Atiku Lost Because He Refused To Beg Wike- Says Fayose

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March 7, 2023

In the aftermath of the defeat of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the just concluded presidential election, Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State said he warned Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate that failure to dialogue with Governor Wike of Rivers state will end in a disaster.

Wike, we will recall lost to Abubakar in the PDP primary election and later worked against his party after his demand that the party’s charman, Iyorcha Ayu stepped down was rejected.

On February 25, Abubakar, a serial presidential contestant lost the presidential election to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who has been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Tinubu won the election after beating close rivals Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP by scoring close to 9 million votes to win the critical election.

Not a few have blamed the crisis between Abubakar and five governors of the PDP, now known as G5 Governors for the party’s loss at the polls.

The G5 Governors had refused to support the candidate of their party after their demand that Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman of the PDP, step down was not met.

The ‘rebel’ governors are Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Samuel Ortom of Benue, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Even though the G5 governors led by Governor Wike insisted that they had no problem with Atiku his strong support for Ayu, many insist, polarised the party to the extent that the crisis dovetailed into the election which it eventually lost to the APC.

Speaking on TVC on Tuesday, Fayose blamed Abubakar for mismanaging the crisis, blaming him for not maximising the opportunity do dialogue with the aggrieved governors.

Fayose said he told Abubakar that the only way to end the crisis is to go to Port Harcourt to beg Wike, but that close associates of the PDP candidate told him to do otherwise.

He said, “His excellency Atiku Abubakar called me, and I went to his hotel room…….where I told him to go to Port Harcourt with some people. I told him not to announce his coming that when he gets to Port Harcourt he should go with a few convoy of cars and park at Wike’s gate. I told him we will join him there,” and the matter will be resolved.

The former governor who, few days ago, ‘stepped aside’ from the PDP said Tinubu won the election to on ‘fare and square’, appealing to Abu and Obi to accept the results for the continue to move forward.
He, however, denied plan to join the ruling party, saying “he will never join the APC”.

Lagos: Sanwo-Olu Leads ‘Jandor’, Rhodes-Vivour In New Polls

By

Tosin Olatokunbo

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March 7, 2023

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state will win the governorship election on March 11, according to the Anap Foundation.

The non- profit organisation made the prediction on Monday citing opinion poll it conducted in 5h4 state.
It said Governor Sanwo-Olu is ahead of two other top candidates Abdul-Azeez Jide Adediran and Gbadebo Rhodes- Vivuor of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP and Labour Party, respectively.

The report comes after the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was trounced by the LP in the presidential and National Assembly elections conducted two weeks ago by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Anap report, therefore, will come as a relief to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his party ahead the election in few days, watchers of politics in the state said.

The poll conducted in February, Anap said put the incumbent ahead with 31 percent, eight percent for Rhodes-Vivor and seven percent for the PDP candidate, Adediran.

Anap said: “The results showed a significant lead for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with 31% of voters proposing to vote for him if the governorship election were to be conducted today; 8% proposing to vote for Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (LP) who fell in second place and Azeez Olajide Adediran ‘Jandor’ (PDP) was third with 7% of voters proposing to vote for him,” the poll reads.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s 23%-point lead at this stage is significant, as the opposition voters are fragmented and shared between 2 main challengers in the ratio 31:8:7.”

If any of the opposition party goes ahead to win the governorship election, it will not only be a shock to the ruling class in the state led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has been declared winner of the presidential elevtion, it will also be a watershed in the history of the aquatic state which has remained in the grip of one party since the return to democratic rule in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, not a few analysts also insist that opinion polls are not watertight considering that many of such predictions that some candidates will win in the past failed to materialised.

There Are Plans To Kill Rhodes-Vivour, LP Lagos Governorship Candidate” – Bode George; Reveals PDP, LP, Talking

By

The Source

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March 7, 2023

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By Gideon Njoku

There are, alleged, plans to murder the Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

This was, to the shock of many, disclosed at a Press Conference on Monday by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to George, a Leader of a pro-Lagos Group, “Omo Eko Pataki”, the threat is real, and if Security Agencies do not watch out, the Candidate is about to be given the Funsho Williams treatment.

Williams, a Lagos State Governorship Aspirant in 1999 was gruesomely murdered in his Dolphin, Ikoyi, home. Nobody has been charged in connection with the murder till date.

At the Press Conference, George said there is a serious threat to Rhodes-Vivours life, especially, since after the Candidate of his Labour Party, Peter Obi, defeated the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, to win the Presidential Election in the State.

Said George: “We wish to inform Nigerians about the heinous plan to secretly eliminate the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the latest move by the take Lagos occupiers, to take him out of circulation before the election on Saturday.

“It’s not a matter of Party, the essence of life is to protect others. And, I told you that Funso Williams was my younger brother. I was in the Villa when the President, then, called me that ‘I am just getting a report that they have killed Funsho Williams’.

They gave me a Presidential Plane to come down, and I saw his corpse. So, we don’t want it to repeat.

“We, hereby, warn that should anything happen to this vibrant bonafide Lagosian, who fate has thrown up to free our dear State from the strangle hold of marauders, Nigerians should know who to hold.”

George, also, revealed that there is a grand design to provoke Nigerians into big crisis.

He said: “As we speak, there are grand designs to provoke the peace-loving Nigerians, whose resolve is to effect, through the ballot box on Saturday, as threats are being issued against voters suspected to be willing to vote against incumbency.

“To this disposition, we the Omo Eko Pataki, say it is the most heinous crime against humanity in this 21st century, and condemn such in all its entirety.

“We reject this politics of annihilation of innocent Nigerians, which seek to create anarchy and provoke the anger of the citizenry. We wish to remind all non-Lagosians agents of Lagos State Government, that Nigerians have lived together in peace, irrespective of any political party in power.”

Appealing to Lagosians to troop out en masse and vote, and to the Independent National Electoral Commission to be transparent, George, a retired Naval Commodore said: “We equally urge the electorate in Lagos to go out in their numbers on Saturday, to vote against the plundering that has bedeviled our prosperous State for over two decades as adequate security is assured to everyone out to exercise their civic responsibility.

“We, also, call on INEC to ensure the use of a transformational BVAS regime, for the transparency of the exercise, a departure from the February 25 archaic system, where result sheets were moved manually from Polling Units.”

Bode George’s Group has been in the vanguard of those alleging that the State has been in the stranglehold of, mostly, non-Lagosians. They hold the now President- elect, Bola Tinubu, responsible. Every election year, the Group tries, but has never been successful.

February 25, 2023, was the first time Tinubu’s Party lost Lagos. It is left to see if the Labour Party which Candidate defeated Tinubu will be able to perform the same feat on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in the Governorship election.

Many people think the only way to that may be a merger between George’s PDP and LP against Saturday. He said there have been discussions, but was not specific.

He, however, submitted; “24 hours in politics is a very long time. People are discussing at various levels from Abuja to Local Government because everybody has realized that the electorate is bigger than card-carrying members of your Party.”

Months ago, Bode George said he would go on exile if Tinubu wins the Presidential Election. INEC has just declared him winner. So, is George leaving or staying, especially, if Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour does not win the Governorship election? Time will tell.

I Predicted Peter Obi’s Victory In Anambra – Governor Soludo

By

Akinwale Kasali

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March 7, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has said he predicted the victory in Anambra of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi in the Election held on Saturday 25th February, 2023. He, also expressed his happiness over Obi’s victory in the State.

He said this as he denied a report that he is planning an attack on the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate.

The report stated that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had been contracted to eliminate Obi.

Debunking the report, Soludo said, as the Governor, he remains the father of Anambra by his position and will not plot or collude to harm any lawful citizen of the State, including Obi.

His Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, who spoke to journalists in Awka, on Monday, while reacting to a viral message on social media which alleged that Soludo had been contracted to eliminate Obi for a fee, distanced himself.

The report, which circulated online, titled, ‘Hold Soludo responsible if anything happens to Peter Obi’, said that Soludo’s hatred for Obi and everything he stands for is becoming glaring as things unfold.

It read: “Yesterday, a Helicopter entered Awka by 1:30 am and took Soludo to a secret meeting at Government House, Owerri. The agenda of the meeting is Peter Obi and how to stop him physically, politically and otherwise.

“Soludo was given Five Million Dollars in 100 dollar bills for the hatchet job and Soludo promised to eliminate Peter Obi…,” it said.

But Aburime, dismissed the report as infantile, nauseating, mischievous, unnecessarily inflammatory and a figment of the imagination of the authors.

He said, “None of the allegations is true. The governor has been in Anambra State engaging stakeholders for the Saturday election.

“The general public is advised to disregard the allegations as falsehoods. Ndi Anambra should also disregard all the insinuations in the write-up as mere falsehoods, they should come out massively and vote APGA this Saturday for the state House of Assembly election in order to sustain the developmental strides of the present administration of governor Soludo.

“If certain people could sit somewhere and cook up a story of this nature, it becomes highly reprehensible and certainly deserved to be condemned by every right-thinking person.

“I want to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in that write up, he did not go to Owerri and he was not offered any sum of money to harm anyone, not even his brother, Mr Peter Obi, an illustrious son of Anambra.

“Soludo wishes Obi well, he appreciates Anambra voters for supporting him massively, of course, he predicted his victory in Anambra and remember, there was no form of violence or electoral malfeasance in Anambra Anambra, that speaks a lot about the peaceful nature of Soludo.”

Aburime urged the Anambra people and Ndigbo home and abroad to disregard the information, noting that it is a plot to cause chaos in the forthcoming State Assembly election in the southeast geopolitical zone of the country.

He called on the Inspector general of police, Usman Alkali Baba, to immediately commence an investigation on the alleged report with a view to fishing out the perpetrators.

Enugu: Why PDP Governorship Candidate, Mba, Was Chased Out Of Campaign Rally

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The Source

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March 6, 2023

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By Charles Igbo

Peter Mba, the cerebral Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has had a rough time given to him on his Campaign Train.

Mba, who is on the final rounds of his campaign for the Governorship Election against 11th March, 2023, was given a hostile welcome at the Ugiri Isieke Community, Enugu State, on Monday.

On arrival to address the gathered audience, Mba and company were chased away by scores of youths who said they didn’t want to see him, and that he should go back with whatever he brought for them.

They were singing praises of the Labour Party and its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, as they embarked on the destruction of the drinks brought for the Rally.

An eye witness said Mba had to quickly dash into the Parish Priest’s House within the venue of the Rally to escape further embarrassments.

Until now, Enugu State, since Democracy in 1999, has been a PDP State. All its Governors, since then – Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, and the incumbent Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – have been PDP.

But the PDP is fast losing grip on the State.

In the 25th February 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP lost the State in a landslide to the Labour Party, LP, which won in all the Local Government Areas. It was so bad that Governor Ugwuanyi lost his Senatorial bid to the LP Candidate.

Not a few people have attributed the poor performance of the PDP to four factors.

The first is the Peter Obi- effect.

The second is Governor Ugwuanyi’s membership of Governor Nyesom Wike’s G5. His membership of the Group which is against the Leadership of the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, affected the Party in Enugu. Not a few people watched in dismay, as Ugwuanyi tagged along Wike like his Aide, junketting within and outside Nigeria.

The third is the public support of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, a two- term Governor of the State, for the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, now declared President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Not a few people were shocked that Nnamani abandoned the Party which gave him prominence in Nigeria for Tinubu. They were also unhappy that he ran down Obi, at least, on one occasion.

Finally, the brutal murder of Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, the LP Senatorial Candidate, a few days the the Senatorial Election, angered most people, and attracted sympathy for the LP. Chukwu’s opponent is Chimaroke Nnamani who has been expelled by the PDP, but, according to INEC, remains a candidate.

The late Candidate’s brother, Kevin Chukwu, has been chosen as a replacement for his brother. He will, among other candidates, face Chimaroke.

Mba, a Chimaroke “boy”, will, among others, face LP’s Chijioke Edoga and Frank Nweke, another Chimaroke “boy” of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. They are the three front runners.

“Today, I Visited Jennifer, Stabbed Victim Of February 25 Violence” – Peter Obi

By

The Source

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March 6, 2023

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The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the contentious 25th February, 2023, Presidential Election, Peter Obi, has visited Jennifer Efedi.

Efedi was attacked by Political thugs who viciously stabbed her while she was voting at her Polling Unit in Lagos.

Suspecting that she came to vote for the LP, she was stabbed on the face -two places.

She was rushed to a hospital where she was treated and her face largely plastered and swollen.

With her blood spluttered on her dress, she courageously went back to her Polling Unit to vote.

On Monday, Obi made out time to visit Jennifer in her house. Announcing his visit to her, Obi twitted:

“Today, I visited Mrs Jennifer Efedi. She was attacked on 25 February in an attempt to stop her from voting. She stood her ground. Jennifer is one of the great icons of Nigeria’s democracy. She is my point of contact with every Nigerian who suffered similar fate in their bid to exercise their voting rights, & contribute to a new Nigeria. Like many Nigerians , I acknowledge her bravery & resoluteness. Jennifer is a true manifestation of Profile in Courage for a new Nigeria. -PO.”

Ohaneze Says Peter Obi Won Presidential Election, Debunks Claim Igbo Not Destined For Presidency

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Akinwale Kasali

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March 6, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has debunked the claim that it said Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, is not destined to be President of the country.

The Group stressed that the former Anambra State Governor won the February 25 Presidential Poll.

Tony Obizoba, the Director-General, Implementation and Strategic Planning, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, had said that Peter Obi’s Presidency was not destined to happen in 2023.

But reacting to the report, Ohanaeze, in a rebuttal, issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, described the report as “most reckless, irresponsible and mischievous.”

Ohanaeze stated that it would have ignored the publication to avoid dignifying such “maladjusted, impish scaremongers,” but noted that silence “in this circumstance would mean giving validity to such fallacy by the unsuspecting gullible public.

“For the purpose of clarity, Ohanaeze Ndigbo vehemently dissociates itself from any remark that suggests that Peter Obi is not destined to rule Nigeria.”

The apex Igbo body unequivocally stated that it had “sufficient evidence and empirical records to show that Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed won the Presidential election held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.”

The statement partly reads:

“Ohanaeze Nidigbo is impressed, thrilled and fascinated by the groundswell and intimidating mass movement, which has come to signify the consciousness of the paradigm shift from a consumption economy to a production economy, which the Obi-Datti movement symbolises in the present day Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is proud to state that Peter Obi is a man whose track record of accomplishments has countervailed the regrettable and despicable tailspin of Nigerian bourgeois cash and carry democracy.

“Thus, Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora have, through the Obi phenomenon, demonstrated a loud irrepressible and indelible landmark; an irrevocable corroboration that evil men thrive because good men go to sleep.”

Ohanaeze stated that Nigerians and world leaders would continue to celebrate Obi for over one thousand years to come, adding that he would be remembered as a man who with a mere force of “morals, uprightness, persuasions and goodwill has changed the political narratives of the most populous and backward African country.”

The statement added, “One major challenge that has afflicted the Igbo for some decades now is the adulteration of the communal sensibility, the Igbo sense of originality. This is one of the harsh realities of the Nigerian civil war where Nigerian soldiers comprising diverse ethnics including mercenaries from Niger, Chad Republics, etc occupied the Igbo land.

“As happens in such military occupations, some Igbo women who went astray from the Igbo enclaves were assaulted, debauched and adulterated. These women later came back with pregnancies to give births to monstrous hybrids.

“Some of these rabble-rousing products of adultery who, given the openness of the Igbo society, have gained access to Igbo red caps have become the mischief-makers, charlatans, social climbers and media navigators who leech on the invaluable footprints of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue press releases for narrow, perverse and illicit pecuniary interests.

“And, these characters have been reminded to no avail that Ohanaeze represents the Igbo totem, emotions, collective consciousness, politicality and social solidarity.

“The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR, expressed deep shock that a faceless meddlesome interloper such as Tony Chiemelu Obizoba could be taken seriously by the media. Of course, it is highly inconceivable that at a point the Nigerian collective aspiration has gained an irresistible momentum, a true Igbo will make such reckless, shameless, embarrassing and demoralising statements using the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“We wish to use this opportunity to point out that the social media revolution has inadvertently thrown up an entirely new generation of half-baked, insidious ‘journalists’ who do not place value on the ethics and codes of the profession, chief of which is investigative journalism. Otherwise, there is hardly any Nigerian journalist who cannot distinguish between those who speak for Ohanaeze on the one hand and the spies and charlatans on the other.”

Obi Extols Obasanjo’s Uncommon Statesmanship At 86, Celebrates Pastor Adeboye at 81

By

The Source

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March 6, 2023

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The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has described the former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a model statesman whose love for service to humanity is legendary and outstanding.

He also applauded the immense contributions of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who clocked 81 years last week.

Obi in a birthday wish to the international elder statesman who turned 86 last Sunday said that Obasanjo has over the years demonstrated his zeal for a united strong country where humanity is accorded its due.

He said that over the years Obasanjo has by his conduct and utterances put himself above the destructive variables of tribe and religion that have kept our nation down.

The LP Standard bear wished for many more fruitful years ahead for the former President whose impact in all spheres of our national life remains remarkable and exceptional.

In congratulating Obasanjo on his birthday anniversary, Obi prayed to God to continue to grant the octogenarian, good health of mind and body to enable him to continue his fatherly role to the county.

“I joined millions of people all over the world to celebrate the birthday of this great man of God, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“Daddy you have continued to give so much of yourself in the service that we celebrate you every day. Thank you for touching our lives and for your great work and evangelization ministry.

“I wish you many happy returns on your special day and every blessed day. God bless you.

The LP flag bearer prayed to the almighty to continue to bless and grant Pastor Adebayo many more fruitful years of good health and sound minds for the service of the lord and humanity.

Lagos Guber: Jandor Acknowledges Igbo Contribution To Lagos Prosperity

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Akinwale Kasali

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March 6, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has showered encomiums on the Igbo for their immense contribution to the development of Lagos State.

He added that for those inestimable contributions, the Igbo people in the State deserve respect and protection.

The PDP Candidate alongside his running mate, Funke Akindele, and other PDP leaders, made the remark at a town hall meeting with an Igbo group, Ndigbo Na Lagos Bu Otu, in Surulere on Sunday.

“Everytime I have the opportunity to speak with our brothers and sisters of Igbo extraction in Lagos, I always remember to express our appreciation.

“Appreciation of Lagosians of the first order who understand that all Igbo people in Lagos are one of those who have contributed immensely to our prosperity in Lagos State.

“Your investments in our major markets in Aspanda, Ladipo, Trade Fair, Alaba International Market and every Igbo dominated market contributes immensely to the status of Lagos being the richest State in Nigeria today.

“It behoves every sensible owner of the Lagos to protect and respect those who have come to add to the prosperity but unfortunately what we have in Lagos today is not like that,” he said.

According to Adediran, if elected, he would not treat the Igbo and other ethnic nationalities disrespectfully but protect them and create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.

He said that he would end all harassments, intimidation and exploitations in the State.

Adediran, who expressed confidence in winning the Governorship election on March 11, urged the people to troop out en mass,e without fear of intimidation to vote for him.

“You don’t have problem in me. I will continue to fight for you,” he said.

In the same vein, the actress turn politician, Akindele, commended the Igbo for identifying and standing behind the PDP candidate.

Expressing confidence that PDP would win the election, Akindele urged the group to work harder and influence others around them to vote Adediran.

“Jandor is a man of action, with him on the seat as governor and you will see a change in the state.

“Lagos is for you – be it Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and whatever the tribe. We are ready to bring in that change. We will not disappoint you,” Akindele said.

She urged the NdIgbo to come out to vote, prevent all forms of rigging and protect their votes.

In his remarks, the President of the group, Chief Ernest Chukwujekwu (Nkenke enyi) described Adediran as their own brother because he had been identifying with the cause of NdIgbo in the state.

“Some of us worked for Peter Obi in the February 25 Presidential election because we knew his capabilities, and that has gone.

“For now, we need another capable hand in Lagos. We need a hand that can support our businesses.

“Many of us are suffering today because of the problems we have at our business places. We have made up our mind to support our brother, Jandor,” Chukwujekwu said.

Saturday’s Poll: South West APC Drums Support For Candidates

By

Ayodele Oni

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March 6, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The South West zone of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), has said that Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly election should be another yardstick to prove that Bola Tinubu, the president elect, has home support.

National vice chairman of the party in the zone, Isaacs Kekemeke has therefore appealed to the people of Southwest geo-political zone not to relent until the emergence of governors and State House of Assembly members on the party’s ticket during the March 11, 2023 elections.

The ruling party specifically urged the people of Ogun, Lagos and Oyo states where governorship election will take place, to vote massively for the APC during the polls, while electorate in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States should support APC assembly candidates.

Kekemeke, in a Press Statement issued on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, was of the view that the feat is achievable going by the outcome of last election.

The APC Chieftain, who expressed appreciation to Nigerians from across all zones for supporting the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to clinch the presidential seat, charged the Southwest people to extend the love they have been showing the President-elect, to the party’s candidates in the March 11 governorship and Assembly polls.

Kekemeke noted that the Southwest people would fully benefit from Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidency when they use their votes to install APC governors and state lawmakers in their respective states.

He expressed confidence in the ability and willingness of the President-elect to change the narration and reduce current hardship in the country as a result of naira scarcity.

The APC chieftain also called on the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC), to create level playing field for candidates in the election as it was done during the February 25 presidential election.

He expressed optimism that the APC would also come out top during this Saturday’s polls, and challenged members of the party to sustain the momentum and canvass for votes from eligible voters to ensure victory of party’s candidates.