Politics

I’ll address agitations in South East –Tinubu

Published

3 years ago

November 25, 2022

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, yesterday solicited the votes of the people of the South East, promising that his administration would address issues fueling agitation in the zone.

He spoke at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when he led members of his campaign team to officially flag off APC campaign in the state.

He promised to revive the economy of the zone and make it the Taiwan of the country using the rich human resources which he said abound in great quantity.

He noted that his achievements as governor in Lagos remained an eloquent testimony of his capacity to lead the country alright, saying he deplored best the hands from all parts of the country to develop the state.

He reminded the people of the failures and disappointment they suffered during the 16 years government of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and urged them not to vote for the opposition party.

He commended Governor David Umahi for joining the APC, stressing that his decision was for the best interest of the people of the state and the zone in general.

“In the PDP 16 years of governance, there is no blinker of electricity anywhere in this country. Should they come back to power? No. How will they come back? We don’t want to go backwards, we are progressives. We will move the country forward. We will make the South East the Taiwan of Nigeria. We will do it. It is a matter of rightly deploring the right intellectual which abounds here. We will embark on economic restoration and empowerment. We will ensure electricity and end the extortionist electricity billing. We will address the issues of agitations in South East by bringing agitators to a round table for discussion because we believe that addressing societal challenges does not demand conflict.”

In his remark, Governor Umahi said the APC government under President Muhammadu Buhari has helped the South East more than any other administration before it. He assured the APC candidate that achievements of APC government, both at the federal and state level, would speak for him and ensure his victory in the state and the entire South East in 2023.

At another forum in Abakaliki, Tinubu pledged to review the nation’s reward system to encourage productivity.

The APC flagbearer, who interacted with stakeholders, said it was time to ensure that individuals who contributed to the success of any process benefitted.

“The people of Ebonyi will benefit for their loyalty and commitment to this cause. Together, we would benefit, practice democracy, develop our country and offer our children better days. Ensure that your friends and relations collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and vote on election days.”

He said the country needed friendliness and brotherhood to surmount the numerous challenges confronting it.

“It is the same cooperation that Ebonyi stakeholders gave Umahi that made him record several achievements in office. The same support and loyalty made him jump a sinking ship to join the APC. When one enters this state Executive Council chambers for instance, he or she would think it is the United Nations chambers,” he said.

Governor David Umahi assured him of total support.

“The APC campaigns in Ebonyi will be easy because we have performed wonderfully in office and exceeded people’s expectations. The people are obedient to Tinubu and the APC and are not bothered about the noise on the social media.” HRH Charlse Mkpuma, chairman of the state’s Traditional Rulers Council, led other traditional rulers to confer the title of ‘Dike di ora mma’ (Great man loved by the people) on Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Mobilisation North Central of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), has promised to ensure Tinubu sweeps 70 per cent votes in the geopolitical zone.

It argued that Tinubu’s capacity, experience, not his age or health status placed him above the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively.

Director of the group, Mike Msuaan, at a press conference after meeting with party stalwarts in Abuja yesterday, cited Tinubu’s antecedents as governor of Lagos State to buttress his assertions.

“We didn’t see Asiwaju contesting with Atiku and Peter Obi. We know what Atiku did to this country. He threw the youths of North Central and this country to the streets. The privatisation exercise that he mishandled drove youths into joblessness. We are still in darkness. Is that the person that should rule us? Or are we talking of Peter Obi who has zero record in Anambra State?

“We are equal to the task. We have somebody who is competent, whose antecedents have been speaking for him and would speak for him. This is somebody other states still copy his economic plan. The two of them are nowhere comparable to Tinubu. Under Tinubu, there would be total liberation for the youths and wealth creation.

“The president of the United States of America is as old as Tinubu. It is not about age, it’s about what you have upstairs. Tinubu has experience better than all of them. The right thing the president would do is to assemble the best hands for the country. He has been tested and trusted. He did it in Lagos and he is going to do it for Nigeria.”

On whether APC is comfortable with the use of BVAS and electronic transmission of election results, he responded: “Why should the APC be afraid of BVAS and electronic transfer of results when the youths are strongly behind us? Why should we be afraid? I told you that if election is conducted tomorrow APC is going to win. They are the ones running after us. We have already given them more than 30 per cent gap ahead. And by tomorrow if elections are conducted we would give them more than 50 per cent. We are very comfortable with the arrangement made by INEC.

“We are going to win with that because that has taken care of the manipulation of those who want to do yahoo yahoo on election day. Asiwaju is the next president of this country by the grace of God,” he stated emphatically.

SUN

Related Topics:Featured South EAst Tinubu

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Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

Published

16 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his outstanding contributions to the success of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recently concluded 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted polls across the six area councils of the FCT — Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali — on February 21, 2026. The APC secured victories in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, and Kwali, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Gwagwalada.

In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, Tinubu congratulated all successful candidates and praised the peaceful and credible conduct of the elections, noting the efforts of INEC, security agencies, and voters.

Tinubu Hails Wike as APC Dominates 2026 FCT Area Council Elections

Politics

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

Published

18 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to challenge the outcome of the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring that it is heading to court with what it described as strong video and documentary evidence of electoral irregularities.

The move follows the conclusion of voting across the six FCT area councils — Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — with official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showing a clear advantage for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the results, the APC won chairmanship seats in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari and Kwali, while the PDP recorded its only victory in Gwagwalada Area Council.

PDP Sets Up Legal Team

In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, the PDP disclosed that it has constituted a special legal team to prosecute all election-related petitions arising from the FCT council polls. The team is headed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u.

Claims of Intimidation and Manipulation

The PDP accused security agencies and other actors of interfering in the electoral process, alleging widespread intimidation, vote suppression, and manipulation at polling units and during result collation.

“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors declared successful by INEC,” the statement said.

“This victory, though fewer than expected, is particularly significant given the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage witnessed during the elections.”

The party insisted it has visual records allegedly showing armed security personnel carting away result sheets, intimidating voters, and influencing outcomes in several polling units.

Voter Apathy and Electoral Reform

Beyond the legal challenge, the PDP blamed low voter turnout on what it described as declining public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. The party argued that repeated controversies surrounding elections have weakened confidence among voters.

It warned that the FCT council elections could be a signal ahead of the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms are not implemented.

Call for Intervention

The opposition party called on the President and the National Assembly to urgently intervene by reforming the electoral framework, strengthening transparency, and limiting security interference in elections.

With post-election litigation now looming, political focus in the FCT is shifting from the ballot box to the courtroom as parties prepare for legal battles that could reshape grassroots governance in the nation’s capital.

PDP Heads to Court Over FCT Polls, Cites Video Evidence of Irregularities

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FCT Council polls: APC Wins Four Chairmanship Seats as PDP Takes Gwagwalada

Published

19 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

FCT Council polls: APC Wins Four Chairmanship Seats as PDP Takes Gwagwalada

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a strong showing in the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, securing four chairmanship seats across the Federal Capital Territory, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed victory in Gwagwalada Area Council.

The elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the six FCT councils — AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje — with chairmen and councillors elected to oversee grassroots governance.

AMAC: Maikalangu Re-elected

In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu of the APC was re-elected after polling 40,295 votes, the highest in the contest. A total of 62,861 valid votes were recorded out of 65,197 votes cast.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) placed second with 12,109 votes, while the PDP trailed with 3,398 votes. Rejected votes stood at 2,336, with 837,338 registered voters and 65,676 accredited voters in the council.

Bwari: APC Clinches Clear Win

In Bwari Area Council, Joshua Ishaku of the APC emerged winner with 18,466 votes, defeating candidates of the ADC (4,254 votes) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) (3,515 votes). The election covered 10 wards, including Kubwa, Ushafa, Dutse, Byazhin and Bwari Central.

Kwali: APC Extends Lead

The APC also won in Kwali Area Council, where Daniel Nuhu secured the chairmanship seat with 17,032 votes, beating Haruna Pai of the PDP who polled 8,575 votes.

Abaji: APC Dominates

In Abaji Area Council, Umar Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC was declared winner after scoring 15,535 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) followed with 5,357 votes, while the PDP recorded 4,547 votes. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and ADC polled 53 and 37 votes respectively.

Gwagwalada: PDP Breaks APC Run

The PDP secured its only victory so far in Gwagwalada Area Council, preventing an APC sweep of the FCT councils.

Kuje Result Awaited

As of the time of filing this report, results from Kuje Area Council were still being awaited, with collation ongoing and an official announcement expected shortly.

Election Snapshot

So far, the APC has won in AMAC, Bwari, Kwali and Abaji, while the PDP has taken Gwagwalada, leaving Kuje as the final undecided council. The polls were largely peaceful, though voter turnout varied across councils.