congress (APC) to consult, build consensus and come up with a formidable candidate ahead of the party’s presidential primary.

Buhari, who stated this when he hosted the 23 presidential aspirants at the State House, Abuja, urged them to hold consultations and come up with a formidable candidate before the party holds its primary election between June 6 and 8, 2022. 

The president said the meeting was a continuation of the ongoing consultative process aimed at ensuring a smooth and strategic emergence of a standard bearer, who will lead the APC to a resounding victory in the upcoming presidential poll.

“Ahead of the convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognising this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst other things, recommended that consensus building through consultation be intensified.

“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members,” the president was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina as saying.

He assured that in the interest of the country and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and ongoing consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential election and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all-important responsibility.”

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Earlier, the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had promised that all stakeholders of the party would be reached in the consultation process.

Responding on behalf of the aspirants, a former governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the president for his leadership and guidance, pledging that they would hold the consultations as counseled “for the unity and strength of our party, the APC.”

Northern govs to Buhari: Pick your successor from South

Eleven northern governors have asked President Buhari to pick his successor from the southern part of the country. 

The governors’ position came 24 hours after Daily Trust on Sunday reported how a clique in the presidency had succeeded in selling the candidature of Senate President Ahmad Lawan to the president. 

There have been agitations in the polity about where the successor of President Buhari, who is completing his second term, should come from within southern governors, insisting that it is the turn of the South to govern the country.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had elected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from Adamawa as its flag-bearer for the general elections.

Buhari had on Tuesday met with the 22 governors of the APC and told them that he needed their support in choosing his successor. He said the choice of the party’s presidential candidate must be “someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”

The northern governors, who are members of the APC, in a statement signed by all of them, urged all the aspirants for the presidential ticket of the party from the North to pull out of the race.

The governors are Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abdullahi A. Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Umara Zulum (Borno), Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (Kaduna) and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe).

Others are Bello M. Matawalle (Zamfara), Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau), Dr Abdullahi  Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and a former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko.

The governors, who rose from an emergency meeting, said that after Buhari’s tenure, the southern part of the country should take over the mantle of leadership.

The statement reads,  “After a careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria. 

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in any way affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and progressive country.

“We, therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states. We appeal to all aspirants from northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the South to proceed to the primary.

“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms. This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate. And we call on all APC leaders to fulfill their responsibility in this regard.”

Southern govs welcome development

Responding to the decision, the chairman of the Southern Governors Forum and Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, welcomed the decision of the northern governors, describing it as heart-warming.

“We did not expect anything short of this heart-warming decision from our colleagues, great patriots and reliable partners in the collaborative efforts towards the attainment of nationhood for our dear country. This is indeed another landmark achievement in our quest for understanding, rapprochement and continual engagement for mutual beneficence.

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“We acknowledge this courageous stance for equity and moral rectitude. We applaud the zeal and determination of our brothers to engage realistically and honestly. We salute this uncommon resolve to confront issues militating against the march towards nationhood and ultimate greatness. 

“By this gesture, we are convinced of the seriousness of our colleagues to join other patriots in ensuring that the march towards stability, progress and prosperity is not truncated by indiscretion.”

Badaru pulls out of race 

Meanwhile, the governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, has pulled out of the race.

With Badaru out of the race, the North has Senate President Lawan; Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Ahmed Yarima, who are still in the race for the APC ticket.

On his part, the Ebonyi State governor and presidential aspirant on the platform of the party has said he would not fight Buhari’s anointed candidate for the 2023 poll.

He stated this when Lawan met with him on Saturday in Abuja. Umahi said Buhari was a good man, but added that he is being hurt by his enemies.

All the aspirants were in attendance at the dinner, which started at 9pm.

S/ West moves to present consensus candidate 

Meanwhile, political leaders from the South West geopolitical are making frantic efforts to prevail on aspirants from the zone to present a common front ahead of tomorrow’s convention.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the promoters of the consensus move in the South West – former APC chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba – have also reached out to prominent traditional rulers in the zone to prevail on some of the aspirants to consider stepping down. 

A meeting convened by the promoters of the consensus was ongoing as at 1am this morning.

The duo of Akande and Osoba had earlier met with the aspirants in Lagos, where it was agreed that they should conduct their electioneering campaigns devoid of hostility, free of rancour and in an amicable manner.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, as well as former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, senator representing Ondo North senatorial district, Robert Ajayi Boroffice and the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Nigeria, Pastor Tunde Bakare, are the presidential aspirants from the South West.

It was learnt that either Tinubu or Osinbajo, who are seen as the leading aspirants, will emerge as the consensus candidate if the leaders are able to push through the move.

We may sanction Tinubu, no statutory delegates for primary –  Abdullahi Adamu

The national chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has said the party may punish Tinubu over his comment “against” President Buhari.

Tinubu had few days ago said that if not because of him, Buhari wouldn’t have been president of the country.

Briefing newsmen at the APC headquarters on Saturday in Abuja, Adamu said, “We may punish him (Tinubu) for his utterances against the president.”

Adamu also said no presidential aspirant had been disqualified from contesting at the party’s presidential primary.

On the issue of delegates to the convention, Adamu said, “Well, I am a lawyer, we have served notice of appeal and the matter is in the court. And as far as we and this convention are concerned, statutory delegates are excluded.”

Meanwhile, the senior special assistant to President Buhari on special duties, Mallam Ya’u Darazo, has urged Nigerians, especially members of the APC, to ignore the malicious attempt by the opponents of Asiwaju Tinubu to misrepresent what he told party leaders and delegates in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday.

Darazo, in a statement he signed in his personal capacity as a supporter of the presidential ambition of Tinubu, noted that the distortion of what the frontline presidential aspirant said was a dubious attempt to cause discord between him and President Buhari.

“I have a message for them (mischief makers). They have failed woefully. They should not take Nigerians for granted; Nigerians are wise enough. Let the mischief makers note that good and purposeful leadership is not on the same page with mischief. It is good that Nigerians know them early enough. It is very clear that their purpose of seeking leadership is not service-driven.”

DAILY TRUST

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Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

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4 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Afrobeats star David Adeleke popularly known as Davido

Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has deleted a social media post in which he publicly warned his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, against supporting any presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The now-deleted post, which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, August 15, 2026, read: “No more supporting any presidential candidate @AAdeleke_01 make we Dey our Dey!!!” The message came as voting and result collation were taking place in Osun State, where Governor Adeleke was seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party. Checks by multiple news outlets confirmed that the post was taken down shortly after it went live, but not before it had generated significant attention online. A separate deleted message aimed at President Bola Tinubu, which read “U no try @officialABAT,” was also reportedly removed.

The deletion of both posts has raised eyebrows among political observers, given Governor Adeleke’s public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. During his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the Osun governorship election, Adeleke reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, stating: “At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election. Mr President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.” Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, welcomed the governor’s renewed endorsement, describing Adeleke as a “man of integrity and honour” and stating: “Agreement is agreement.” However, Adeleke’s Imole Campaign Council has rejected suggestions that the governor’s endorsement of Tinubu was the product of a political agreement or bargain, insisting that his support was based on Tinubu’s performance and reforms.

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The deleted posts come amid Davido’s recent statements distancing himself from Nigerian politics. In subsequent posts on X, the singer described Nigerian politics as “evil” and declared he does not want to be a part of it. He wrote: “I brought no one! No one defended me! I backed my family on my own!! You guys are ruthless and disgusting! Eeewwww! I have done my job! Nigerian politics is evil AND I DON’T WANT TO BE A PART OF IT TILL GOD HELPS US!” Davido has previously stated he would only consider running for political office if Nigeria guarantees free, fair, and credible elections. Despite his active role in mobilising youth support for his uncle’s campaign, he has consistently maintained that his political involvement has been driven by family loyalty rather than a broader political ambition.

Governor Adeleke ultimately won the election, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by 66,252 votes. The governor recorded 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes. The final figures showed that Adeleke secured victories in 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. The election had 1,010,684 accredited voters from 2,339,544 registered voters, with 1,005,800 votes cast. INEC recorded 985,097 valid votes and 20,721 rejected ballots.

The election was marked by reports of gunshots, alleged ballot-box snatching, and arrests. The Osun State Police Command announced the arrest of a serving member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, along with 146 suspected electoral mercenaries found at his residence. More than 200 Permanent Voter Cards were recovered during the operation. In a separate operation, police arrested 33 suspected electoral mercenaries in Ede. Davido had been actively following events and expressing concerns about happenings around the poll and the collation of results. However, the governor’s victory did not lead to any change in his position on the 2027 presidential election. Adeleke also disclosed that Tinubu personally contacted him after his victory and expressed appreciation for the President’s intervention on issues surrounding the election, including the unfreezing of the state government’s account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the poll.

Davido Quietly Removes Tweet Cautioning Adeleke on Supporting Tinubu

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BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

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6 hours ago

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August 17, 2026

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BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker
Hon Yekini Idiaye - New Speaker and Rt Hon Blessing Agbebaku

BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

The Edo State House of Assembly has a new Speaker following the resignation of Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, who stepped down on Monday, August 17, 2026, amid reports of an impeachment plot against him. Hon. Yekini Idaiyi (also spelled Idiaye), the lawmaker representing Akoko Edo I Constituency, was swiftly nominated and sworn in as the new Speaker during the plenary session that followed Agbebaku’s exit.

The leadership change was formally announced when Deputy Speaker Osamwonye Atu, who presided over the session, informed the House that Agbebaku’s resignation letter had been received. The resignation was confirmed by Agbebaku’s media aide, Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, via a Facebook post that read, “EDO ASSEMBLY SPEAKER RT HON CHIEF BLESSING AGBEBAKU RESIGNS.” Agbebaku’s decision to step down came amid reports of growing internal tension and moves by some lawmakers to impeach him. The former Speaker had led the 8th Assembly since June 2023, having been elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2025. His tenure was marked by political turbulence, including the suspension of three lawmakers in May 2024 over an alleged impeachment plot and recent security concerns that postponed the Assembly’s first sitting of 2026.

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Following the announcement of Agbebaku’s resignation, the lawmaker representing Esan South East Constituency, Sunday Ojiezele, nominated Yekini Idaiyi for the position of Speaker. The nomination was seconded by Hon. Eric Okaka, representing Owan East Constituency. The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idaiyi, who then assumed leadership of the House. The House also approved a letter from the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominating new principal officers, including Hon. Sunday Ojiezele as Majority Leader, Hon. Ojie Inegbebor as Deputy Majority Leader, and Hon. Natasha Osawaru as Minority Leader, nominated by the National Democratic Congress.

Hon. Yekini Idaiyi is a ranking lawmaker with prior leadership experience in the Edo Assembly. He previously served as Deputy Speaker from June 2019 until August 2020, when he was impeached following political disagreements surrounding his support for the APC governorship candidate during the 2020 Edo governorship election. His emergence as Speaker marks a return to the Assembly’s leadership after several years, and he is expected to steer the legislative house through this period of transition and political realignment.

BREAKING: Edo Assembly leadership shake-up: Agbebaku out, Idaiyi emerges new Speaker

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Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke, Says Osun Victory Affirms Nigeria’s Democratic Progress

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1 day ago

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August 16, 2026

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Adeleke withdraws EFCC suit after Tinubu’s intervention
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State

Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke, Says Osun Victory Affirms Nigeria’s Democratic Progress

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the August 15 governorship election, describing the outcome as a strong assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in Nigeria.

The President, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he personally called Adeleke earlier in the day to congratulate him on his re-election.

Tinubu said Adeleke’s victory had once again demonstrated the confidence the people of Osun State reposed in his leadership.

“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him,” the President said.

He urged the governor, who has secured another term in office, to use his renewed mandate to unite the people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations or choices during the election.

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According to Tinubu, the governor’s immediate responsibility is to bring the people together and mobilise them towards achieving greater development, stability and prosperity in the state.

“I wish him great success as he prepares to lead the state for the next four years. Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election,” he said.

The President also commended other candidates who contested the election, praising what he described as their courage and discipline throughout the electoral process.

He said their participation had contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic culture, adding that the outcome of the poll represented the decision of the electorate.

“I salute the courage and discipline displayed by other contestants in the election. Their participation deepened and enriched our country’s democratic culture,” Tinubu said.

He added that the result of the election reflected the will of the people of Osun State and provided further confidence in the survival and growth of democratic governance in the country.

“The outcome of the election reflects the will of the people and is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our land,” the President stated.

Tinubu further commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for its role in conducting the election, as well as the security agencies deployed for the exercise.

The President described the election as peaceful and transparent, noting that the process produced a clear winner.

His commendation comes after Osun voters went to the polls on Saturday to elect the governor who will lead the state for another four-year term.

Adeleke’s victory means the incumbent governor will continue in office for another term, giving his administration an opportunity to consolidate on its programmes and policies while addressing the developmental challenges confronting the state.

The President’s statement also appeared to emphasise the need for political reconciliation following the election, urging the governor to extend his leadership to all residents of Osun State, including those who voted against him.

Tinubu’s congratulatory message further underscored the importance of accepting electoral outcomes and ensuring that political competition does not undermine governance, unity and development after elections.

The statement was signed by Onanuga on August 16, 2026.

Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke, Says Osun Victory Affirms Nigeria’s Democratic Progress

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