Politics

Why consensus may not work for presidential primary – APC chair

Published

4 years ago

May 26, 2022

Senator Abdullahi Adamu

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, says the consensus method which was used in electing party officers during the March 26, 2022 convention may not be feasible for the party’s presidential primary which begins on Sunday.

The APC chairman said this during a chat with Voice of America Hausa service in Abuja on Wednesday.

Adamu emerged as the APC chairman in March after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), endorsed him and asked other aspirants to step down for him.

However, the APC chairman said a presidential primary was completely different from a chairmanship election.

On plans by the party to force a consensus, he said, “There is no truth in what you said. The reason is that the chairmanship seat is not the same as that of the tussle for the Presidency of the country. You can’t even compare the two of them. That question does not arise.

“However the party has laid down its rules and regulations for the aspirants. We would scrutinise all of them based on our guidelines to be sure we pick the right candidate for the party.”

The APC chairman, however, said the 28 aspirants ought to know that all of them cannot emerge as the candidate of the party.

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He added, “You can’t stop a party stalwart from contesting election or aspiring for the Presidency. It is their rights and we are happy for them. There is nothing wrong for anybody aspiring for the exalted seat of the presidency. It is God that decides who gets what.

“Once God makes up his mind and say this is who He wants, that is what we are praying for. We have 28 aspirants for the presidential ticket and everybody knows that all of them cannot get the ticket.

“If it is God’s wish, they all can even be president of the country one after the other. Ours is to ensure justice in the choice of who emerges candidate of the party. That does not mean we are perfect. But we pray we do the right thing.”

Adamu also said there was no evidence that aspirants were lobbying delegates with money.

The APC national chairman stated that he has since discovered that it was the delegates who have been hawking their conscience to the highest bidders.

According to him, there was no known law in the country stopping aspirants running for various political offices from taking their campaign to delegates across the country.

“For now, there is no law against aspirants taking campaign to delegates. I don’t have evidence that aspirants are sharing money to delegates. For me it’s the delegates that are selling their conscience which is not proper.

“Our delegates should know that anybody sharing money to them can’t be the right candidate of the party. He doesn’t mean well for the country. I don’t have solution for the problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, security agents and members of the APC have held meetings ahead of the state governorship primaries of the party scheduled for Thursday (today).

The meetings which held across various states were to map out strategies to prevent violence at the primaries.

In Katsina State, the Commissioner of Police, Idris Dabban, on Wednesday, met with Area Commanders and all the Divisional Police Officers in the state.

It was also learnt that the CP directed operatives to be drafted for the exercise to deal decisively with anybody who might want to foment trouble during the primaries.

On his part, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Samaila Dikko, warned against acts capable of disrupting peaceful coexistence in the state during the primaries.

This was after a meeting with stakeholders aimed at sensitising all political party leaders and their followers in the state on the need to maintain peace in the primaries.

Dikko warned against the use of thugs (‘Yan Daba) and weapons during political activities in the state, as anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law.

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Chairman of the APC in Kwara State, Sunday Fagbemi, urged delegates to conduct themselves in a decent and orderly manner, adding that the party would not tolerate any form of indiscipline from candidates or their followers.

He said, “For peaceful conduct of the exercise, all party members participating in the exercise must comply with all laid down procedures warning non-delegates to keep off venues of the election.

“Delegates must conduct themselves in a decent and orderly manner devoid of any rancor or indecent rowdiness.

“The party will not tolerate any form of indiscipline from candidates of their followers. Therefore the use of thugs or “good boys” is prohibited and warned that aspirants shall be held responsible for any breach of peace and misconduct at the venue of the exercise.”

Meanwhile, the Destiny Campaign Organisation, the campaign organisation of APC governorship aspirant in Ebonyi State, Elias Mbam, has accused the state government of trying to scuttle to governorship primary.

In a statement signed by Paul Okorie, Mbam alleged that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, had procured thugs from other states of the Federation to scuttle the governorship primary election.

He said, “Credible intelligence available to us alleges that agents working for the embattled Speaker has procured thugs from Enugu, Abia, Cross River and Rivers States, some of which are already in the state, in liaison with his local vigilante, with the plan to attack and cause mayhem at the venue of the gubernatorial primary tomorrow to ensure that it does not hold and prevent perceived opponents from attending.”

“We therefore call on the national chairman and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to take note of the antics of the state government and their desperate efforts to destroy our party in Ebonyi which may cause the PDP to have an easy win come 2023.”

He, however, called on security agencies to intervene, saying, “We plead with the security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the military to take notice and ensure that the life and safety of Elias Mbam, other aspirants, their supporters, party faithful and delegates are guaranteed and protected.”

In a related development, there is anxiety in the camps of the two leading governorship aspirants of the APC in Oyo State ahead of today’s primary election.

Our correspondent gathered that aspirants were holding meetings and strategising on how to win more delegates to guarantee victory for them in the exercise which will determine the flag bearer of the party in 2023 election.

The lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Teslim Folarin, and a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Adebayo Adelabu, are the leading contestants in the race.

However, the Oyo State Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Oyindamola Okunneye, said the security agency would be fully involved in ensuring peace and order during the exercise.

Okunneye said the agency had deployed his men who would ensure adequate security at the venue

He said, “Our men will be there. Those who would be there have been deployed and our job is to make sure that law and order is maintained. We are not politicians and our involvement will be to ensure security of lives and property.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached when contacted to know the level of the police preparedness for the exercise.

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Related Topics:APC chair consensus Featured Presidential Primary

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Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

Published

2 days ago

July 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi)

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

A political pressure group, Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference, has rejected the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, arguing that only aspirants with verifiable local roots and a longstanding commitment to the region should represent Ogun West.

The group, however, threw its weight behind the governorship aspiration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a true son of Ogun State whose ancestry and political journey are closely tied to the state.

Addressing journalists in Ilaro on Thursday, the group’s spokesperson, Hakeem Adetunji, said the organisation, which he claimed has about 5,000 members across Ogun West, was compelled to respond to what it described as attempts to portray opponents of Senator Adeola’s ambition as enemies of the district.

According to Adetunji, the group’s opposition to Adeola is rooted in his alleged lack of historical involvement in the political struggles of Ogun West and what it described as his failure to support previous governorship aspirations from the senatorial district.

Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference

“We are here to rewrite our story because, over time, people have called us bastards simply because we do not support Senator Olamilekan Adeola’s governorship ambition,” he said.

He argued that during the 2011 governorship election involving the late General Adetunji Olurin and the 2015 election in which Gboyega Isiaka (GNI) contested, Senator Adeola was not part of the political movement for Ogun West.

Adetunji further alleged that in 2019, Adeola worked against the region’s governorship interest and repeated the same pattern in 2023 by opposing the candidacy of Biyi Otegbeye, who emerged as the sole governorship candidate from Ogun West.

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According to him, the senator allegedly deployed his political influence, resources and network to frustrate Otegbeye’s ambition in pursuit of his own governorship aspiration.

He maintained that the issue extends beyond politics, insisting that Ogun West deserves a candidate who shares the history, identity and aspirations of its people.

“Today, some people expect us to forget where we are coming from and abandon our history. We cannot do that. Senator Adeola does not share our historical background or political journey. That is why some of us cannot align with his governorship ambition,” Adetunji stated.

The group consequently endorsed Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, saying his family roots and connection with Ogun State make him a more suitable choice to lead the state.

“Some of us have identified with the aspiration of Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu because we see him as one of us,” he added.

Another member of the conference, Adeshola Hakeem, also questioned Senator Adeola’s claim to Ogun West, alleging that the lawmaker only identified with the district after relocating his political interest from Lagos State.

He argued that governorship representation should not be determined solely by political popularity but also by genuine community identity, historical contribution and consistent grassroots engagement.

The group’s position comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Ogun West intensifying its longstanding campaign to produce the state’s next governor.

However, Kayode Odunaro, media adviser to Senator Adeola, dismissed the allegations, describing the conference as a faceless group pursuing a political agenda.

Odunaro maintained that the senator’s indigeneship is well established and no longer a matter for public debate, insisting that Adeola remains qualified to contest the governorship election under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions.

The latest criticism follows Governor Dapo Abiodun’s endorsement of Senator Adeola as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus governorship candidate for Ogun West after consultations with party leaders across the senatorial district.

Governor Abiodun had said the decision was aimed at ensuring Ogun West, which has never produced a democratically elected governor since the state’s creation in 1976, finally gets the opportunity to occupy the state’s highest political office.

As political alignments continue ahead of the 2027 election, debates over indigeneship, zoning, political loyalty and regional equity are expected to remain central issues in Ogun State’s governorship race.

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

Politics

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

Published

3 days ago

July 2, 2026

Trends Admin

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Senate President, David Mark

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit that sought to nullify the appointments of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman held that the suit filed by Leke Abejide, the lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, lacked merit and was not justiciable because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party. The court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to interfere in such matters except where there is a clear breach of the law or violation of a member’s legal rights.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and Aregbesola, effectively dismissing Abejide’s claims.

The judge held that the plaintiff failed to establish that any of his legal rights had been infringed by the emergence of the current party leadership. He also ruled that Abejide did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before instituting the suit, a requirement under the ADC Constitution and established legal principles governing disputes within political parties.

On the substantive issues, the court ruled that the transition of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark did not violate either the ADC Constitution or the Electoral Act, 2026.

Justice Liman explained that the July 2, 2025, gathering at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja was merely a stakeholders’ meeting where Nwosu announced his intention to hand over the party’s leadership. According to the court, the formal emergence of David Mark and Aregbesola occurred during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court held that the process complied with the party’s constitution and all applicable electoral laws.

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Justice Liman consequently declared that David Mark’s emergence as National Chairman and Aregbesola’s appointment as National Secretary were valid and lawful.

The court also imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff and his counsel. Abejide was ordered to pay ₦2 million in costs to each of the defendants, while his lawyer was directed to pay ₦10 million in costs pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Abejide had instituted the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, seeking to invalidate the leadership transition within the ADC. He argued that Nwosu’s handover of the party’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola was unlawful and asked the court to nullify the process.

He also sought perpetual injunctions restraining David Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary and asked the court to prevent INEC from recognising them, alleging that their emergence failed to comply with the Electoral Act.

However, Justice Liman rejected all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and affirmed the legality of the leadership change, leaving the David Mark-led National Working Committee firmly in charge of the party.

The judgment is regarded as a significant legal victory for the ADC leadership as the opposition party continues preparations for the 2027 general elections. It also comes weeks after INEC reinstated David Mark and other members of the party’s National Working Committee on its official portal following a Supreme Court decision that set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order affecting the party’s leadership recognition. Despite Thursday’s ruling, other suits challenging the ADC leadership remain pending before the courts.

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

Politics

2027: Atiku Names Kenneth Okonkwo New Spokesperson

Published

3 days ago

July 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Kenneth Okonkwo and Atiku Abubakar

2027: Atiku Names Kenneth Okonkwo New Spokesperson

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has appointed actor-turned-politician and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo as his official spokesperson, in a move seen as strengthening the party’s communication strategy ahead of the next general election.

Okonkwo announced his appointment in a statement shared on his verified X account on Thursday, expressing gratitude to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him and pledging to discharge the responsibility with wisdom and dedication.

“I give God all the glory for being appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. I thank His Excellency for the immense confidence reposed in me,” Okonkwo said.

The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesperson described the appointment as evidence of Atiku’s leadership style, saying the former vice president prefers dialogue, consultation and compromise whenever disagreements arise within the party.

“Rather than take offence at associates for expressing genuine reservations about any action taken, His Excellency always opts for dialogue and compromise that engender solutions to problems,” he stated.

According to Okonkwo, his concerns over the political interests of the South-East were addressed during discussions with Atiku and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

He explained that the consultations provided assurances that the interests of the South-East would be protected within the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the prevailing political realities.

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“At a dialogue with His Excellency and other well-meaning members of the African Democratic Congress, the interests of the South-East were discussed and guaranteed within the existing challenges posed by the Electoral Act, 2026, and the realities on the ground,” he added.

Okonkwo also acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Kashim Imam, former ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu, and Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. Ekene Onwuka, for their roles in promoting reconciliation and strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

He further thanked his family, supporters and friends for their encouragement and prayers.

“I still covet your prayers for wisdom, courage, provision and protection needed to carry out this challenging responsibility, which will usher in a glorious and great Nigeria,” he said.

The appointment comes weeks after Okonkwo openly criticised the ADC’s vice-presidential selection process.

He had argued that choosing a running mate from the South-South would further deepen what he described as the political marginalisation of the South-East, the only geopolitical zone yet to produce either a President or Vice President since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

Despite his reservations, the ADC later announced former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as Atiku’s running mate after the former vice president secured the party’s presidential ticket.

Okonkwo’s acceptance of the spokesperson role suggests that consultations within the party have helped bridge earlier differences over the composition of the presidential ticket.

A lawyer, actor and seasoned political communicator, Okonkwo previously served as a spokesperson for the Labour Party presidential campaign and has remained an influential voice in Nigeria’s opposition politics. His appointment is expected to bolster Atiku’s public engagement and media outreach as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.