Category: Politics

One of the top contenders for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket at the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, on Monday, said it is his turn to become governor.

Making this statement while officially declaring his intention to fly the flag of the ruling party at the forthcoming governorship election in Akure, Oke charged the party’s National Working Committee to conduct a free, credible and fair election.

Naija News reports that Oke charged the party leadership to guide against any negative tendency that could mar the image and peaceful and transparent conduct of the exercise.

The APC chieftain, who in 1992 served as the representative for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, expressed optimism that he would win the race, adding that all political indicators pointed to him being the party’s choice for the seat.

He said, “I have come here today to notify you of my intention to throw in my cap again into the contest for the governorship seat of Ondo State on the platform of APC.

“However, Mr Chairman, leaders of our great party, I want to plead that you should conduct a free fair and transparent primary.

“I’ve contested for this position for three times, I lost like Buhari and the fourth time is my turn. Recall that three of us rose at the same time in this state. Mimiko, Akeredolu and I. The three of us are from three different senatorial districts.

“Mimiko took his turn from the central, late Akeredolu took his turn from the North. I am told and I’m glad that the ticket is shifting to the south, so who’s turn is next? It is my turn! I am the only one that can say that, nobody else can say that!!

“There are three ways you know a politician, it is either you’ve been a lawmaker, you’ve been a party administrator or you’ve occupied executive position.

“I have occupied the three. I was once a lawmaker and was a party administrator. In the choice of my career, ranging for over 35 years in politics, I’ve gathered experience.

“Because I’ve been a party administrator, I will know how to manage party members as a governor. Because I’ve been a lawmaker, I will know how to manage lawmakers in the state and because I’ve occupied executive positions, I will hit the ground running immediately I’m elected.”

Oke will compete for the party’s ticket against incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who took over the state’s leadership after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu died.

The post Ondo Guber: It’s My Turn To Become Governor – Olusola Oke To Battle Gov Aiyedatiwa For APC Ticket appeared first on Naija News.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, is reportedly planning to form a new party to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News learnt that Atiku, in collaboration with some members of the National Assembly, has set in motion the machinery for the proposed party.

According to the Nation, Atiku’s camp is wary of the disunity in the leading opposition party, thinking that if it persists until 2027, the party may not be able to wrest power from the ruling party.

A southern senator who spoke with the publication above said the former Vice President has been liaising with ex-Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who contested the Senate Presidency and lost to Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The source said Atiku and his allies are mulling a repeat of the 2013 scenario, where some governors and federal legislators rebelled against the PDP and teamed up with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall the ruling APC was formed in February 2013, following the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and what was called the new-PDP.

The source said: “They have gone far in the arrangement. They believe that the country is in the same situation as it was in 2014 during the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s era, hence, their decision to form a mega party to wrest power from Tinubu.

“Ningi’s statement on the BBC Hausa Service was one of the moves of the promoters of the mega party. They want to create problems in the National Assembly and set the lawmakers against each other and the Presidency.”

The southern senator said the majority of his colleagues were aware of the plot to return power to the North and destabilise Tinubu’s government.

He added: “We know their game plan. We are watching them. We have since returned to our political arsenal to thwart any move to create enmity between us and the Executive and destabilise the government.”

The post ‘Atiku To Dump PDP, Form Mega Party To Wrest Power From Tinubu In 2027’ appeared first on Naija News.