Presidential Race: PDP Rakes In N285m From Atiku, Saraki, 6 Others – Newstrends
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Presidential Race: PDP Rakes In N285m From Atiku, Saraki, 6 Others

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Atiku, Saraki

A total of N285m has been generated by the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from eight presidential aspirants that have so far purchased its nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the presidency.

The party had after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections. While the seven male aspirants paid N40m each, making N280m, the lone female aspirant paid N5m.

The aspirants that have so far collected the forms are former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former Senate president Bukola Saraki, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. 

Others are Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu; Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Diana Oliver Tariela, the only female aspirant that has so far purchased the forms.

Speaking shortly after obtaining his nomination form at the headquarters of the PDP in Abuja, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze said he is more qualified than all those that have picked nomination and expression of interest forms to vie for the presidency under the party in 2023.

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Saraki, Tambuwal, Mohammed rally Ortom over consensus

Meanwhile, three presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP, yesterday, met the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, over their bid to come up with a consensus presidential candidate ahead of the party’s primaries.

A former Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki and two northern governors on Monday visited Governor Ortom to consult him over their presidential ambitions.

The trio – former Senate president, Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed – were all in Makurdi yesterday.

They said they were in the Benue State capital as a team to hold private discussions with Ortom in furtherance of their ambitions as well as in the interest of the country.

Saraki, who addressed Governor Ortom on behalf of the others, disclosed that they decided to form a unity team mainly to enable them to reach a consensus among themselves in the days ahead.

He stressed that they took the initiative to work as a team without anybody forcing them to do so, adding that it became necessary because the country was too divided. 

They restated their commitment to ensuring that PDP won the 2023 presidential election.

Responding, Governor Ortom commended the aspirants, describing them as eminently qualified to be the president of Nigeria.

He said “these two leaders, (former) Senate president and Tambuwal, Nigerians can testify that during their time, they did very well and delivered on their mandate, so I’m not surprised today they are coming out for the presidency. 

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“They are eminently qualified and my brother, Mohammed who we were colleagues in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, is also eminently qualified and I’m very happy. 

“This visit humbles me. If these three people or one of them had requested that they want to see me in Abuja, Kwara, Sokoto or Bauchi, I would have been there,” Ortom said.

Also yesterday, Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has declared his support for the consensus arrangement being planned by the three presidential aspirants. 

Speaking when the trio of governors Tambuwal, Mohammed of Bauchi and Saraki, met him at the Taraba Governor’s lodge in Abuja, Ishaku said he was in support of the move to produce a consensus candidate. 

He lamented the state of affairs in the country and urged the aspirants to come together as that was the only way to tackle the problem in the country. 

Ishaku said, “This is a wonderful golden initiative. PDP is known for being a family. We have shown Nigerians how to rule and manage their affairs and I think we should still be the leaders. You have my 100 per cent support. I am sure my colleagues too will give you the same support.”

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Senator Adeola to INEC: Adopt NIN, driving licence as voter’s card like Ogun 

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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.”

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Ondo gov: Aiyedatiwa leads in 13 LGAs, result collation resumes 5am

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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.”

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INEC replaces LP candidate hours to Ondo gov election

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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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