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Tinubu in London, set for Chatham House lecture tomorrow

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PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arrived the United Kingdom yesterday ahead of his planned lecture tomorrow.

He will be speaking on security, economy and foreign policy at the Chatham House.

The APC presidential candidate was accompanied on the trip by some state governors and party leaders.

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC had earlier announced that Tinubu will be spending 13 days on foreign trip to the United States and other European countries.

The PCC, in a statement on its Twitter account on Monday, stated that the former Lagos State governor will on December 5 speak at the Chatham House, the United Kingdom’s elite Foreign and Policy Think-tank institution, where he will dwell on security, economy and foreign policy.

Chatham House had on its official website said that Tinubu will discuss “his vision and recently unveiled manifesto for ‘renewing hope’ in Nigeria including his policy proposals for economic reform and revival and how to deliver secure and inclusive job opportunities for Nigerian citizens.”

It said “the event is part of a series of events and outputs examining Nigeria’s 2023 elections and political developments.”

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Meanwhile, the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused Arise News of persistent blackmail to railroad the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to its town hall meeting scheduled for today, but vowed that the candidate would not succumb to the antics.

The council in a statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga described the continuous broadcast of Tinubu’s participation at the talk shop as “shocking and downright anomalous”, even after informing the organisers of the debate that Tinubu would not be available for the programme.

Onanuga spoke just as Senate Chief Whip, Dr .Orji Kalu dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the APC presidential candidate was denied US visa.

He accused the opposition of peddling the rumour.

According to Onanuga , the APC flag bearer had on  November 7 advanced seven reasons why he won’t be attending the television station-organised presidential debates in a statement by the spokesman for the campaign council, Festus Keyamo.

His words: “We find it shocking and downright anomalous that Arise News continues to broadcast the participation of All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju  Bola Ahmed Tinubu in its Presidential Town Hall meeting scheduled to hold on 4 December 2022 despite our earlier statement that our candidate will not be available.

“We noticed that Arise News has also been running a campaign on the so-called constitutional duty of the presidential candidates to participate in its debate  by dubiously citing Section 22 of the Constitution of Nigeria  on the obligation of the Mass Media.

“While it is trite that the media has a clear constitutional duty to hold public office holders accountable to the citizens and its role as the watchdog of the society, there is no part of the Constitution and the Section 22 that says a presidential candidate of any political party and least of all, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must participate in Arise News Town Hall event or any media organised an event at all.

“The same Constitution grants all citizens of Nigeria including, Asiwaju Tinubu the right and freedom of choice and association. The APC Presidential candidate has a right to decide where he goes and what events to participate in as he seeks the mandate of Nigerians to be elected as the next President of our country.

“We want to make it abundantly clear again that Asiwaju Tinubu will not participate and will not attend the Arise News Town Hall meeting slated for Sunday, 4 December, 2022 and any other ones it may plan before the February 2023 presidential election. We want to equally stress that Arise News has consistently shown a pattern of bias against Asiwaju Tinubu and we don’t consider the medium as credible and impartial.”

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The council then disclosed that the APC presidential candidate has his schedule of campaign activities and other engagements within and outside Nigeria.

“One such is his scheduled event for Monday, December 5, 2022 at Chatham House in London where he will speak on Security, Economy and Foreign Policy.

“Asiwaju Tinubu travelled to the United Kingdom early today (Saturday) for this earlier scheduled engagement. We want to reiterate for the umpteenth time that no amount of blackmail, intimidation and media bullying and innuendos by the owner and management of Arise News will change the position our campaign has taken on this matter.”

The council asked all its spokesmen and supporters to steer clear of “this station over its consistent unprofessionalism and bias against our candidate and party.”

Tinubu not denied US visa – Orji Kalu

Dr.Orji Kalu said on his Facebook wall yesterday that speculations that Tinubu was denied US visa were untrue.

He said: “As the election draws closer, the opposition will spread more fake news against our presidential candidate but we should always ignore and keep our eyes on the ball.

“The news that Tinubu was denied visa to the USA is as fake as other fake news.

“Tinubu postponed the travel himself and was never denied visa.

“The State Department of the US confirmed to me that Tinubu will be received in the third week of December.

“As the presidential candidate of our party with outstanding personality, he will be warmly welcomed in the United States.”

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Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

The Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) will announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as its deputy governorship candidate today, after weeks of power struggles and ego trips by party officials in selecting Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s running mate.

It has been discovered that Abuja would host the event.

Idahosa’s selection is said to have been made following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention at a meeting with Edo APC leaders and stakeholders.

Upon being approached, the APC’s acting state chairman did not provide a name. claimed that, however, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) would be defeated by the youngest ticket.

He said, “Our choice of running mate emanated from the people and we are going to unveil him tomorrow (Monday) in Abuja. It will be the youngest ticket ever in the history of Edo State and that is what we will use to defeat the other parties. We are not like them that are producing much older people to govern the state. We are going to produce a young team,” he said.

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Idahosa who is challenging the outcome of the party primary election in the court claimed that he won it and that the supplementary one was illegal.

It was gathered that after Tinubu’s intervention, it was agreed that Idahosa would withdraw his case from the court once all the processes were concluded.

A credible party source said, “It has been a difficult issue for over one week, especially after Idahosa went to court. The leadership of the party in Abuja had to wade into the issue. There have been so many interests at play. Ego was also involved as there were some leaders of the party who saw the primary as an opportunity to get at a leader of the party. They even threatened to publicly denounce the party and work against it if Idahosa is chosen.

“The president intervened and I believe that was what calmed nerves and I hope that all of them will respect and honour the wish of the president,” he said.

Edo guber: APC to unveil Idahosa as Okpebholo’s running mate today

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Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu wants the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, to declare as invalid and unlawful, the governorship indirect primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of February 22 that produced Asue Igbodalo, and that the party should be ordered to conduct fresh primary election.

Shaibu, through his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, also wants the presiding judge to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the standard-bearer of PDP in the September 21 poll.

He urged the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, saying the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and Electoral Act.

Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant.

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The originating summons, as obtained yesterday in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September, 2024.

“An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates’ lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February, 2024 and 10th February, 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant.

“An order of this honourable court mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”

Shaibu drags Igbodalo, INEC to court over Edo primaries

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

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Appeal Court reinstates Abure as LP national chairman

The Appeal Court in Abuja has reinstated Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

Justice Hamma Barka in a judgement delivered on Wednesday faulted the High Court for assuming jurisdiction in the matter.

The Court also awarded N1 million in favour of Abure and against the respondent, Lamidi Apapa.

Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Abuja High Court, ordered Abure and two other national officers to vacate their seats over alleged forgery.

But the Appeal Court set the verdict aside and held that Abure’s appeal had merit.

After the 2023 presidential elections, Abure has been in a legal battle with Apapa who laid claim to the party’s chairmanship.

On March 21, 2024, Abure was arrested by the Police in Benin City, Edo State, and was accused of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offences.

He was later released on bail.

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