The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • UN expresses anxiety over preparation for 2023 election

    UN expresses anxiety over preparation for 2023 election

    The United Nations (UN) has expressed anxiety over preparations for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

    The worry of the world body was among the issues discussed at a meeting in Abuja, yesterday, between the delegation of the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission and 18 political parties under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    Leader of the UN delegation and head of Mission, Serge Gakwandi Kubwimana, said the team was in Nigeria to interact with stakeholders and assess the level of preparation for the 2023 general election.

    This, he said, would enable the UN electoral needs mission to identify areas to provide support to Nigeria.

    Kubwimana, who drew attention to the problem of voter apathy noticed in previous elections in Nigeria, said the delegation would confer with members of the National Assembly, security agencies and the political parties on the challenges envisaged.

    He explained that the UN Electoral Needs Assessment Mission renders technical assistance by strengthening the capacity of relevant organs for the election. This is even as he said Nigeria was quite experienced in electoral matters and had introduced some reforms in the electoral process.

    Kubwimana said t the UN would always assist African countries in strengthening electoral processes in order to deepen democracy.

    “We are here as a mission in response to a request for electoral assistance by INEC chairperson and even going to governmental organisations elections being a high stake process and a matter of national sovereignty.”

    He said the team targets meeting with other key stakeholders,especially within the government, its institutions, civil society organisations and alike “to assess the overall context in which the elections will take place.

    “Again, these not are specific to Nigeria, the UN is moving close to 60 countries currently and then in doing so, so assessed the needs and the areas where the UN could best provide some type of support.”

    In its response, IPAC advocated the scrapping of state electoral commission.

    Its National Chairman, Yabaji Sani also demanded the autonomy of the 774 local governments.

    Represented by the National Secretary, Yusuf Dantalle, he said: “Primarily we are concerned with the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commission. So, we need you to send our message to the appropriate authority using their office to influence the lawmaking body in Nigeria to ensure we have an enabling environment for full participation of Nigerians in the electoral process. IPAC supports local government autonomy as the third tier of government closest to the people.”

    IPAC assured that the body would address the problem of voter apathy by carrying out massive sensitisation, advocacy, enlightenment and mobilisation of the electorate at grassroots level across the country.

    He called on the UN Mission to assist Nigeria in capacity building of political party leaders to equip them for transformational leadership and enhance parties’ internal recruitment process which will produce credible leaders with the people’s mandate to govern.

    IPAC said it would counter the apathy by embarking on massive sensitisation, advocacy, enlightenment and mobilisation of the electorate at grassroots level across the country.

    (Sun)

  • I’ll tackle insecurity, ailing economy if elected president – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to expeditiously tackle the festering security and economic challenges facing Nigeria if elected president.

    Governor Wike maintained that at this critical juncture, the country desperately requires a leader with political will and courage to decisively end the scourge of insecurity and revive the ailing economy.

    He made the pledge while addressing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegations from Borno and Yobe states in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday.

    He observed that in the past seven years, the security and economic situations in the country had deteriorated due to the incompetence of the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    He said: “I came here today, because there is a problem, and that problem is that Nigeria is dying and we must not allow Nigeria to die. We must rescue this country. So, I came as a Nigerian, a member of the PDP, a party I have never left since 1998 till now. A party I have worked for and will continue to work for.

    “And so, I want to vie for the presidency of this country on PDP platform. I came because I feel concerned, I came because I have no other country to run to and therefore, I have come to offer myself to solve most of the problems that this APC administration could not solve.

    “Before, people used to talk about insecurity in Borno State. Today, insecurity is all over Nigeria. Hunger does not know Muslim, hunger does not know Christian. Insecurity does not known Muslim, insecurity does not know Christian. Insecurity does not know North, insecurity does not know South. You need somebody who will have the courage to fight insecurity in this country and I want to tell you, I have that courage.”

    He advised the delegates not to be deceived by those who might want to use geopolitical and religious sentiment to influence how they would vote during the PDP convention.

    According to him, the socio-economic and security challenges bedevilling the country does not exclusively affect Muslims or Christians alone.

    “Nigerians are aware that everybody is suffering. Nigerians are aware people are dying. Muslims are dying, Christians are dying. Northerners are dying, southerners are dying. We need somebody that can stop all these and that is me.”

    Governor Wike accused APC leadership of covertly scheming against his emergence as the standard bearer of the PDP.

    According to him, APC leaders were afraid that if he clinches the PDP presidential ticket, that would mark the end of their grip on power.

    The governor commended PDP leader in Borno State, Mohammed Imam, for being a steadfast and dependable political ally.

    In his welcome address, Imam said he was one of the friends who purchased the expression of intent and nomination forms for Governor Wike, because they were convinced of his capacity to lead Nigeria out of its current socio-economic predicaments.

    Imam, who spoke on behalf of PDP delegates in Borno and Yobe states, decried the nonchalance shown by the APC-led Federal Government to issues of security that have crumbled business in the two states.

    “We, in Borno and Yobe, are business people. We are bordered with three countries; Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Your excellency, our people are businessmen.

    “On a daily basis, lots of people here can attest to that, over 2,000 trucks load of goods come out from Maiduguri market, cutting (taken) across these three Trans-Sahara regions that I’ve mentioned: Maiduguri, Banki-Bama to Cameroon, Lake Chad, Niger, up to Central Africa, Libya.”

    Imam also expressed grief over the level of devastation that their communities have suffered within the period because of the unrestrained marauding Boko Haram killers.

    According to him, despite their cries, there has not been meaningful response from the Federal Government.

    He said they were now looking up to Governor Wike who is a man of vision and courage to rescue Nigeria, guarantee safety to Nigerians and improve the economy.

    “We are peasant farmers, we don’t go to farm now. Our people cannot access their farms. In the Lake Chad, we are fishermen. Forty percent of the fish consumed in Nigeria and other Sub Africa states come from Lake Chad basin.

    (Sun)

  • PDP consensus candidate’ll oust APC from power –Saraki

    Former senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said the quest by some presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form a united force was to enable it wrest power from APC.

    He said this informed their decision to advocate a consensus candidate among the aspirants.

    He spoke, yesterday, while briefing journalists after a meeting alongside his co-aspirants, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, with Governor Douye Diri at the Creek Haven Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    He said as an opposition party, the PDP cannot wrest power from the APC if it was not united.

    He said the interest of Nigeria superseded their individual ambitions and that was why they embarked on the mission to consult the Bayelsa State governor and other critical stakeholders on how to reach a consensus on the flagbearer of the party in next year’s presidential election.

    Describing the PDP as the only hope to rebuild and reposition the country, the former senate president said Nigeria was in bad shape and needed to be salvaged from the bad governance of APC.

    He said despite the propaganda by the ruling party, Nigerians were going through difficult times under the APC and the only solution was for the PDP to retake power at the centre.

    “We all have individual ambitions, but what we have come to accept and believe in is that the interest of Nigeria is far bigger than individual interests. That is why in the last three weeks we have been moving round the country, letting our leaders know that a consensus approach should be used to pick any of us. Our appeal to Nigerians is that we feel your pains, the hardship and insecurity. That is why our ambition is to return this country to PDP and make your lives better. We have come to seek your support as we approach 2023. We have spoken very well and feel encouraged by the governor’s words. Let us start now in building those blocks that will ensure that PDP will make Nigeria a better place.”

    Governor Douye Diri urged the PDP to forge a united front if the party wants to win the forthcoming election.

    Heinsisted that the party must not be factionalised as a result of individual ambitions, but rather come together to pursue the common purpose of winning the 2023 presidential election.

    (Sun)

  • Osinbajo vows to complete what Buhari started

    “ I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; and in all other states of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.

    “I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.

    “I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses. I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.

    “I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and it’s great peoples. Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

    ”If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started; radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture, completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel.”

    He sought the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere, young and old, male and female, to actualise his dream.

    “We will work together by the grace of God. The Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation. I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.

    “Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere, in this land, is home for everyone, where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us. Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respect–where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation. It’s time.”

    (Sun)

  • Osinbajo’s declaration speech emptier than Buhari’s WAEC certificate, says Reno Omokri

    Osinbajo’s declaration speech emptier than Buhari’s WAEC certificate, says Reno Omokri

    A former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, on Monday, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential declaration speech was emptier than the West Africa Examination Council certificate of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

    This as he also challenged Osinbajo’s supporters to list any achievement that could earn him (Osinbajo) the presidential seat.

    The PUNCH reports that Osinbajo on Monday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.

    He made the declaration in a short broadcast shared via his Twitter handle after months of intense speculations.

    But reacting to the declaration on Monday, Omokri challenged the vice president’s supporter to point out specific achievements listed by Osinbanjo in his declaration speech.

    In a series of tweets on his Twitter handle, Omokri said he was ready to give $1000 to any supporter who is able to list the vice president’s achievements.

    He wrote, “He Osinbajo’s declaration speech was emptier than Buhari’s WAEC certificate! He talked for almost 7 minutes and could not name one tangible achievement. Only promises. After 8 years. Name one promise and its fulfilment from that speech, and I will pay you $1000.

    “Can you name a specific achievement Osinbajo listed in his declaration speech and get $1000? Not promises. I refer to achievements. For instance, ‘I promised this in 2015, and I delivered this in 2022’. I need one Osinbajo supporter to respond and get $1000.”

    (Punch)

  • Tinubu meets APC Gov after Osinbajo declares

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, is currently meeting with members of the Progressives Governors Forum at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

    The meeting is coming less than 24 hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hosted the governors at his Aguda House residence on Sunday evening; where he disclosed his intention to run for the APC presidential ticket.

    Although Tinubu is yet to officially declare for office, he had in January informed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of his intention to succeed him.

    At the time of filing this report, 14 governors were already seated with the presidential hopeful.

    The governors in attendance include Governors Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Mai Mala Binu of Yobe, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, amongst others.

    Details later…

    (Punch)

  • 2023: Southern PDP Governors insist party’s Presidential Candidate must come from South

    2023: Southern PDP Governors insist party’s Presidential Candidate must come from South

    By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

    Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Southern part of the country have insisted that the party’s presidential candidate must be from the south.

    Rising from an emergency meeting that dragged from Friday night to the early hours of Saturday, the governors said though they were committed to the unity of the PDP, the position of the Southern governors at their meetings in Lagos and Delta states in 2021 remained sacrosanct.

    The meeting was attended by six of the eight PDP governors from the Southern part of the country including Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State.

    Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki were absent.

    “Our position is that first, we are committed to the unity of our party and we have worked hard to make sure that this party remains a strong and viable vehicle to rescue Nigeria come 2023,” Ikpeazu, who spoke on behalf of other governors, said.

    “Be that as it may, we want to draw your attention to the fact that we have agreed as Southern Governors in Lagos and also in Delta that this party has to respect the zoning principle as enshrined in our Constitution, and to that effect, we feel that the best thing to do is to zone the presidency to the South, and we stand on that position.”

    He said the southern governors “have not seen any reason to change our position, because the Party was founded on the basis of equity and justice. And we also think that equity and justice is an important pillar that will ultimately stabilize our politics towards our journey in rescuing Nigeria.”

    According to him, there is nothing on the ground to show that zoning would not give PDP victory in 2023.

    The southern governors dismissed the position of the PDP’s zoning committee last Tuesday that the contest for the 2023 presidency be thrown open as speculative saying “We don’t want to work on speculation”

    “Let me tell you something, if you want to take a position of policy, you don’t look at problems in their face and take a decision. You make a decision and remain firm on that decision. We think what this country is lacking today is our ability to dispense equity and justice. It may be difficult, it may be a bitter pill but we need to stand with the truth,” Ikpeazu said.

    “See I speak and I want to reiterate the position of the Southern governors, it is not my duty to speculate on what others are doing. But you must ask yourself, what is the truth? What is it that if we do it today we serve with fairness of equity and justice.”

    Last Tuesday, the 37-member PDP zoning committee led by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, ended its meeting and announced that it had reached a unanimous decision which would be sent to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

    It was later found out that the committee members had serious arguments which resulted in some recommendations which included throwing the presidency open to all zones.

    Further findings revealed that it also resolved to submit other options like zoning it to the southern part of the country and allowing the NEC of the party to take the final decision.

    But the committee has not submitted any report to the party’s national leadership since last Tuesday.

  • 2023 Presidency: Obi, Ohuabunwa, Anyim, Anakwenze Form Alliance on ‘Project Southeast Presidency’ 

    2023 Presidency: Obi, Ohuabunwa, Anyim, Anakwenze Form Alliance on ‘Project Southeast Presidency’ 

    As the 2023 race of who presides over Nigeria gathers momentum, frontline South-East presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have agreed to work together towards ensuring that the zone produces the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2023.

    They made their position known after holding a parley, Saturday, in Abuja that lasted for about 2 hours.

    They said their position on South-East presidency aligns with the PDP constitution which is disposed to zoning of elective offices.

    The aspirants were former Senate President and Secretary to government of the federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; business mogul, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; and United States-based medical doctor, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

    Anyim who briefed journalists after the meeting of the aspirants, said it was time for other zones to reciprocate support for the South-East to emerge president as it had done to them in the past.

    Reading the resolution, Anyim said, “We have agreed to work together as a team.

    “We will work together to ensure that a South-easterner emerges as PDP flag bearer.

    “We intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity.

    “In doing so, it is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate.”

    On whether the meeting will lead to a consensus candidate, he said,

    “When we get to the bridge, we’ll cross it. But we will work together in the interest of the party, in the interest of the nation, and in the interest of South-East.”

    On the question of whether they have the support of Southeast governors, he said, “Maybe that question will go to South-East Governors Forum, not to us. Whatever they are doing or whatever they are not doing is not necessarily before us. So when you meet them in their own meeting, you can ask them.”

    “But we are taking this position in the interest of national unity, in the interest of PDP.

    “And in fact in line with PDP constitution. We believe that the PDP constitution favours what we are doing and we have to boldly step out with this decision,” Anyim stated.

    Our correspondent reports that the Ortom led PDP Zoning committee had recommended that the office of the President be thrown open to all zones. Ortom, whom while speaking to newsmen didn’t disclose the full details of the meeting, said the committee was set to submit its report to the NEC of the party.

  • JUST IN: Rotimi Amaechi officially joins 2023 presidential race

    JUST IN: Rotimi Amaechi officially joins 2023 presidential race

    JUST IN: Rotimi Amaechi officially joins 2023 presidential race

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has declared his interest to contest the 2023 presidential election.

    Amaechi, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Saturday, at the Thanksgiving organised by his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, said he has had much experience in governance for over 23 years, adding that he understands the needs of the nation.

    He said “I have titled this message, Forward with Courage.

    “Fellow Nigerians, I stand before you today to declare my intention to contest. I stand here to submit my application to serve as the next President of our nation.”

    More details later…

    (Vanguard)

  • CSOs back Kalu, Abaribe, Elumelu reelection

    CSOs back Kalu, Abaribe, Elumelu reelection

    CSOs back Kalu, Abaribe, Elumelu reelection

    Ahead of the primaries of various political parties for Senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the 10th National Assembly, a Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria, have called for the reelection of 14 out of the 469 serving federal lawmakers.

    The group under the aegis of Coalition of Media and Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, made the call on Friday at a press briefing held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly.

    According to the national coordinator of the group, Mr. Alex Enemanna, advocacy for re-election of the 14 serving federal lawmakers will be taken to their political parties before the conduct of primary elections slated for next month on the basis of right of first refusal as far as party tickets are concerned.

    The 14 Federal lawmakers as announced by the coalition are Senators Ali Ndume (APC Borno South), Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North), Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West ), James Manager (PDP Delta South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), Abiodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South), Sani Musa (APC Niger East ) and Olamilekan Adeola ( APC Lagos West).

    Others are the Deputy Speaker, Hon Idris Wase (APC Plateau State), Hon Ndudi Elumelu (PDP Delta State), Hon Ado Doguwa (APC Kano State), Hon Muktar Betara (APC Borno State) , Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha (APC Abia State ) and Hon Sergius Ogun (PDP Edo State).

    He explained that the advocacy was being done to avoid legislative brain drain, since the 14 lawmakers performed creditably well as far as legislative activism and development -driven legislations are concerned. When asked to explain how the 14 lawmakers were adjudged to be the best out of 469 federal lawmakers, the National Coordinator of the group said their findings were based on three months intensive and thorough research carried out across the 109 Senatorial Districts and 360 federal constituencies.

    (Vanguard)

  • Court sacks Abia APGA chairman, declares Ukaegbu as authentic party chairman

    Court sacks Abia APGA chairman, declares Ukaegbu as authentic party chairman

    The Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri judicial Division, has sacked the Abia state chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, and declared Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu, as the authentic chairman of the party in the state.

    An Abia State High Court sitting at Umuahia, had in September 2018, granted an order setting aside the party executives at the Ward, Local Government, zonal and state chapters of the party.

    The court also restrained APGA from giving effect to all decisions and activities pertaining to the running of the party in the state without the involvement of Prince Ukaegbu as the state chairman.

    However, the party appealed the decision at the court of Appeal in Suit No: CA/OW/26,2019; All Progressive Grand Alliance Vs. Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu & ors where it listed 8 ground of appeal against the judgment of the High court.

    Delivering judgment on the appeal, Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu, upheld the judgment of the state High court and declared Prince Ukaegbu the authentic chairman of the party.

    (Vanguard)

  • 2023: PDP extends sales of nomination forms; to screen presidential aspirants April 25

    2023: PDP extends sales of nomination forms; to screen presidential aspirants April 25

    2023: PDP extends sales of nomination forms; to screen presidential aspirants April 25

    ABUJA- The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has fixed April 25th, 2022 for the screening of its Presidential aspirants.

    This is even as it slated April 19, 20, and 21 for the screening of State House of Assembly, National Assembly, and governorship aspirants respectively.

    This was contained in a new timeline issued by the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, made available to the media on Thursday.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has further extended the closing dates for the purchase and submission of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the 2023 general elections.

    Under the new timelines, the last day for the purchase of all forms has been extended to Thursday, April 14, 2022, while the last day for the submission of all forms has been extended to April 17, 2022.

    While screening appeals are scheduled to hold for Presidential aspirants on April 27, the screening panel will entertain appeals for State House of Assembly, National Assembly, and governorship aspirants on April 21, 22, and 26 respectively.

    (Vanguard)