APC unveils convention hashtag, says party united as ever – Newstrends
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APC unveils convention hashtag, says party united as ever

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday unveiled the official hashtag for its convention.

Unveiling the hash-tag during a virtual news conference, the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the convention, Abdullahi Sule, said that APC was set to host the biggest party convention in Africa.

The governor of Nasarawa State was represented by Chairperson of the New Media Sub-Committee, Mrs Mary Ikoku.

He said that the hashtag would be used to give blow-by-blow accounts of development during the convention on social media, websites and applications, such as twitter.

According to him, the hashtag, #APCNationalConvention, is to announce the upcoming convention of ‘the largest party in Africa’, which is holding on March 26, at International Conference Centre, Abuja.

“This media parley is to unveil to the media and the public the official hashtag of the convention and to reiterate that the party is united.

“It is also an avenue to tell the world that the party is ready to deliver on those mandates that got it elected into office by millions of Nigerians.

“We all know the functionality of the social media in expanding and amplifying communication, and this is why we are launching the hash-tag to push home our message on the importance of the convention to the global online audience.

“The chosen hashtag is ‘#APCNationalConvention’ and we adopted this to solidify our narrative that we are united party men and women with one aim, which is to have one of the best party conventions ever seen in this country,” he said.

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Consensus forces versus election forces

The forces pushing for convention and election were stuck in a stalemate last night, with each side fiercely seeking an edge.

An aide of the President was not sure how soon the issues might be resolved. President Muhammadu Buhari had proposed a consensus chairman. His rivals reluctantly stepped down after much persuasion by some governors.

However, there is no extensive preparation for an elective convention. There was no trace of ballot paper yesterday for possible use today.

The long wait for unity list

The chairman of the Convention Publicity Committee, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, told reporters yesterday that the Unity List was not immediately ready yesterday owing to delay in ironing out some cogent issues at the local level-states and geo-political zones.

While some of the zones had their list ready yesterday, others were still consulting. He briefed reporters at the party secretariat around 12 noon yesterday.

No manifesto by the anointed

When party members from many states were asked whether the anointed candidate for chairman ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu had unfolded his plans for the party, all the people interviewed said they were not aware of his manifesto.

Eagle Square ready for convention

Although it could not be said that the party was totally ready as at 6pm yesterday, the Eagle Square venue of the convention was ready.

It wore a new look with colourful banners flying in self-jubilation. A war of posters also ensued. Posters of those contesting for party offices competed for spaces as did those of presidential aspirants.

A big billboard at the site bore the inscription ‘Fayemi for Nigeria.’ The posters of Tanko Al-Makura also hung on poles in the vicinity.

Uncertainty over number of delegates

No committee or sub-committee member was available to authoritatively speak about the number of delegates being expected at the convention.

A source said: “The party is pushing for voting by affirmation. Since there is no anticipation toward an elective convention, there is not going to be much accreditation hurdle.”

Day of clandestine meetings

A lot of clandestine meetings took place yesterday at various locations.

The president had met with the eight chairmanship aspirants on Thursday. It was inconclusive.

An aide of the president said the meeting was expected to resume yesterday. “The discussion continues until all issues are settled,” he said.

For five hours, APC governors were also locked in discussions yesterday.

An aide of a governor said: “It is still tough o. There is confusion. The governors are still meeting.  I think they will finally come to an agreement.”

Legacy leaders in crucial meeting

Besides, APC founding fathers, some of who seemed to have been sidelined, met to see how they could broker truce between aggrieved governors who are divided over the micro-zoning of the chairmanship slot on the one hand and the governors and the president over his preference for a particular aspirant.

Bumper time for hotels

Major hotels in the metropolis and suburb of the federal capital were fully booked by last night, leaving many delegates stranded.

National Secretary: Not yet concluded

Party sources said the president had been contacting key stakeholders in the Southwest to replace Iyiola Omisore with Ife Oyedele.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Ondo State counterpart Rotimi Akeredolu are insisting on the former Osun State deputy governor as national scribe.

This means that Omisore may not return to the Senate in 2023.

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola is said to be rooting for Oyedele.

Already, Isaac Kekemeke from Ondo State has been tipped for National Vice Chairman (Southwest). Two key party positions cannot be zoned to a single state.

Sympathy for disadvantaged states

The president and the National Caretaker Committee are insisting that states that have not produced national party officers before should be considered for offices that are zoned to their regions.

In other words, micro-zoning should take cognisance of complaints about exclusion and past cases of injustice.

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Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

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Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has cast doubt on the ability of a newly formed opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Shekarau described the alliance, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as a gathering of individuals with personal political ambitions rather than a structured and unified opposition front.

His remarks came just two days after the coalition’s formation was announced, with the stated goal of challenging Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Sule Yau, Shekarau remarked, “This is just a gathering of certain individuals with political ambitions; none of them has officially consulted their party leadership.”

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He further argued that a coalition featuring prominent figures does not necessarily equate to an effective political alliance.

“The coalition of opposition figures is a good development, as seen in their recent meeting under what they call an opposition alliance. However, none of the key figures involved represents their party leadership,” Shekarau stated.

Emphasizing the legal framework for political mergers, he pointed out that only registered parties could formally unite, making the recent gathering an informal arrangement rather than an officially recognized coalition.

 

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

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PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

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Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t made its official position known on the coalition being put together by some key leaders of the opposition to wrestle power from the ruling party at the federal level, All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, Sunday Vanguard understands that the PDP may join forces with them on one condition: The process will not lead to its loss of identity.

The PDP was in power for 16 years before the APC dislodged it from the Presidential Villa in 2015 when then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection to former President Buhari.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had, last week, announced his decision to join the coalition with other members of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Atiku was responding to a call by a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai, to key members of opposition parties in the country to come together and fight Tinubu and APC in 2027.

El-Rufai had made the call while dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In his response, the former PDP presidential candidate confirmed that he, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, among others, had kick-started a movement aimed at defeating Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections.

He spoke at a press conference organized by Nigeria’s key opposition leaders and political stakeholders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

When journalists asked whether the emerging coalition would be the major opposition force against the APC in 2027, Atiku did not mince words.
“Yes,” he declared.

Clarity

Sources within the PDP told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend that the party will expect the former presidential candidate to give clarity to his decision soon.

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A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was “yet to be discussed at the official level,” said, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed.

“For now, he is still a high ranking member of our party the PDP.

“We have been following his public statements and engagements and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.

“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades -first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election; and in 2013 or thereabouts to join others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Note, however, that on each of these occasions he returned to the PDP.

“Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain. “For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear, this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.

‘Significant shift’

“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.

“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.

“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”

Identity

The party chieftain further explained that a majority of leaders and members of the PDP are resolute in their desire to ensure that the party retains its identity.

According to him, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, spoke the minds of most leaders and members of the PDP when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to dump the party and join the SDP.

Lamido said in an interview, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.

“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Lamido equally questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his motivation for seeking power.

“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole”, he said.

While restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the party which he helped to form hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant him leaving to join another.

His views resonated with another leader and foundation member of the PDP, Chief Bode George, who has told whoever cares to listen that he is in the PDP to stay.

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

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PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

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PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on 20 December 2024, which affirmed the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  

In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that matters concerning the leadership or membership of a political party are internal affairs and should not be subject to judicial intervention. The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter initially brought by Aniagwu Emmanuel.

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However, the judgment, expected to bring an end to the crisis, has left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as both parties in the suit—Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye—are claiming victory. The development threatens to disrupt the fragile peace the party has enjoyed since its organs unanimously endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye following the High Court’s ruling in Enugu.

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

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