Chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum and the Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has maintained the position of the Southern Governors demand for a 2023 president from the zone, stating that it is only a Southern president that can defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections
Akeredolu therefore advised the leadership of the APC, to rotate power to the South so as to retain the presidency in 2023.
The Ondo state Governor, who stated this in a message he released via his Facebook page, on Thursday, re-echoed the position of his colleagues in the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum that power should be rotated to the South.
Akeredolu’s message is coming amidst report that his counterparts from the North may have settled for a Northerner as president Muhammadu Buhari’s successor, even as the president has hinted that he would personally pick his successor
President Buhari had in a meeting with APC governors last Tuesday, called on them to reciprocate his gesture to them, when he allowed them to win second terms in office, as well as allowing them pick their successor by also supporting him to pick his successor in 2023
The APC has scheduled its presidential primaries for June 6 to 8, with about 23 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the presidential election, with about 19 Southern aspirants in the race, while the North has four
Akeredolu in his message, charged the party leadership “to work hard to retain power by rotating the Presidency to the South.
Governor Akeredolu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, was on Wednesday evening announced as the Chairman of Security and Compliance for the party’s special convention.
“APC must work to retain power. We must rotate power to retain retain power !!! Rotate to the South. Shikena,” the message reads.
Enugu 2023: At last, Ekweremadu bows, congratulates Mbah
After making some failed moves to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, may have decided to remain with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and has finally ended his ambition to become the Governor of Enugu State in 2023.
Ekweremmadu, whose move to join the APC at the state level was rejected as disclosed by the State chairman of the party, Ugo Agballah, was also brought to the National secretariat of the party by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, where he held a marathon meeting with the national chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu
Agballah disclosed that the former Deputy Senate President’s quest to join the APC was rejected because he insisted that the party must cede its governorship to him
Ekweremmadu on Thursday, issued a personal statement where he congratulated the winner of the Enugu PDP governorship primary, Mr. Peter Mbah.
He also announce that he has quit the governorship race, and called for a united force ahead of the 2023 elections.
Ekweremmadu’s statement reads, “Ndi Enugu, in the last two years, we set out to run for the governorship of Enugu State. Our mission was to change the narrative in the governance of our state and possibly inspire other states in the delivery of impressive governance. Our hope was that this would lead to a total recalibration of governance in Nigeria with Enugu State as a starting point and model.
“Within the period, we set up a platform with a grassroots base. We named it Oganiru Ndi Enugu. It was duly registered. We received 77 support groups, which showed uncommon support to our mission.
“We were determined to provide jobs to our people to keep them from the temptation to commit crime and enhance their wellbeing as well as secure their future and the future of their children. Our solution was to build at least two industries in each of our local governments in four years. Our economy would have changed forever.
“We were ready to deliver world-class education to our people. We promised to run a 24-hour governance that would enhance service delivery. We were prepared to make Enugu people proud again.
“Unfortunately, as we were doing these, some of our compatriots were busy conspiring and planting landmines to frustrate our rescue and transformation mission. We have witnessed betrayals and high level of ingratitude on this journey. Yet we remained focused.”
The former Deputy Senate President, who hailed Ikeoha campaign team, for a good fight for the ticket, noted further, “after consulting widely with the elders of our party as well as well meaning friends and respected elders across the country and beyond;
“After a long and painstaking introspection on our contributions to the development of the PDP, after considering the current security situation in the South East region and the need not to put anybody in harms way by a foreseeable combustive political environment, as my ambition is not worth the life of any Enugu son or daughter;
“After considering that the things that hold us together as Ndi Enugu will ultimately outlive the treacheries of the moment;
“After receiving assurances from the gubernatorial candidate of our party, Barr. Peter Mba, that he would integrate our “Pathway to a New Enugu State” in his programme and his assurances of the participation of everybody in his campaign team and government;
“I, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, hereby formally withdraw from the 2023 gubernatorial contest in Enugu State. I congratulate Barr. Peter Mba and wish him success.” He said
Wadada faults Nasarawa APC congress
By Daniel Tyokua
A former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wadada, has faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Nasarawa West Senatorial District over alleged irregularities that charactised the exercise.
Wadada said the ills development had forced him to withdraw from the party’s primary election that is yet to be conducted.
He disclosed this while briefing journalists in Keffi Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.
Prior to his withdrawal, Wadada was a frontrunner for the APC ticket for Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone.
The primary election is yet to held due to controversy over alleged alterations to the original delegates list meant to be used to elect party candidates for various elective posts in 2023.
Despite his withdrawal, the party could still not hold the primary election for the two remaining aspirants, Labaran Magaji and Shehu Tukur on May 28, 2022. But the angry youths violently disrupted the electoral process over alleged alterations to the delegates list leading to suspension of the election.
Wadada said it was necessary to intimate the public, especially his teeming supporters on reasons for his decision to withdraw, adding that his withdrawal was influenced by his belief in due process, fairness and strict adherence to rules on how party primaries should be conducted.
The former House of Representatives member said these tenets are in line with the electoral act and guidelines of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“INEC accepted the original list because INEC monitored the exercise that brought about the emergence of the original list.
“We were to hold primaries based on the basis of that original list. The state chapter of the party, in preparatory to the commencement of the primaries called the chairmen of various local government areas of the state and handed over that monitored, authenticated, legal and legitimate list.
”We woke up the next morning, that was the day the primaries for the governorship and state assembly were to commence that another list was sent from the headquarters of the party.
“That list sent by the headquarters was neither monitored by INEC nor were stakeholders or caucus of the state APC consulted.
“That list came up because some people somewhere were scared and intimidated to the level of taking laws into their hands, thereby creating illegality,” he said.
With Wadada’s withdrawal, Magaji and Tukur are the two other aspirants left to contest for the APC Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone ticket at the general election in 2023.
