₦airaland Forum

‘Get your APV, APC and you must vote’ — Tinubu suffers yet another gaffe at rally

Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday, erroneously referred to the permanent voter cards (PVCs) as “APV”.

Tinubu made the error on Saturday at a campaign rally of the APC in Lagos state.

The former governor of Lagos, while addressing youths, was asking them to get their PVCs to vote for him when the gaffe happened.

“Greatest Nigerian youths… Are you great? God bless you. Go and take your PVC and you vote APC. Do you love me? Go and take your APV, APC and you must vote. You must go that morning,” he said.

This is the second time in two weeks that the APC presidential candidate is suffering a gaffe.

In Plateau state, Tinubu had mistakenly said “God bless PD… APC.”

While speaking at Saturday’s rally, the APC presidential candidate described Atiku Abubakar, standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as “selfish”.

“Atiku contested in SDP; he contested in PDP; he contested in ACN when we rescued him from Obasanjo. Now he is contesting again in PDP. He should go home and rest,” he said.

“Atiku has been running. Use your PVC to vote him and his party out. Use your votes to retire him permanently this time. We must never again allow the rapacious and visionless gang of Peoples Destroying People to come near our commonwealth again.

“They were in government for 16 years, they didn’t remember Badagry expressway, they didn’t remember east-west road, they didn’t remember the second Niger bridge.

“I specially thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the unprecedented federal support and commitment to Lagos state.

“We have come a long way from presidents whose sole obsession was to capture or conquer Lagos in do-or-die fashion, to a president who loves the state greatly and is keen to see it do very well.”

A public affairs commentator, Phrank Shaibu, has reacted to the remarks credited to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola, suggesting fraternity between the chief judicial officer and some politicians.

Shaibu, who is also Special Assistant on Public Communications to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said in a press statement yesterday, that Justice Ariwoola’s descent into political commentaries portends great danger for the country’s judiciary.

According to the press statement, Shaibu noted that, “last month, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Lateef Ariwoola, inaugurated 277 election petition tribunal members to adjudicate on matters arising from the 2023 general elections in the country.

“At the event, Justice Ariwoola warned judges to remain neutral and impartial during this political season. He also warned politicians against trying to induce judges.

“However, it may seem the Honourable CJN is not ready to lead by example going by his recent utterances and open blatant hobnobbing with politicians.”

The press release specifically frowns at the frequency with which the CJN makes remarks in support of actions by a group of governors of the PDP led by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

“On October 30, 2022, the CJN, who is from Oyo State, was hosted to an elaborate reception by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. At the event, Justice Ariwoola sat with Makinde and other governors who now pride themselves as the G5. The governors all posed with the CJN for the cutting of the cake where political statements were made.

“But it may seem Justice Ariwoola continues to enjoy the company of politicians. On Thursday, November 24, 2022, the CJN was in Rivers State, this time as a guest of Governor Nyesom Wike who also happens to be a member of the G5.

“Apparently overwhelmed by Wike’s lavish reception at the inauguration of judiciary projects, the CJN said at the live event that he was happy that Governor Makinde was a member of the G5 and solidly with Governor Wike.

“Aside backing Makinde’s membership of the group, Ariwoola joked that Makinde was being held to ransom by Wike who was threatening to withdraw his sister (Makinde’s wife), who he said is from Rivers.

It would be recalled that Justice Ariwoola, was in Rivers State a few days back to inaugurate some judiciary projects undertaken by the state government.

Shaibu noted, however, that it was inappropriate for the CJN to use such an event to double down on partisan remarks.

He said that it was wrong of Justice Ariwoola to have made a remark such as saying, “that is why we should not be scared to have these men of the integrity group and I am happy that my own governor is among them because he would try to imitate his friend and in-law because we came here to marry for my governor.

“So, Governor Wike will always threaten that he will call back his sister if my governor fails to play ball. That is why you see him following His Excellency (Wike) because my governor is afraid of his wife being recalled,” he joked.

Shaibu said that the CJN acknowledged the presence of the group of five governors at the gala night and judiciary project inauguration which was held in Rivers, stressing that “they had been similarly present when Makinde held a ‘lavish’ reception to celebrate his appointment as CJN some months ago.”

The statement further frowns on the CJN being quoted on record to have said that, “whether people like Wike or not, he was leaving a legacy for generations unborn, stressing that his record will be hard to beat by any other public official.”

“Such hobnobbing between the CJN and politicians is unprecedented in the annals of the country. As Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) put it, judges are like ‘the big masquerade that cannot be unmasked publicly in a traditional African setting.’

“They possess a god-like mystique that ought to insulate them from partisan politics.

“After God, the Supreme Court is the highest authority in our nation. It is therefore scary and most unfortunate that the man who leads Nigeria’s judicial arm continues to frolic with politicians less than three months to an election.

“Sadly too, Justice Ariwoola is the head of the National Judicial Council which enforces discipline of judges. What sort of example is he setting for other judges across the country? What then happens when there is a seeming compromise in Nigeria’s apex judiciary discipline body?

The statement urges stakeholders in the judiciary to call the CJN to order, saying: “this is why it is important for the Nigerian Bar Association, the Body of Benchers and all other reputable organisations in the judiciary to immediately caution Justice Ariwoola against desecrating the exalted office of the CJN.

“Without mincing words, a corrupt judge is no different from fake medicine. Both are expected to cure problems but it becomes deadly when they do the opposite of what they were intended to do.

“Nigeria has been blessed with honourable and remarkable judges in the last couple of decades such as Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice Olukayode Esho, Justice Taslim Elias just to mention a few. Some have gone on to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to make Nigeria proud and etch their names in the sands of time. History will be unkind to Justice Ariwoola if he continues to show his hand by jumping into the political arena.”

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has said that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmad Tinubu, will rule Nigeria for eight years.

He also said there is no basis for comparing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, with Tinubu.

Governor Sule stated these during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He said, “The economy in Lagos is better today than that of Anambra. Yes or no? Having them is like a day and night. You know there is no comparison. Then when you say I should compare them what am I comparing?”

However, the governor said that Nigeria’s oil production would increase before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office.

He said, “Today with all the issues we are facing, we are producing 1.2 to 1.3 million barrels per day. By the time Muhammadu Buhari hands over to Asiwaju, it will be 1.5 million barrels per day.

“You will see what is happening in this country. Inflation will go to single digit by the grace of God and all those other numbers will do the same. Tinubu is going to rule this country for another eight years by the grace of God.”

The discovery of crude oil and the official flag-off of the exploration by President Muhammadu Buhari is a healthy development that will go a long way in revitalising the fortunes of the Northeastern region of Nigeria.

It will create an opportunity for more investment in education with an emphasis on skills training and entrepreneurship development, which in return, will further generate prosperity for our young people and guarantee a better future for the upcoming generation.

However, this discovery is without prejudice to my focus on the diversification of our economy that will ensure multiple streams of revenues for the country. -AA

The Supreme Court has ordered fresh hearing of the suit challenging the nomination of Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

In a judgment on Monday, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court held that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja was wrong in declining jurisdiction and failing to hear the case on its merit.

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, in the lead judgment, affirmed an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which held that the issue of primary was not internal to a political party and as such, could not be classified as an internal affair of the party over which a court lacked jurisdiction, as held by Justice Taiwo.

Justice Saulawa added that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction, under Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 84 [14) of the Electoral Act 2022, to hear the suit, which is challenging the conduct of Ogun PDP’s governorship primary held on May 25.

The judge ordered that the case be remitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for hearing by another judge.

The judgment was on the appeal filed by the PDP against the September 30 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which set aside Justice Taiwo’s judgment and ordered that the suit by Jimi Lawal be heard on the merit by the Federal High Court.

Lawal, an aspirant that, who participated in the May 25 governorship primary of the Ogun PDP had sued at the Federal High Court, Abuja to challenge Adebutu’s emergence as the party’s candidate.

Lawal alleged among others, that an unlawful delegates list was used by the PDP to conduct the election.

He then prayed the court to void the primary nnd order the conduct of fresh one, using ‘the authentic adhoc delegates list.”

In his judgment on July 29 Justice Taiwo declined jurisdiction on the grounds that primary election was a domestic affair of any political party, a decision Lawal appealed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

In its judgment on September 30, a three-member panel panel of the Court of Appeal set aside judgment by Justice Taiwo and ordered that the case be heard on merit.

It is the appeal that the PDP lodged against the Court of Appeal in judgment that the Supreme Court dismissed on Monday and ordered that Lawal’s case be heard on merit.

The governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran popularly known as Jandor has described the party’s former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, as an epitome of service.

Jandor stated this on Monday, in a statement, to celebrate Bode George who clocks 79.

According to him, George, as a permanent member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, has served the people and the party meritoriously.

Jandor commended George’s dedication and commitment over the years to the project of seeing PDP take over power in Lagos state.

He said Bode George remained an outstanding leader of the party.

“The outstanding qualities of a quintessential gentleman in you distinguish you from your contemporaries.

“I pray that God gives you the grace, and shame everyone and everything standing in our way as Lagos PDP, in realizing your long desire of liberating Lagos.

“I wish you long life, good health, a sound mind, and all-around peace as we continue to join efforts to offer our people a breath of fresh air,” Jandor stated.

Despite the shuttle of the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, to Yola there is tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged plot to drop the governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (Binani).

The only female governorship candidate in the country would now be replaced by former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Stakeholders had endorsed Ribadu on Friday in anticipation that the Court of Appeal will order a fresh Governorship primary by APC.

The appellate court may decide this week on whether to validate the ticket of the female Senator or order a fresh primary election.

Following the development, party leaders and members have become divided with some stalwarts threatening protest votes.

The decision to drop the female was reportedly arrived at during stakeholders’ session on Friday night, which was attended by Mrs. Buhari.

A source at the session said: “In spite of the fact that the meeting was called for the sake of housekeeping ahead of 2023 battle with PDP in the state, we became divided thereafter.

“We were made to believe that we need to drop our female candidate because some Adamawa leaders do not want a female to be a governor. This decision was supported by the First Lady. “She said the party ought to be strategic in order to be able to do well in the next election.

“She then pleaded with the stakeholders to accept a female Deputy Governorship candidate. On the spot, the APC Women Leader in the state, Amb. Patricia Yakubu was nominated in the interim.

“Also, the fact that the Senator once defected to PDM was made an issue at the meeting. We were therefore prevailed upon to forget about her candidature. But she can only be replaced if there is a fresh primary.

“In case of fresh primary, we have been compulsorily mandated to back Ribadu, who the First Lady said is a better and a credible candidate than the Senator.

“Some of our leaders accepted the endorsement of Ribadu in deference to the First Lady but all is not well in the party.

Responding to a question, the source added: “Our leaders were unhappy. They said they know what they will do during the election. We became sharply divided.

“I can assure you of protest votes against all APC candidates. We have a big challenge at hand. But we are waiting for the decision of the Court of Appeal.

“With this development, I doubt if APC can match PDP in the state. It will be an easy ride for ex-Vice President Atiku and PDP.”

Among those at the meeting with the First Lady were the National Vice Chairman of APC for the North-East, members of the State Working Committee of the party, some aspirants for governorship including Nuhu Ribadu, Abdulrazaq Namdas, Wafari Theman.

Binani, who was invited for the meeting, could not make it because of an engagement.

Others included all serving members of the House of Representatives, Senatorial candidate from the Southern zone, all the 25 APC House of Assembly candidates, former deputy governor, Martins Babale, who is the interim coordinator of APC Presidential Campaign Organisation in Adamawa State and some selected persons known to either to be supporting or opposing Ribadu or Binani.

Muslims from the South West region under the umbrella of Muslim Ummah of South West of Nigeria (MUSWEN), have enjoined their kinsmen not to vote for any other presidential candidates apart from Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.

MUSWEN has advised Muslims in the six states that make up South West region- Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos – not to support any other person apart from Tinubu.

MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, made this disclosure while speaking during the 7th General Assembly of the organisation held in Ibadan on Sunday.

At the event held at the University of Ibadan were Secretary to the Ekiti State government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, MUSWEN Executive Secretary, Professor Muslih Yahya, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, University of Ibadan’s Chief Imam, Professor Abdulrahman Oloyede and former MUSWEN Executive Secretary, Professor Daud Noibi.

Others are MUSWEN Deputy Presidents 1 and 2 respectively Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti and Alhaji Thabit Sonaike.

Oladejo while speaking with journalists, said that the position of MUSWEN which is the umbrella body of Muslims in the region is that Muslims in the region should support Tinubu.

He cautioned his kinsmen against voting for any other candidates apart from Tinubu, because of what he said that he (Tinubu) has done in Lagos State.

Oladejo said: “Muslims should get prepared for the presidential and other elections, they should get registered as voters, collect their PVCs and vote. Muslims should participate in the elections, as voters, as participants, they should participate actively. The position of MUSWEN is that we are supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he is from the region. Muslims in the South West should support him. And all Muslim organisations in the South West are supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because of what he has done. He is the only capable one.”

He avowed that: “Because of what he has done in Lagos State, Lagos is the number one state in Nigeria that can do things without federal allocation in Nigeria and we believed that he can replicate that at the federal level.”

Five governors of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesome Wike, as well as former governors, leaders and elders of the party clamouring for the sack of PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorcha Ayu, on Sunday met in Lagos, declaring that they still stand on the position they earlier took in Port- Harcourt, just as they reiterated that the window for reconciliation in the party remained open.

The party chieftain made this known at the end of the closed-door meeting which took place at Southern Sun Hotel, in Ikoyi, and hosted by former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George.

Former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, who addressed newsmen, said those at the meeting, including Governors Okeje Ikpeazu, Nyesome Wike, Ifeanyin Ugwuayi; former Governor Ayo Fayose, former Governor Mimiko, Chief Dan Orbih, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, among others, who the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, called Integrity Group, arrived at the decision after a careful review of developments in the party.

“After a careful review of developments in our party, we have decided to stand on the decisions we took in our Port- Harcourt meeting. And we hereby reiterate that the window for reconciliation in our great party, PDP, remains open,” Jang in his very short remark.

Mike Igini, the former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), has accused some staff of the commission of registering underage voters.

Igini blamed the collapse of values in society for being responsible for underage registration, berating parents who allowed their underaged children to register as voters.

He disclosed this on Thursday while featuring on the Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

He called for the prosecution of the culprits, noting that persons involved in the INEC registration process were all staff of the commission, which makes it possible to trace those involved in the act.

“Those who have done this are staff of INEC, I can tell you. If you register as a registration officer, you register with your personal ID (identity card), all of them can be traced.

“Anyone who undermines the confidence of public institutions must be brought to book,” he said.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Mr. Chijioke Edeoga as the candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu state for the 2023 Governorship election.

Delivering judgment on the matter instituted by Captain Evarest Nnaji over his unlawful exclusion from the primary election of August 4, 2022, Justice Nkonye Evelyn Maha, on Wednesday, ordered a repeat of another primary election within 14 days.

Justice Maha said that the Labour Party failed to provide evidence of notice of the August 4 primary election which would have made all the Governorship aspirants of the party participate in the election.

Nnaji had gone to court to challenge the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election in Enugu state that excluded him.

Irked that the party played a fast one on him through unlawful exclusion from the primary election, Evarest Nnaji, popularly referred to as Odengene, approached the Abuja court to determine if his exclusion was lawful or not.

Nnaji sued the Labour Party and the INEC, asking among other things to recognise him as the authentic governorship candidate of the LP in Enugu state for the 2023 election or a repeat of the primary election that will include the three aspirants that were already issued with INEC nomination forms before the one-man primary election that produced Edeoga.

The Labour Party (LP), has alleged that Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, is under sponsorship by unidentified individuals to undermine the party’s support in the South-east.

The party advised Soludo to concentrate on governance and avoid comments that might put himself and the state in danger.

The Chief spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign, Yunusa Tanko, spoke in reaction to Soludo’s recent statements that Mr Peter Obi, would lose the 2023 presidential election.

Soludo, had said that Obi could, at best, come third in the election. He used the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections where LP performed poorly as examples of what to expect in the polls.

Soludo said he would not submit to the bullying of Obi’s supporters, who recently descended on him for addressing issues in the state.

The former CBN governor had also been under intense attack for close to a week for dismissing Obi’s investment in the state as amounting to nothing, during a television interview.

Reacting to these, Tanko said: “We want to believe that Soludo is being sponsored in order to attack our base in the South-east, because, in the first instance, we have no any correlation with Soludo. So, why has he decided to attack our principal?

“It seems to us that it’s a grand plan to try to see that if they can weaken us from our base. But the truth is that they are making us even popular. The people are the ones even responding to the attacks. But we want to advise that it’s very good that Soludo should look at the future and not the present, because he is just starting as a governor.

“He has not done anything yet. Not even a block has he put on ground and yet, he is putting the people of Anambra State in dilemma and in danger. He should be conscious enough to know the dangers he is putting himself and the people of Anambra into.”

When asked to list those allegedly sponsoring Soludo, the Spokepersonsaid, “He could be sponsored from any angle. We cannot be specific but it’s very clear because instead of facing governance, he is attacking Obi.”

The only way to stop APC is either for Obi to step down for Atiku or Atiku steps down for Obi. I must admit that It is politically unreasonable to ask Atiku to step down for Obi because PDP is too strong politically with so many governors but as at today, Obi is only doing comedy skits.

I will personally prefer for Atiku to step down for Obi but it can never happen in politics. PDP structures across Nigeria is in every PU; not even about the Govs they have. Politics is very deep but both Atiku & Obi should continue their dance of shame, APC will show them pepper.

There are strong indications that former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) (rtd) may wade into the crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP (PDP).

LEADERSHIP gathered that the former Nigerian leader will be holding a closed-door meeting with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and aggrieved five governors of the party otherwise known as G-5 in Minna, the Niger State capital on Friday.

The meeting is coming barely three days after IBB also received the presidential candidate of the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his team at his hilltop residence in Minna.

Sources hinted that the recent move at reconciliation leveraging on the outreach of IBB may have been powered by a former senior military intelligence officer and some interest groups from the North supporting the Atiku Presidency.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the PDP presidential candidate has reacted to the statement credited to the leader of G-5 and Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, during a press briefing in Bauchi State few days ago, where he said the group was still open to reconciliation.

In a press statement tilted, ‘Atiku Welcomes Wike Camp’s Peace Overtures’ signed by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, obtained by LEADERSHIP on Friday, he said the former Vice President of Nigeria welcomed reports that Governor Wike and his group were favourably disposed to the resolution of the issues with him.

“Atiku Abubakar also expresses his commitment to a negotiation that will resolve the crisis of confidence and pave the way for a much stronger and united PDP.

“The former Vice President of Nigeria notes that never at any time of the differences that has ensued has the doors been shut to Governor Wike and his group.

“He enjoins every leader of the party and their supporters irrespective of their leanings to be open-minded and support the process of resolution of the extant issues,” Ibe stated.

LEADERSHIP reports that the PDP G-5 has been at loggerheads with Atiku and the PDP leadership since the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, over the continued stay of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman.

Charles Chukwuma Soludo @CCSoludo unveiling and unraveling @PeterObi on @channelstv over his fake investment portfolios. He stated that the “purported investments are next to nothing” Peter Obi is the “best packaged” fraud! #WeCantContinueLikeThis @TakeItBack