politics
You have paid Your dues : Senators, Reps pledge support for presidential aspirant Tinubu
The Presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu got a big boost yesterday.
Tinubu got a rousing reception at the National Assembly and an instant endorsement by the House of Representatives caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Senate promised to be with him.
Tinubu, a senator between 1992 and 1993, visited his former constituency to seek support for his bid to win the APC presidential ticket.
Tinubu had visited traditional rulers in the Southwest, his geo-political zone and other parts of the country. The endorsement he received was overwhelming.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan told Tinubu: “Your Excellency, once again, all of us wish you well, wish you the best of luck, wish you success in this and in the affair of fighting for APC, to continue to be the ruling party in Nigeria, and justifiably so, Your Excellency, we are with you.”
In an overwhelming voice vote, the House of Representatives APC caucus said ‘aiyes’ to the ambition of the former Lagos State governor when House Leader Ado Doguwa, who is also the Leader of the party in the House, put the question to vote.
Doguwa said Asiwaju Tinubu had supported several Nigerians to either be President, Governors, Senators or House of Representatives members, adding that “this is the time for you to pay back.”
Doguwa said members were fully in support of Tinubu’s candidacy.
He added that many members of the House and the Senate were occupying their position today as a result of Tinubu’s support, saying: “I want to look at you in the face and tell you that this is the time to pay back.
“We will continue to associate with you for the good of Nigeria and our people. We are immeasurably grateful. We will support you to achieve your lifelong ambition.
“Sometime when we interact with some people, they tell you that the President is a former military officer. You are from this institution and we are looking forward to President Buhari handing over to someone with a legislative background so that we can also boost about it.
“You are here preaching to the already converted because of the numerous contributions you have made to the development of Nigeria. You are the only one we know and will support. You have all it takes to run for the office of the President, you have all it takes to be President”.
With the overwhelming endorsement, the scheduled Executive session was shelved. Members insisted that the message was clear enough.”
In his welcome remarks, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, said having put the APC together with like minds, it was time for the party to look inward and give back to those who can lead the country to greater heights after the current government.
He said: “We have looked left and right for the number of people who are running for the Presidency in 2023 and discovered that there is only one person going round the country campaigning and selling himself to Nigerians.
“It does not speak well of us when we boast of being the largest party in Africa and so many other things that we boast of. But few weeks to the party primaries for the nomination of candidates, only one person is going round marketing himself in his agenda.
“We are only having names, but only one campaigning. We should not wait for six weeks to election with only one person campaigning. In advanced countries, once the President is sworn in, the very next day, campaign for the next election starts. Names are being dropped and when you ask them, they tell you that they are just facing their job.
“The current attitude is not good enough and it is not good for Nigerians. We should not take Nigerians for granted. But only one man feels that he will talk to Nigerians, one man who care to speak on why he is running”.
Turning to Tinubu, the Speaker said: “You deemed it fit to honour the parliament both the Senate and the House of Representatives. You felt that this institution which is the centre of democracy all over the world deserve your attention and we will listen to what you have to say.”
While appreciating the visit, Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase, said this was the first time in the history of the parliament that a Presidential aspirant will visit the parliament to sell his candidacy and sought the support of all members
Wase said the former Lagos state governor has paid his dues, describing him as a detribalised Nigerian who has helped built the APC and is still helping in the building of the party.
The OK (Obi/Kwankwaso) Movement has declared that it will maintain its independent identity while mobilising support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. NigerianNews Updates
Movement’s leader John Ughulu said the group remained committed to its original mission of securing the election of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and erstwhile Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Speaking in an interview, Ughulu dismissed suggestions that the movement’s decision to campaign independently would undermine its support for the NDC, insisting that the focus should be on achieving a common political objective.
“What difference does it make when we campaign on parallel lines? The most important thing is that we have one objective,” he said.
Asked whether the movement had decided to retain its independent status rather than formally integrate into the NDC campaign structure, Ughulu said its position had not changed.
“We have always been independent, and there is nothing wrong in that. We are campaigning for NDC party’s candidates. I will appreciate we leave it like that,” he added.
He urged members and supporters to remain guided by the principles upon which the movement was established, stressing that its political mission remained unchanged.
“The members of the OK Movement work on the principles upon which we formed the movement. The mission to bring His Excellency Peter Obi and His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is sacrosanct,” Ughulu said.
His remarks underscore the movement’s intention to retain its organisational independence while supporting the NDC’s electoral ambitions, particularly its presidential candidate, Obi, in the 2027 contest.
The disagreement between the NDC and the OK Movement followed the movement’s announcement of a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council to mobilise support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The NDC leadership rejected the arrangement, insisting that only the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had the authority to constitute and announce its official campaign council.
The party also maintained that support groups must operate within its recognised organisational framework rather than establish parallel structures.
NDC National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson reinforced this position, arguing that political movements supporting the party’s candidates should complement, not compete with the party’s machinery.
The OK Movement, however, resisted the party’s position, insisting that its support for the NDC candidates should not be interpreted as an obligation to surrender its independently established structures.
Ughulu maintained that the movement had its own leadership, membership and organisational framework, which it was unwilling to dissolve or merge into the party.
The disagreement escalated after the NDC disowned the movement’s campaign council and referred Ughulu to its disciplinary organ over alleged disregard for party authority.
Despite the controversy, the movement has maintained that it will continue to mobilise support for Obi and other NDC candidates while retaining its independent identity.
politics
Breaking : Imo West Senatorial Race: Court Orders INEC to Recognise Okorocha, Bars Uzodimma from Claiming APC Ticket
A court has reportedly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary for Imo West Senatorial District.
The court also reportedly directed Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District seat.
The ruling concerns the dispute over the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West, with the court’s directives addressing the recognition of the party’s candidate and the publication of the relevant details by INEC.
The development could have significant implications for the political contest in Imo West, depending on the terms of the judgment and any subsequent legal proceedings.
politics
Breaking : INEC Confirms Oyebanji’s Re-election in Ekiti, First Consecutive Governorship Victory Since 1999
Governor Biodun Oyebanji casting his vote at his Okeelele Unit 003
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.
The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Olumayokun Oluyede and African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”
While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40, 533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.
There are 988,251 registered voters, and 384,940 are accredited.
Out of the 382,109 votes cast, the total valid votes in the election were 375, 777.
According to INEC result, the PDP candidate, who hails from Ikere Ekiti, lost in his Ikere Local Government area.
While the APC and its candidate, Oyebanji, scored 8,742 votes, the PDP, which came second in the LGA, garnered 2,051 votes.
Below are the full results of the governorship election as collated at the State Collation Centre from the 16 LGAs on Sunday.
Efon Local Govt
Collation officer: Prof. Joseph Ojo
ADC – 201
APC – 8742
PDP – 2051
Ijero LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Olaniran Akanni
ADC – 2026
APC – 25506
PDP – 2479
Ikere LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Jayeoba
ADC – 245
APC – 11116
PDP – 9872
Emure LG
Collation Officer: Prof Emmanuel Oluwafemi
ADC -732
APC – 14325
PDP – 851
Ekiti South West
Collation Officer: Prof. Kola Oladunmoye
ADC – 1076
APC – 14705
PDP – 1800
Ido/Osi
Collation Officer: Prof. Otalobi Akintunde
ADC – 561
APC – 17901
PDP – 1449
Ekiti West
Collation Officer: Prof Bolaji Stephen
ADC – 674
APC – 28258
PDP – 3644
Ado LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Toye Fasinmirin
ADC – 1054
APC – 38026
PDP – 3817
Ilejemeje LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Kehinde Mogaji
ADC – 579
APC – 8984
PDP – 1243
Ise/Orun LG
Collation Officer: Dr John Isa
ADC – 365
APC – 12907
PDP – 1627
Oye LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Jide Popoola
ADC – 998
APC – 18975
PDP – 2891
Moba LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Suleiman Adegboyega
ADC – 994
APC – 20500
PDP – 1572
Ayekire/Gbonyin LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Oso Bamidele
ADC – 314
APC – 17133
PDP – 1563
Ikole LG
Collation Officer: Prof. Sadiat Adifala
ADC – 812
APC – 26508
PDP – 750
Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Michael Adeyemi
ADC – 511
APC – 29278
PDP – 2119
Ekiti East LGA
Collation Officer: Prof. Olabode Olatunbosun
ADC – 1730
APC – 26359
PDP – 2795
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