₦airaland Forum

Interviewer with Comrade Elliot Afiyo, National President of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) and Secretary-General of the Association of West African Monarchs (AWAM).

In this explosive interview with journalists in Abeokuta, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, the National President of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), shared his thoughts on the 2023 general elections and states why Arewa Youth, Monarchs refuses to recognize Tinubu as President. Comrade Afiyo, a prominent figure in Northern Nigeria, shed light on various factors that impacted the election results and discussed the challenges faced by his Forum.

TG NEWS:
Comrade sir, since 1999, your Forum secured victories for candidates you endorsed and supported at all levels. However, in the last presidential elections, former Vice President Atiku lost despite your support and endorsement. What went wrong, sir?

Comrade Afiyo:
Thank you very much. I want to categorically state that Atiku did not lose the 2023 presidential election because there wasn’t any candidate who met the constitutional requirements to be declared the winner. The election was marred by conspiracy and manipulations, aiming to declare Tinubu as the winner to avoid a rerun. It was a contest filled with betrayals, conspiracies, and deceptions.

TG NEWS :
But your Forum couldn’t make the difference like in previous elections since 1999.

Comrade Afiyo:
Our Forum performed exceptionally well in this election, facing the toughest and most challenging circumstances. We achieved positive results, particularly in the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones.

TG NEWS:
How tough was the election, sir?

Comrade Afiyo:
The election was exceedingly challenging. Two weeks before the elections, I held a press conference in Kano to draw our presidential candidate’s attention to organized deceptions and betrayals. Unfortunately, some APC governors who had initially promised to support Atiku changed their minds due to a reckless statement made by one of Atiku’s campaign spokesmen, implying that Atiku would investigate and jail them. Additionally, Atiku’s statement about restructuring the country, even at the cost of his life, caused the Fulani elites to work against him. Moreover, many of Atiku’s PCC members betrayed him by selfishly pocketing funds meant for logistics and mobilization. These factors, along with the sidelining of genuine supporters, influenced the election outcome.

TG NEWS:
Are you saying Tinubu did not win the 2023 presidential election?

Comrade Afiyo:
Without fear of contradiction, I am telling you that Tinubu did not win the election in a manner that met the constitutional requirements, even after the results were doctored. Prof Yakubu himself knew it and intended to announce a rerun. However, the decision was changed at the last minute, leading to alterations and doctoring of the results. This act can be seen as a podiatric coup against democracy and Nigerians.

TG NEWS:
Sir, are you saying that Prof Yakubu staged a coup?

Comrade Afiyo:
Prof. Yakubu is a learn tic Coupist by every reasoning. Coups are normally announced at early hours of the day and that what was he did. I will not be surprised if Prof Yakubu is arrested and tried for treasonable felony in the nearest future.

TG NEWS:
But the Northern Elders Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum supported Atiku?

Comrade Afiyo;
All these pressure groups are constituted for political relevance and financial patronage. They are far from translating to political victories. Unfortunately, the Aspirants and the Candidates patronize them at the detriment of the Youth groups. Some of these Individuals are not known in their localities. And if they are known, they cannot command political fellowship and followership which will translate to political voting and by extension, political victories.
TG NEWS:
Sir, so you agree with Governor El-Rufai that they don’t control votes?

Comrade Afiyo:
I totally agree with him because he said nothing but the truth. How many of these Elders will secure a political victory for their Councillors not to talk of President? The Governors and the Youth Leaders control and determine the direction of voting in the North. The clerics are far politically better than these Elders.

The only aspect that I disagree with EL-Rufai is denigration and localisation of the elders by calling them ‘so called elders’ and his statement on the Northern Christians which has caused major division among the Northerners. If care is not taken or more awareness created, it will be very difficult for a Northerner to win presidential election in the nearest future in a free and fair elections unless that Northerner is a Muslim and must come from one of the minority tribes.

TG NEWS:
President Buhari said that Atiku lost the election because of over confidence and complacency

Comrade Afiyo:
That’s very true, over confidence in the sense that PCC members were doing what they feel like. Even the presidential Candidate and his running Mate were deliberately ignoring some stakeholders. The support groups were ignored and downgraded. The G5 Governors were termed and considered inconsequential. The Governor of Bauchi who is very popular and influential in the country especially the Northern Youth, was isolated not until I decided to take an action that maybe so devastating, before he was visited and invited for negotiation.

Let me tell you the truth, most of the key members of PCC of the PDP worked against Atiku because they have interest in 2027 and Atiku winning this election will block them. This is more reason why they pocketed the dollars, thereby frustrating the genuine efforts of Atiku’s supporters.

Another factor that causes complacency was the appointment of his spokesmen who were caucus members of the APC. These were people verily known with Tinubu, whatever they said were not given any serious consideration.

You can see Senator Dino saying ALLAH YA ISA to PDP in 2015. The same Dino saying ALLAH YA ISA to APC in 2019 and 2023. Spiritually, any Candidate that Dino becomes his or her Spokesman under PDP or APC, will never win the election because he has used the same tongue to curse the Parties.

TG NEWS:
Sir, we read in some National Dailies prior to the elections that some Emirs threatened to assassinate you if Atiku wins the election in their States. How true is this statement?

Comrade Afiyo:
Absolutely true, two of them told our Co-ordinators that they will assassinate me if Atiku wins in their States. I personally called them to confirm the story and they affirmed it. These threats made me to relocate to one of the States and informed the Emir that I was in the State to ensure that Atiku wins in all the States. I called some of our Patrons who mobilised funds for us. When Atiku won in the State, I placed a call to the Emir who later invited me for a dinner in his palace. After the Dinner, he looked at me said “shege Batta jo”, and I smiled and said mi yeti barkama walla aibe”. And that was all.

TG NEWS
Sir, we were also told that Tinubu’s camp is making overtures for you to join the team?

Comrade Afiyo:
For now, I will not join them until the final pronouncement by the Supreme court. In fact, the Northern Youth will never recognize Tinubu as President of Nigeria even after the swearing – in until the final pronouncement by the Supreme Court.

TG NEWS:
Are you saying that the inauguration ceremony should be stopped?

Comrade Afiyo:
Under common sense or literal reasoning, the inauguration should have been done after final pronouncement by the Court. But in a situation like this, one should not expect that to happen. Seriously, it is a major set- back to our Country. But I am quite sure that God’s will would prevail very soon.

TG NEWS:
There was a story in one of the daily newspapers that you led a Team of investigation from UN and EU to visit the six geo- political zones and the Team was sponsored by one of your patrons.

Comrade Afiyo:
The Team was a fact-finding Team. I was just privileged to guide them.
TG NEWS:
What should we expect from you and your Forum from now?

Comrade Afiyo;
For now, let us allow the will of God to prevail. This is our only country that we can call our home. Enough of crisis and shedding of innocent blood. Let us all be law abiding and give maximum support to the security agencies. Sooner or later, Nigerians will definitely rejoice.

JuicyStar:
All this rubbish judgement they are getting here and there from courts of coordinate jurisdiction. One of them should take the bold step to appeal these judgements to get a superior judgement. As it is, both of them have equal judgements.

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has faulted Friday’s decision of the Supreme Court on the double nomination case against the joint ticket of the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached Court to invalidate the joint ticket.

Reacting to the judgement through a statement, Timi Frank said the court that is meant to be the last hope of the citizenry has become a place of the highest bidder, wondering whom Nigerians offended.

According to the activist, one would be tempted to ask if there is hope in the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal. Would we be surprised if the aggrieved parties are at the end of the day described as busy bodies?

He said: “It is a sad day in Nigeria. The court that is meant to be the last hope of the citizenry has become the place of the highest bidder. Who did we offend as a country? Where in the world do you see judges jump into the arena in delivering judgments? Why would you not decide the cases on their merit?

“This ruling has clearly shown that they are partisan. The hope of the country has been dashed by this singular act. Why would our court decisions be premised on sentiments?

“One thing I will say to our judicial officers today is; many days for the thief but one day for the owner.

“My hope is that God will one day, rescue Nigeria from the shackles of these justices, whereby they will no longer determine who governs us as we expect that our elections will be manned by men and women of integrity, unlike Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his cohorts.

“It is a fact that in Nigeria of today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will beg people to go to court because they know our courts have been compromised.

“What happened to the days of Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Anthony Aniagolu, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice Tabai and many more? – Who stood against the military and many odds to deliver very sound judgments that were seen to be fair and just.”

While asking Nigerians not to lose hope, Timi Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said Nigerians should not relent and not be defeated in the face of injustice in the country.

“Are Nigerians surprised? I would say No. I only thought the Supreme Court will take a cue from Kenya to redeem their image as men of integrity.

“In the past few weeks, I have read where the Chief Justice of Nigeria charged the Justices and other judicial officers to be fair and just to all in the delivery of their judgments. As good as this may sound, we would not be deceived by tomfoolery. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said more than that, yet administered the worst election in the history of Nigeria.

“We as a people, reject today’s judgment in its entirety as it epitomizes compromise and it’s a show of shame to Nigeria and the entire world.

“It is good to state at this point that our spirit as Nigeria is very high. We shall not relent and we will not be defeated!

“We shall await the outcome of the Election Tribunal. It is another opportunity to do the right thing in order to be remembered as Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Oputa, Justice Aniogolu and the like or do the wrong thing and have your name and that of your family destroyed forever.

“Posterity will judge all of us at the end of the day.”

oyichi:
whatever, this country is an animal republic, it is the criminal that wins, those judges must have been paid already, they will say shit and it will stand

oyichi:
Op are you ok, tinubu is our next president, make up your mind on that to avoid unnecessary heart problem

A lawsuit filed against the election victory of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, poses a great threat to their inauguration.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima over the latter's alleged double nomination.

A Nigerian lawyer Barrister Oluwole Olukunle Moses spoke on who will take over from President Buhari if the Supreme Court which is set to rule on the case sacks Tinubu
Friday, May 26, holds immense importance in Nigeria's political chronicles, as the Supreme Court has designated this day to pronounce its verdict on a lawsuit that aims to challenge the eligibility of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, respectively.

On July 28, 2022, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed a lawsuit asserting that the selection of Kashim Shettima as Bola Tinubu's running mate violated the provisions outlined in sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar
The Supreme Court will determine who takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, May 29th. Photo credit: Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Source: Facebook
The opposition party contended that Shettima's simultaneous nomination for the positions of Vice-President and Borno Central Senatorial District seat constituted a violation of the law.

The PDP not only sought an order disqualifying the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima from participating in the presidential election but also requested an order to invalidate their candidacies.

Supreme Court fixes Friday for ruling on suit seeking to stop Tinubu’s swearing-in
After losing at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, the PDP proceeded to the Supreme Court, which on Monday, May 22, fixed Friday, May 26, for the judgement.

The suit, by implication, also seeks to stop Tinubu from taking the oath of office on May 29th.

PDP vs Tinubu/Shettima: Lawyer speaks on the development
Reacting, a Nigerian lawyer explained what might eventually play out in the polity if Tinubu is not sworn in as expected on May 29.

In a chat with Legit.ng on Thursday, May 25, Barrister Oluwole Olukunle Moses likened the situation to what played out in the challenge against the election victory of Duoye Diri as the winner of the 2019 Bayelsa state gubernatorial election, which occurred on November 16th, 2019.

Speaking on the development, the legal luminary stated thus:

"This question seems like an inquisition into a déjà vu event one like the illusion of what happened in Bayelsa state. You will recall the Supreme Court's decision in the case filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Douye Diri against Messrs Lyon and Degi-Eremienyo, and INEC, seeking the disqualification of the APC deputy governorship candidate wherein it was ordered, upon the nullification of the APC's deputy governor candidacy, that INEC should immediately declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election.

"Without much pontification and unnecessary prevarication on the issue of who takes over from Buhari on 29th May, 2023, in the circumstance that the PDP's appeal succeeds this coming Friday, the 26th May 2023, the Supreme Court has already resolved the issue in the Diri Duoye's case that the candidates of the party with the highest number of lawful votes will, taking inference from that previous Supreme court's decision, be declared as the winner of the presidential election and inaugurated as the President."

The lawyer says Atiku Abubakar could be declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election and be sworn in by the court. Photo credit: Atiku Abubakar Source: Facebook
Atiku might take over from Buhari, Lawyer says

Speaking further, Barrister Moses said the PDP flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar could be declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

According to the lawyer, the Supreme Court could declare Atiku the winner and inaugurate him as the president of Nigeria accordingly since he secured a number of votes close to that of the APC's own.

He noted that if Atiku is sworn in, Peter Obi of the Labour Party won't be able to challenge the vote amassed by the PDP.

Barrister Moses opined thus:

"I, therefore, find it not difficult to say that the PDP presidential candidates could be declared the winner and inaugurated as president accordingly since the PDP's number of votes is next to that of the APC.
"However, this will imply that the Labour Party will not be able to challenge the lawfulness or otherwise of the number of votes amassed by the PDP. This is because the number of days within which to challenge such as provided under the law would have expired and this will therefore bring the dream of the Labour Party candidates of challenging the election of the PDP's candidates to an abrupt end automatically."

Also commenting on the development, Festus Ogun, a constitutional lawyer, shared his experience litigating similar matters.

"I litigated not less than 4 matters on this point, last year. Our courts were in unison in holding that another political party lacks the locus to question the nomination of a rival political party’s candidate. This is the law as we know it," Ogun tweeted.

In another report, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, on Tuesday, May 23, said he is unperturbed by Tinubu’s imminent swearing-in as Nigeria’s president on May 29.

He spoke through his lead counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), shortly after the presidential election petition court (PEPC) sitting at the court of appeal, Abuja.

The presidential PDP candidate said he is sure he is going to ‘reclaim his mandate’ in court sooner or later.

pocohantas:
Leave the young man alone.
It is not like only Nigerians would be affected.

The UK government does not need a Youtuber to tell or show them the nuisance y'all were becoming. My cousins left to the UK as spouses. Can you beat that?? People were faking marriages to travel. No be say UK big sef. Tiny place with tinier apartments. They are overstretched. Try another country, please.

Godwin4444:
the same way u igbos were decieving yourself that trump will come n conduct referendum in Nigeria is the same way u believe obi will b president

Wild goose chase

Godwin4444:
no need to argue with people like u


When will trump come n conduct referendum in Nigeria?

Godwin4444:
we are talking president not governor

Godwin4444:
in d history of Nigeria u don ever see president wey court comot?

Just dey play

The former Governor of Anambra State, however, has not given up on reclaiming his stolen mandate as he expressed confidence in getting justice in court even after Tinubu may have succeeded President Muhammadu Buhari.

1: Islam gives no guarantee of Salvation, Sura Al-Isra Ayah 15.

2: Jesus is the word of God, therefore, he is God, The Saviour, Sura Luqman, Ayah 27

3: And I Will Make Those Who Follow You (Jesus) Superior To Those Who Disbelieve, Sura Aal-E-Imran Ayah 55.

4: Jesus Was Sinless, Muhammad Was Not, Sura Al-Jumu’ah, Ayah 2, Quran 19:19👉Matthew 1:10)

5: Muhammad Recommended killing Enemies While Jesus Recommended Loving Them, Sura At-Tawbah, Ayah 5, Sura At-Tawbah, Ayah 4, Sura Fussilat, Ayah 34.

6: Mohammed just affirmed, but Jesus Christ confirmed his words with all kinds of miracles and resurrection of the death, John 5:30, John 11: 42 Qur’an, surah 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158.

7: Converted because Mohammed is asking the Muslims to turn to Christians to get the truth (surah 10 v 94).

8: Converted because despite Mohammed’s claim to be the seal of the prophets he is dead and will never return but Jesus Christ whom I hated before died and resurrected and will come back to fight the Antichrist ( even according to Islam).

9: Converted because despite Jesus Christ being surrounded by several women, he did not seek to have s*x with them unlike Mohammed who even had sex with Zaynab the wife of his son Zaid, surah (33 v 37).

10: Uptil this day, the name Jesus delivers all kinds of captivity unlike the name of Mohammed, Isaiah 43:11, John 3 v 17.

11: Converted because Mohammed says all Muslims will go through hell (surah 19 v 71) while Jesus Christ gives eternal life to all those who come to him ( heaven) John 3 v 17.

12: I converted because Jesus never attacked someone to take something from him,while Mohammed claims war booty surah (8 v 1).

13: I converted because the birth of Jesus Christ changed the whole world and not a community and many more reasons, Al-Anbiya 21:107.

14: My brother my sister,only Jesus Christ saves. He is the way, truth and life.

15: Jesus was never a Muslim, he is the Saviour of the world and He loves you and wants to save you.

THESE MADE ME TO LEAVE ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY AND I SAID YES TO JESUS🙏

We use this opportunity to call on the judiciary to be up and doing, and to be on notice of the plots of these anti-democratic elements to derail our thriving democracy.

“What about the documents we have collected? Don’t we pay for them? Of course, we paid for them and those ones were given to us but refused to give us others,” he said.

Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), the leading counsel of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi has vowed to expose the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly withholding essential documents, alleging that the electoral umpire is probably trying to manipulate the documents, before releasing them.

According to him, he will focus on the most important witnesses in the case in the three weeks allotted to his team to present their case.

Uzoukwu said this during an interview with journalists Tuesday at the tribunal pre-hearing in Abuja.

“We have written five letters indicating to pay and that we’re ready to collect those documents. The letters were duly received and endorsed by INEC. Why are they telling lies to say that we couldn’t pay? This is very unfortunate.

“What about the documents we have collected? Don’t we pay for them? Of course, we paid for them and those ones were given to us but refused to give us others,” he said.

Obi’s lawyer also said his party would serve INEC a subpoena as soon as hearing resumes May 30 (a day after inauguration), to compel them to produce the documents.

The lawyer said his team will manage the three weeks allotted, by focusing on the most essential witnesses that would prove the case.

On consolidation of petitions, Uzoukwu explained that all three petitions will be heard together, but each one will maintain its identity.

BRIMBRAM:
Lol. See bitterness.

Raskimonojendor:
He had the clearest path to victory.

Obi and Kwawkanso were just in the complete to split PDP'S votes.

BRIMBRAM:
"As e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us. As e dey sweet us, e dey pain dem".

Okealaaye:
How old is Apapa that he's too old to be party Chairman? Someone who has been in Labour Party since 2002 is now an alien in the party!

Tareq1105:
You don't have sense just like Abure.

“Labour Party has only one leader and that leadership is the National Working Committee led by myself, Barrister Julius Abure,” he boasted.