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.”
Atiku will run for presidency in 2027 – spokesperson
Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign council, Daniel Bwala has revealed that the former vice president will contest again at the 2027 presidential election. Bwala revealed this information on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels TV. He said that the former vice president is the president the nation never had. He further revealed that Atiku understands the private sector, adding that the country’s economy can only come alive if its led by the private sector. When asked if Atiku would contest again in 2027, Bwala said, “Sure he will run, he has the capacity, he has the wisdom, he has the knowledge, he has the energy and he is the president we never had. “If i am going to be honest with you if there is any politicians who understand the private sector very well it is Atiku Abubakar and this our economy can only come alive if there is a private sector led economy.” He also said there is a need for the opposition political parties to form a solid coalition to stop President Bola Tinubu from winning the 2027 election. “Without a coalition of political parties, Tinubu is going to spend the next eight years. That one is for sure. “The truth of the matter is that there will be a coalition of political parties that will be very strong. This is a fact that I know. The coalition that is coming will swallow some of the elements that are creating the problems in the various political parties.”
Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Elections: Vote Only PDP Candidates, Atiku Begs Nigerians
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Abubakar Atiku, has appealed to Nigerians to cast their votes for PDP candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. Atiku acknowledged concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) handling of the 2023 general elections but emphasized the importance of citizens exercising their democratic rights. “The governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states are scheduled for this Saturday, November 11th,” Atiku stated. “These elections, categorized as off-cycle, mark the first set of polls after the 2023 general elections in our country.” Despite challenges faced by INEC, Atiku urged citizens to actively participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of defeating anti-democratic elements. Atiku appealed to the people of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi to support PDP candidates, highlighting their achievements and capabilities and contrasting them with their APC counterparts. He praised Governor Duoye Diri in Bayelsa, Senator Dino Melaye in Kogi, and Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu in Imo for their leadership potential. In contrast, Atiku criticized the APC’s nominees, alleging that they are “stooges” of political godfathers, emphasizing that these elections should prioritize the needs of the common people rather than political elites. Atiku urged the people of these states to vote for the PDP and reject the APC, which he blamed for the country’s current hardships. He emphasized that these elections are about the common people’s fortunes and the triumph of democracy, which ultimately benefits the people.
Supreme Court Dismisses Atiku’s Appeal Against Tinubu
*Says Appeal Lacks Merit, Affirms Tinubu’s Victory The Supreme Court, on Thursday dismissed the appeal by former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seeking to nullify the February 25, presidential election of President Bola Tinubu. In the notice of appeal, Atiku had urged the apex court to dismiss and set aside the September 6, judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court, which affirmed the victory President Tinubu. Determining the first issue for determination, held that failure to transmit election results electronically did not affect the outcome of the election and could not warrant the nullification of presidential election. It held that Atiku did not produce alternative results of the presidential election that showed he won majority number of votes cast to rebuff the one declared by INEC. All the 7 issues distilled for determination were resolved in favour of Tinubu, stating that the appeal lacked merit.
Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Atiku, Obi’s Petition Against Tinubu
The Supreme Court, will on a later date, give judgment on the appeal by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The petitioners are seeking to dismiss and set aside the September 6, judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court, which affirmed the election of Bola Tinubu as President. A 7-man panel of Justices led by John Okoro Inyang, after hearing the appeal, said the date for judgment would be communicated to parties. Other Justices on the panel are: Uwani Abaji, Lawal Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Tijani Abubakar, and Emma Agim. At Monday’s sitting, Chief Chris Uche SAN, appeared for the Atiku, Levi Uzoukwu SAN for Obi and Abubakar Mahmoud SAN announced appearance for the Independent National Electoral Commission (1st Respondent). Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, represented the 2nd Respondent, President Bola Tinubu, while Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, announced legal representation for the All Progressives Congress (3rd Respondent). In a Notice of Appeal predicated on 35 grounds, Atiku told the apex court that the tribunal in the judgment delivered by Justice Haruna Tsammani erred on the side of law and miscarriage of justice in its findings and conclusion in the petition. He maintained that the Tribunal erred in law when it failed to nullify the presidential election held on February 25, 2023, on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, when by the evidence before the tribunal, INEC conducted the election based on grave and gross misrepresentation contrary to the principles of the Electoral Act 2022, based on the “doctrine of legitimate expectation”. Obi on his part, wants the Apex Court to set aside the whole findings and conclusions of the Tribunal on the grounds that they did not represent the true picture of the grounds of his petition. Reacting, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents respectively, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for want of merit and for being frivolous. Specifically, Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun SAN described Atiku’s appeal as abusive in nature and ask it to dismiss it. Tinubu urged the apex court to act in like manner of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), by not only dismissing the appeal for lacking in merit and bona fide, but affirm his victory. Counsel to the INEC and APC also asked the panel to dismiss the appeal for want of merit.
Justice Okoro, 6 Others Hear Atiku’s Fresh Motion Against Tinubu
Justice Inyang Okoro is leading a seven-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, currently hearing the motion filed by former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25, election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seeking leave to file fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu. Atiku is seeking an order granting him leave “to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence by way of deposition on oath from the Chicago State University for use in this appeal to wit: the certified discovery deposition made by Caleb Westberg on behalf of Chicago State University on October 3, 2023, disclaiming the certificate presented by the 2nd respondent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Other Justices on the 7-man panel are Uwani Abaji, Lawal Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Tijani Abubakar, and Emma Agim. At Monday’s sitting, Chief Chris Uche SAN, appeared for the appellants; Abubakar Mahmoud SAN announced appearance for the Independent National Electoral Commission (1st Respondent); Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, represented the 2nd Respondent, President Bola Tinubu, while Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, announced legal representation for the All Progressives Congress (3rd Respondent). By the motion seeking permission dated 5th October and filed on the 6th, Uche said, “We are praying for an order of leave to present fresh evidence on appeal pursuant to the powers of the Supreme Court, particularly the depositions on oath from the Chicago State University. Adumbrating after moving the motion, Atiku’s lawyer told the panel that Tinubu, APC and INEC are opposing the application “essentially on technical grounds, not pleaded and coming late. Uched argued that the motion was akin to jurisdictional issue not minding when it was filed, adding that the apex court should side-step technicality and grant the request. Uche insisted that the motion is a constitutional issue, adding that the issue of 180 days cannot tie the hands of the apex court as they can hear the motion. Reacting, the INEC lawyer said section 285 of the Constitution should be interpreted to accommodate the Court of Appeal as a Tribunal. On his part, Olanipekun asked the court to dismiss the “unsual application for lacking in merit. Tinubu’s Lawyer said the depositions Atiku is seeking to tender “are not admissible in USA. It is akin to depositions which we have here in Nigeria. The depositions were not done in a court. More so, Olanipekun said the Court of Appeal is a Tribunal based on relevant constitutional provisions, adding that “the 180 days is like a rock of Gibraltor, it cannot be moved, it’s sacrosanct”. Reacting also, the lawyer to the APC, asked the court to reject the motion seeking leave to bring additional fresh evidence. Details soon…….
Obi Beat Tinubu In 2023 Presidential Election, Babachir Lawal Insists
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr David Babachir Lawal said in Abuja on Tuesday that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) Peter Gregory Obi won the February 25 presidential election and not Bola Ahmed Tinubu as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to Babachir, available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicated that Obi got the majority votes while Atiku came second in the election, adding that Bola Tinubu came a distant third in the number of votes scored. In a statement he issued on Tuesday, Babachir Lawal said “I have resisted the temptation to engage in the contemporary political discourse since the May, 2023 election faux pas. “I did this for two reasons; the first being that as an active player in the drama, I needed time to analyse and digest the data that led to the outcome(s) so I could arrive at an informed decision; the second, being that the rainy season had just set in and it was necessary that I focused my attention on my farms which are the mainstay of my livelihood. “The current topical issues for political discourse and inquiry are whether or not Bola Tinubu won the presidential election and/or that he was apriori qualified to participate in the election given his murky bio data as is now being publicly unveiled daily in an avalanche. “My answer to the first inquiry is that regardless of whatever INEC or Appeal Court said or did, Bola did not win the election. “Right from the start of the campaigns, Bola new knew he was not going to win the election in a free and fair contest so he decided to go by all means. “Available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicate that Obi got the majority votes while Atiku came second. Bola came a distant third in the number of votes scored. “My answer to the second inquiry is that given the now unfolding deluge of uncomplimentary information about who or what he actually is, ordinarily, sound ethics and morality should have convinced him to voluntarily excuse himself from participation in the election. “But this, notwithstanding, I believe he still has time and opportunity to save himself this public humiliation and embarrassment to his person, both locally and internationally by resigning so that he can give more attention to his health. “After all, no one knows about the truism of these severely embarrassing and humiliating exposures about his person than the man himself. “Leadership is all about integrity; sound pedigree, trustworthiness and the ability to unite and instil hope and confidence in the people one seeks to lead. In these qualities, most Nigerians are in total agreement that Bola has them in very very short supply indeed. “But now, six months down the line, the chicken has come home to roost as Nigerians have come to the realization that we have not got what we deserved politically. “Confusion and despondency are now all over the nation as no one trusts the government to do what it says it will do. No one trusts the leader; and no one trusts appointees who are appointed as rewards for their roles in the election or who had in the past helped him in his life. “Bola the President and his group are now in government and are in full control of Nigeria’s vast resources and opportunities. They are enjoying their offices while Nigerians languish in insecurity, poverty and hopelessness. “During the campaign, Bola mouthed some platitudes about competence; but we are so far yet to see it reflected in his political appointments. It seems more like he is rewarding people who supported him to get the Presidency at all cost. “This band of appointees that Bola is assembling into his government don’t care about Nigeria at all. “Fuel prices will continue to gallop upwards until only they can afford it; the Naira will continue to race downhill in a free-fall until only they can afford anything in the market; insecurity will continue its escalation until every community in the nation is consumed by it”, he said.
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.
BBC Report Claims Tinubu’s Certificate Is Authentic
In a report released by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday, it has been revealed that there is no proof that President Bola Tinubu forged his academic record at Chicago State University (CSU). This revelation comes in the midst of controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials. Recently, Chicago State University had released and deposited Tinubu’s certificate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as requested by a US court in the context of the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. While President Tinubu and his aides have consistently maintained the authenticity of his CSU certificate, Atiku’s camp had alleged that the certificate was falsified. However, the BBC’s Global Disinformation Team’s investigation has not found any conclusive evidence of forgery. The BBC report stated that they contacted CSU for clarification, and the university expressed confidence in the veracity and integrity of their records concerning Tinubu’s attendance and graduation. The report further highlights that there are three different versions of CSU certificates associated with Tinubu, including the original 1979 certificate, a second diploma submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and another replacement diploma from the early 2000s, which was never collected by Tinubu. Contrary to some allegations on social media, the BBC found that the phrase “with honours” does appear on Mr. Tinubu’s diploma from the early 2000s, which CSU authenticated during their investigation. CSU’s registrar, Caleb Westberg, affirmed that changes in the diploma template over the years might explain differences in appearance. He also attested to the authenticity of Tinubu’s diploma during his deposition. The BBC report concluded that CSU’s documents and Mr. Westberg’s statements confirm that President Tinubu graduated from CSU with honours, dispelling some of the doubts raised regarding his academic credentials.
I Wrote WAEC As Sadiq Abubakar, Atiku Explains Alleged Forged SSCE Certificate
In response to mounting allegations of forgery surrounding his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has offered an explanation. Atiku Abubakar’s clarification was communicated via his aide, Dele Momodu, who shared the statement on the candidate’s social media platform, X, on Tuesday. The controversy had arisen due to concerns raised by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the name “Sadiq Abubakar” appearing on Atiku’s WAEC certificate, which seemed inconsistent with his other credentials. However, Atiku Abubakar’s response to the allegations provides clarity. According to Momodu’s statement, Atiku confirmed, “Yes, I used Sadiq Abubakar to sit for my WAEC, and after passing my exams, I went to swear an affidavit to say I am the same person as ATIKU Abubakar. I went to ABU as Atiku Abubakar and passed my exams as Atiku Abubakar. Interviewed as Atiku Abubakar by the Federal Civil Service Commission and hired into the Customs Service as Atiku Abubakar. So where is forgery there?”