APC, Labour Party react as Atiku vows to contest for 2027 presidency

By Doris Israel Ijeoma The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential bid. Atiku through his spokesperson, Daniel Bwala confirmed that he will contest for presidency again after being defeated by Bola Tinubu in 2023. Atiku has contested the presidency six times before, failing in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Despite his repeated losses, Bwala described him as “the president we never had,” citing his experience and understanding of the private sector. Reacting to the development, the APC promised Atiku a “heavy defeat” in 2027. The party’s director of publicity, Bala Ibrahim said; “Our party, which is the All Progressive Congress, thrashed Atiku not once, not twice. Even when we thought he had the energy and little credibility to make him viable to Nigerians, we defeated him completely. “How can someone who is just trying to regain his balance be a threat to the APC come 2027? That is unthinkable; Atiku can never be a threat to the APC. He wasn’t a threat when he had little value. How can he be a threat when he is already valueless? It’s a dream that will not come to pass.’’ Ibrahim advised Atiku to quit politics, suggesting he was being misled by his advisors. Labour Party, while reacting said that Nigerians are tired of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and others from the “old stock.” Spokesman for the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko said: “Anybody who wants to show ambition and start building at the moment, it is the person’s fundamental rights. But, we believe that we have the interest of people at heart. And the people are tilting towards us, especially the Nigerian youths. They are tired of the old stock “So even if anybody coming from the old stock still wants to run for election, we wish him all the best. But it could have been better for them to support a younger generation like Peter Obi in the form of uniting this country so that we can move forward collectively. That will have made more sense and more appreciative to the Nigerian people at the moment.”

Bayelsa Guber: Security Agents Aiding PDP, Sylva Alleges

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and security agents of harassing his supporters. Sylva spoke on Saturday after he cast his vote at Ward 4, Unit 4 in the Brass Local Government Area of the South-South state.The APC candidate fingered security agents “especially the Army”, alleging that they are “playing on the side of the PDP”. Sylva said violence has been recorded in Yenagoa, the state capital, alleging that an APC member was shot.He wondered why large polling units where he is popular were being targeted.“There is a lot of violence from the PDP trying to molest our voters with security (agents),” Sylva said. In fact, in some cases, it is believed by our people that we are running election, not against PDP, but against security (agents) but we are containing it.” The APC candidate, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying “There is a lot of improvement on the part of INEC but there is still room for improvement.” Sylva was first Bayelsa governor from May 2007 to April 2008 and later between May 2008 and January 2012. He was also the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023. In Saturday’s poll, Sylva is challenging Bayelsa State Governor and PDP candidate, Duoye Diri, who is seeking re-election. The election has been described by many analysts as a two-horse race.Meanwhile, Diri accused Sylva of being behind electoral violence recorded in the Nembe-Bassambiri area of the state on Saturday.

Abati Slams Peter Obi For Asking Tinubu To Reveal His Identity

Reuben Abati, a Nigerian journalist, has offered unconventional advice to Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), following his call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address concerns about his academic and identity records. Speaking during a segment on Arise TV’s “The Morning Show,” Abati suggested that Obi should consider a career in evangelism. Obi had on Wednesday conducted a press conference in Abuja, urging Tinubu to disclose his educational background and clarify matters related to his name change and participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. Abati however criticized Obi’s approach, implying that it was driven more by a desire for media attention and publicity. Abati emphasized that the appropriate forum for addressing electoral concerns is the court of law, as demonstrated by the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who pursued legal action in his electoral dispute. In response to Obi’s press conference, the All Progressives Congress (APC) affirmed that President Tinubu did not have an identity problem and dismissed Obi’s claims as a script contrived by Atiku Abubakar.

Condemning the extrajudicial killing of Kabir Okwo Bala and Atima Abdullahi

The Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization is alarmed by the official confirmation of the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Akeem Yusuf that the extra-judicial execution of an All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Mallam Kabir Okwo Bala, and a housewife, Mrs. Atima Abdullahi by gunmen unleashed on the Ejule Community of Ofu Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday morning was masterminded by the State Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. We are indeed shocked that a Governor and the Chief Security officer of a state could plot the cold-blooded murder of citizens he had sworn to protect and defend on the altar of desperate politics. We are aware that the late Okwo was accused of several felonies by the state commissioner of police after his execution but we totally reject the use of these allegations rightly or wrongly as an excuse to kill a citizen who could easily have been arrested and prosecuted over the years if indeed the state government ever considered him a criminal. But it is worth pointing out that as admitted by Police Commissioner, Okwo was freed from prison in 2018 by Governor Yahaya Bello on the grounds that he was not a criminal but a political prisoner jailed by the PDP. It is therefore curious that after the invasion of Ejule last night during which his family house and several other properties were burnt down by state agents, Okwo was suddenly declared a criminal. But the dead man now declared a criminal was a regular guest at Bello’s Lokoja Government House where he was known to have been treated as royalty. Perhaps the Kogi State Government will be gracious enough to account to the people and the world how a man previously declared innocent and granted state pardon by the same Governor Bello degenerated into such heinous crimes to the point of engaging in gun battles with the Nigerian Navy more than one year ago, yet there was never any attempt to arrest and prosecute him. Rather according to the commissioner he had to be appealed to and pampered to release AK47 rifles he allegedly seized from the Navy in a firefight. The truth is that the plot for this extra-judicial Killing was hatched after the late Okwo openly renounced his support for Mr. Yahaya Bello in a now-viral video and declared he will not be supporting his candidacy in the impending November  11th Governorship Elections. It was only after this declaration by the late Okwo that thugs believed to be acting at the pleasure of the Governor invaded Ejule about two weeks ago and burnt down his hotel and valuable properties. We are also aware that the relationship between the Governor and Okwo first broke down during the Presidential Elections when he was led by Ajaka to support the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the interest of Yahaya Bello who was reluctant as evidenced by the massive votes recorded in the Kogi East Senatorial District in Contrast to the Governor’s Central Senatorial District where the APC lost four of the five Local Governments. A few months ago, another friend of the government Shafiu who renounced support for Mr. Bello and declared allegiance to the PDP Senatorial Candidate in the last election Mrs Natasha Uduaghan was declared a terrorist and equally hunted down in Treadmore Housing Estate Lugbe Abuja and only escaped death because the PDP cried out. In late March supporters of Alhaji Ajaka including a retired Army Colonel and a lawyer were abducted by thugs of Bello enjoying the cover of compromised security personnel while traveling to Abuja and declared kidnappers and armed robbers. Bello’s track record for framing persons who are either opposed to or renounced his politics of violence is indeed legendary. The list is inexhaustible. We totally condemned this desperation and bloodletting which has become the hallmark of Mr. Bello’s politics in Kogi State and we appeal to the Federal Government to rein in this person to save the lives of citizens whose only crime is that they dare to exercise their democratic rights to reject him. *By Faruk Adejoh-Audu; Director, Communications, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization

Agbebaku emerges Speaker of Edo 8th Assembly

Mr Blessing Agbebaku (PDP-Owan West), on Friday emerged as Speaker of the 8th Edo House of Assembly. Agbebaku was the Chief of Staff to the immediate past Speaker, Marcus Onobun He was elected by the lawmakers shortly after a letter of proclamation of the assembly by Governor Godwin Obaseki was read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Mr Yahaya Omogbai, in Benin. Mrs Maria Edekor (PDP-Esan North East II) was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House. The 24 members-elect were also inaugurated into the 8th assembly. Speaking shortly after taking his oath of office, Agbebaku promised a unified Assembly that would move the state to greater heights through effective legislation. He thanked God for his protection and guidance throughout the electoral process and for his emergency as the speaker. He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for giving him the privilege and for believing in his capacity and competence to serve as speaker. “Choosing me to lead this assembly is a great honour and privilege bestowed upon me with a sense of responsibility and acceptance. “I will not take this position for granted. I will carry everyone along irrespective of their political affiliations. “I commend the 7th assembly for setting the template in legislative activities which has placed the assembly on the right track. “I assure all that we will put Edo people first as we perform our oversight functions and make the state great again,” he said. Agbebaku finally thanked Governor Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, for leading the party in the right direction.