The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has said its has nothing to do with the scheduled two- day visit of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu to the State at the invitation of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu, who was elected on the platform of APC is due to be in Rivers State on Wednesday and Thursday during which he is expected to commission a flyover and a court building constructed by Governor Wike’s administration.
Already, the Rivers Governor has declared Wednesday as a public holiday as he urged the people to come out in their large number to receive Tinubu.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the spokesperson of APC in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, said the party has nothing to do with the visit.
According to his, Tinubu’s visit is private one the invitation of Governor Wike.
“We challenge the Governor being an outgoing governor (Mr Wike) to play less divisive politics and exercise restraint in planting seeds of discord amongst opposition political parties.
“We are aware that the governor has been working so hard to paint a false perception of the collapse of the APC structure in Rivers State even when he had in previous well-documented interviews vowed never to have anything to do with a “cancer party (APC),” Mr Nwauju said.
However, Nwauju claimed that Rivers APC was aware of Wike’s plot to prank our President-elect into believing his false narrative that there is no other opposition political party existing in Rivers State.”
But he said “Rivers people already know this is not the correct situation on the ground.”
The Rivers APC spokesperson insisted that the party is focused on pursuing justice by challenging the outcome of the flawed 18 March elections at the Elections Petitions Tribunal and cannot be distracted by the antics of Gov. Wike and his co-travellers.
Recall that Wike has recently visited Tinubu,in Abuja alongside his Oyo State counterpart, Gov. Seyi Makinde, visited Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists during the visit, the Rivers governor, who is a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigerians were anxiously waiting for the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect.
Wike said: “Elections are gone and a winner has emerged and therefore all Nigerians must rally round and give him (Tinubu) necessary support.
“Everybody is waiting for May 29 to see that the President-elect is inaugurated and he hits the ground running to make sure that Nigerians get what they expected.
“I have confidence that Tinubu has what it takes to turn Nigeria around. I have confidence in him.”
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.
State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.
Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.
“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.
He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)
The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.
Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.
“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.
“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.
“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.
“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.
He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.
Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.
He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested
Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.
He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.
NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.
Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Monday granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.
Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s Chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.
Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.
He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.
“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.
He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”
He added that even if Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.
“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Eba stated.
He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.
Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Tinubu’s decision.
He applauded the President for restoring peace in Rivers, preventing a political crisis. (NAN)
