What Tinubu told APC screening panel, by aide – Newstrends
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What Tinubu told APC screening panel, by aide

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Tinubu (left) speaking before the Odigie-Oyegun (second right) screening panel...yesterday
  • Former Lagos governor, Amaechi, Umahi, Bakare, eight others screened

  • Osinbajo, Lawan, nine others to face Odigie-Oyegun panel today

  • Jonathan not listed

Frontline presidential aspirant Asiwaju Bola Tinubu last night appeared before the John Odigie-Oyegun-led All Progressives Congress (APC) screening panel.

He answered questions bordering “on his upbringing, educational and professional background”, his campaign spokesman Mr. Bayo Onanuga said.

Onanuga, in a statement, said: “He confidently told the panel why he is qualified to fly the flag of APC as its presidential candidate.

“He cited his success as governor of Lagos State, his raising the internal revenue generation of the state from a paltry N600 million monthly, which has now grown to N51billion today.

“He also cited his invitation to Enron to begin the first state-backed power generation in Nigeria and how Nigeria will need to take the power transmission lines as a highway.

“Tinubu in his answers demonstrated vast knowledge in economic management and a perfect understanding of Nigeria’s political economy.

“The screening committee expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s knowledge of the economy and sociopolitical issues that are affecting the country.”

Eleven other aspirants, including former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Ameachi, Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, Dr. Tunde Bakare and the only female aspirant Uju Ken-Ohanenye also faced the panel.

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The rest are Former Minister of State, Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuiba; Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Felix Nicholas, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Ibikunle Amosu and Senator Sani Yarima Ahmed.

Twenty-eight forms were sold, but only 23 aspirants are listed for screening. Eleven, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Ahamad Lawan, will be screened today.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan being touted as a likely candidate on the APC platform is finally out of the equation. He is not listed to be screened. The party’s convention will hold on Monday at the Eagles Square in Abuja.

Before the commencement of the screening at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, members of the screening panel were inaugurated by party chair Abdullahi Adamu behind closed doors.

Tinubu was accompanied to the venue by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He arrived at about 5:50 pm to a large crowd of supporters led by James Abiodun Faleke, former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal  and chieftains of Tinubu Support Groups.

Amaechi, who came on the heels of Tinubu, headed straight for the elevator brushing aside all reporters at the hotel lobby.

A source in the screening panel said Tinubu was ushered into Suite 312 venue at about 8:20 pm. He left after less than an hour with the panel.

Amaechi was the last to be screened last night.

Tinubu did not speak with reporters as he headed straight for his vehicle after the screening.

However, Mrs Ken-Ohanenye spoke to reporters after her screening and pastor Bakare spoke before he faced the panel.

Aspirants for today’s screening

For screening today are Vice President Osinbajo, Lawan, former Speaker Oladimeji Bankole, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Tein Jack-Rich, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade and former Minister of Information, Ikeobasi Mokelu.

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Though slated for screening today, the fate of Senator Rochas Okorocha, who is in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission custody, is unknown.

The former governor will have a date in court today over allegations of misappropriating N2.9 billion. He has also filed a N1billion suit against the commission to challenge his arrest.

Missing on the screening list of aspirants that purchased the nomination forms apart from Jonathan are the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emifiele; Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige and Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

Bakare, Ken-Ohanenye ready to step down

Mrs Ken-Ohanenye said she was prepared to step down if the party asked her to do so.

She would insist on the adoption of her economic blueprints.

She said: “I will never see it (stepping down) as a problem to my party because I am going to respect them.

“I am going to do whatever it takes to promote my party and make them relax so that they can make a better decision.

“So, if they decide to ask me to step down, I will not have a choice but to step down. So long as they can carry my blueprints onboard I will respect my party.”

On her screening experience, Ken-Ohanenye commended the panel, recalling that she was relaxed in responding to questions and the conversation with the panel was very frank and straight.

“Let me tell you, there was so much fun. The reception was out of this world. I didn’t want to leave. I was chatting with them explaining myself and what I will do if I am elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And why a woman is needed in things that we do. And I was able to tell them that in my own house I have four children and for that, I have four geopolitical zones. Because every child is different. I am already used to managing things like this.”

The General Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare said he would be willing to step down if the party mulls a consensus candidate.

He said: “The party supremacy is the utmost essence. You cannot force your way through a party’s structure. The party has the final say. And when we get to that bridge, we will know how to cross it.

“The screening exercise is to check who is guilty and who is not. And it depends on the people who are doing the screening. By God’s grace, we have complied with everything demanded. We have supplied every information.”

THE NATION

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Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

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IIiya Umar Damagum

Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

Few days after governors on the platform of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) handed down an ultimatum for things to change in the party, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun has moved against the FCT Minister and his loyal lawmakers, the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Damagun in a letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated 13th November 2024 and released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere urged the electoral umpire to conduct a bye-election to fill up the 27 seats, they vacated to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Wike has been accused of being behind the crisis in the PDP over his disagreement with the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, his successor.

The crisis which started over control of resources divided the party in the state with 27 lawmakers in the state assembly siding Wike and defected to the APC following Wike’s acceptance to serve in the government of the APC.

He has also been accused of working in cahoots with Damagun to damage the PDP by not organising the National Executive Committee which would lead to the acting Chairman’s ouster.

After a series of agitation, the latest being from the PDP Governors’ Forum over the weekend, Damagun has demanded that INEC conduct elections as soon as possible, apparently moving against the FCT minister.

He argued in letter titled, ‘DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE CONDUCT OF FRESH ELECTION IN 27 STATE CONSTITUENCIES OF RIVERS STATE WHICH HAVE BECOME VACANT PURSUANT TO SECTION 109(1)(g) OF THE CONSTITUTION’ that it’s “unlawful” for the 27 members to defect.

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The members defected to the APC on December 11, 2023.

Damagun said, going by provisions of the Constitution, the lawmakers are no longer members of the Assembly.

The PDP acting chairman therefore urged the Commission to perform its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting fresh elections to fill the vacancies created in the 27 state constituencies by the unlawful act of the former Assembly members.

Parts of the letter read, “The Leadership of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to draw the attention of the Commission to the gross violation of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following their unlawful defection from our Party, the PDP who sponsored their elections to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Monday, December 11, 2023.

“The Commission may recall that our Party, the PDP nominated all our 32 State House of Assembly candidates in Rivers State for the 2023 General Election on the 7th of July 2022 via your electronic candidate election nomination portal (See attached acknowledgement).

“The Commission may also recall that following the nomination, the Commission conducted election into the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 18th of March, 2023 and our Party won 32 seats in the state Assembly. The elected State House of Assembly members were inaugurated and sworn-in on June, 2023.

“However, on Monday, 11 December, 2023 a period of just six (6) months after inauguration, 27 out of the 32 members publicly announced their defection from our Party to the All Progressive Congress (APC). This defection is a gross violation of Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended).

“The only two grounds of division and merger provided for in the Constitution that permit such defection are completely non-existent in our political Party. It therefore means that the defections of the 27 members are without lawful excuse and these members have vacated their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly by the operations of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby demand that the Commission performs its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting a Fresh Election to fill the vacancies created in the 27 State Constituencies by the unlawful act of the Assembly members. Find attached the list of the 27 State Assembly Members and their Constituencies.

“While thanking the Commission for its commitment to deepening democracy in our country, please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

Damagun writes INEC to conduct by-election for 27 vacant Rivers assembly seats

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Nigeria would have been better under Peter Obi, too much nepotism under Tinubu – Senator Abaribe

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Nigeria would have been better under Peter Obi, too much nepotism under Tinubu – Senator Abaribe

 

Nigeria would have been better than what it is currently if Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), had won the 2023 elections, the senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said.

Abaribe, who spoke on ‘Politics Today,’ a Channels Television programme, on Monday, said Obi would not have been as nepotistic as the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“Number one, he would not be as nepotistic as this government; he won’t; it’s not in him. That is just who we are; we feel for the other people.”

The lawmaker called attention to Tinubu’s appointment of four ministers from Ogun alone, noting that many other states have just one.

“I say it, and I don’t think so. We are seeing it everyday. I just gave you one example. How can Ogun state have four ministers? Why does he favour Ogun state? Oyo state has only one minister,” Abaribe said.

”The nepotism of Buhari, which nobody followed, has now deepened under President Tinubu because Buhari did it, and nobody said much. I was the only person shouting.”

He said that rather than waiting for presidents to be fair to the people of the south-east, it is high time people of the zone went back to revamp it, make it more livable, better, and more cohesive.

“It’s obvious that if we continue to look at whoever becomes president, they will look at us and do us right. Apart from Obasanjo and maybe Jonathan, I do not think that we have seen that same type of fairness,” he said.

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Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary

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Seyi Tinubu

Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary

Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has been tipped for the seat of Lagos governor in the 2027 governorship election.

This was according to a video making the rounds on various social media platforms, which Peoples Gazette saw on Sunday.

The video highlights the president’s son’s biography, focusing on his education, career, and humanitarian activities as a Nigerian. It also documents his involvement in youth development in the country.

This biopic comes on the heels of some groups’ endorsements of Mr Tinubu’s son as a potential successor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2027.

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On Tuesday, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders issued an endorsement in Owerri, Imo, suggesting that the younger Tinubu would be welcomed to contest the governorship seat in Osun or Imo.

He was also endorsed by Friends of Seyi, a group emphasising his vision and intellectual wherewithal to govern the country’s commercial nerve.

APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe, however, described the gale of endorsements as a ploy to undermine the president in a Facebook post.

“Who are these faceless people pushing Seyi Tinubu for Lagos governor? This is a needless distraction,” said Mr Igbokwe. “To pull PBAT down is their target. Ruling Lagos is not the job of boys.”

Lagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary

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