Politics
FG knocks Obasanjo as ex-President rates Buhari worst in corruption
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a scathing critique of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, declaring it the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Obasanjo, however, said the current government of President Bola Tinubu appears to be following the same path of misgovernance and corruption and may surpass Buhari’s record.
The former president made these assertions in the first chapter of his newly released book, “Nigeria: Past and Future.”
The book was one of the two new books the former President unveiled last week in commemoration of his 88th birthday.
Obasanjo, in th book described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt.
He also slammed Tinubu’s administration for spending N21bn on a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds.
He said, “Typical examples of waste, corruption and misplaced priority are the mucky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on which the President had turned deaf ears to protests and the new Vice-President’s official residence built at a cost of N21bn in the time of economic hardship to showcase the administration hitting the ground running and to show the importance of the office of the Vice-President. What small minds!”
The former President, however, said corruption was worst under Buhari’s watch, with the strong support of his Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“The most atrocious waste, enthronement of corruption and discouragement of officials fighting corruption took place under the watch of President Buhari and the devil’s workshop, his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami,” Obasanjo said.
He, however, asserted that the Tinubu government might surpass Buhari’s record.
“Given about two years of President Tinubu in office, it appears that the game of short-changing the over 230 million Nigerians continues because everything is said to be transactional and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop,’” Obasanjo added.
Buhari could not be reached for comment on Thursday as his spokesman, Garba Shehu, did not respond to calls and text messages on the allegations against the ex-president.
Malami also declined to react to the book, saying he had not read it.
Malami said in a voice note, “Indeed, I will be able to respond. However, I would not like to comment on mere speculations. I am not certain such allegations were made. Even in his own case, if you recall, during a Hard Talk interview, similar allegations of corruption were raised against him, and he is well aware of that.
“In light of the fact that His Excellency, President Obasanjo, has also been a victim of unsubstantiated allegations of corruption over time, I find it unlikely that he would make similar claims without specific references—such as who provided the alleged bribe, when it was given, how much was involved, under what circumstances, and who facilitated it.
“All these details are necessary when making an allegation. But if the claim remains vague, I find it difficult to conclude that His Excellency indeed made such an assertion—especially given that he himself has faced similar accusations in the past.
“So, kindly refer me to the specific page, and if possible, provide a scan or an extract so that I can respond objectively. I have not yet gone through the book to confirm whether such allegations were indeed made by His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo.”
He had yet to respond as of press time on Thursday.
The Presidency, however, came hard on former President Obasanjo on the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, during an interview on Television Continental, stated that the N15.6tn coastal highway was a visionary legacy project with enormous economic potential.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in a post on X, said “Former President Obasanjo seems to see himself as the only Nigerian created by God who knows what is good for Nigeria per time.
“If, as President for eight years, he couldn’t fix the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Lagos-Abeokuta road, we can’t take his latest view on the Lagos-Calabar highway as well-informed.”
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, speaking in Akure, Ondo State, said, “The project is not wasteful and corrupt. I have read on social media where people were saying that why is the government or the contractor not explaining, but as the Minister of Works, I am qualified to explain the project.
“It is natural and normal for people to criticise, but I’ve run the benefits of the project and the cost analysis. The jobs are already done about 70 per cent and the project will bring a lot of prosperity to the citizens. I’ll ask those criticising it not to follow the road.”
Emphasising that the first section of the project would be completed next year, Umahi said, “I want to commend the President. His peers are jealous and angry but that means he is doing very well, especially on what nobody has been able to do.
“The project is transparent, it is great in return of investment. I want to urge everyone to ignore distractions.”
In his book, Obasanjo particularly criticised Buhari for failing to live up to the ideals he once championed as a military ruler in 1983.
Recalling how Buhari justified his coup against the civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari by condemning corruption and electoral malpractice, Obasanjo regretted that Buhari presided over a government that became the worst in Nigeria’s civil administration.
He explained that in 1983 when giving the reasons why the democratically-elected government of the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari was toppled by the military, Gen Buhari (retd) had cited mismanagement of public funds hurting and making the country’s economy to be weak, lack of credible polls, among others as the reason for the military take-over.
In the book, Buhari was quoted to have said, “The last general election was anything but free and fair…There is ample evidence that rigging and thuggery were relative to the resources available to the political parties.
“This conclusively proved to us that the parties have not developed in the presidential system of government in which the nation invested so much materials and human resources.
“The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years have been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society…We deplore corruption in all its facets.”
Obasanjo, however, said that as good as Buhari’s 1983 speech was, he failed woefully to match his words with actions, even when he had the opportunity to serve the country for eight years as a democratically elected President, his administration was the worst in the nation’s history of civil governance.
He said “Good points and good words which Buhari failed to follow when he became president eleven years later.
“Words are cheap and what needed to be done was left undone during Buhari’s civil administration regime from 2015 to 2023, the worst civil administration regime so far in Nigerian history.
“Maybe those ideas and thoughts were not his; he just came to read them as written for him. Only Bola Tinubu’s administration seems to be competing with Buhari’s for now.”
In the chapter titled “From the Beginning Till Now: The Missing Key,” Obasanjo reflected on Nigeria’s post-independence leadership, highlighting bad governance, corruption, and self-interest as persistent obstacles to national progress.
He said successive governments, both military and civilian, have always identified bad governance, bad leadership, and corruption as major contributing factors to the country’s stagnated development and abject poverty, but would eventually do little or nothing to change the narrative.
The former President had scathing remarks for some of the officials under the watch of former President Buhari.
He said though it was difficult for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to secure convictions of VIPs involved in grand corruption, this difficult task was achieved with the jailing of former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, for 10 years and his Taraba counterpart, Jolly Nyame for 12 years over N1.126bn and N1.64bn embezzlement of state funds respectively.
Dariye and Nyame were released from the correctional facility in the Kuje council area of the Federal Capital Territory on August 8, 2022, four months after they were granted state pardon.
At a Council of State meeting presided over by former President Buhari in April 2022, Dariye and Nyame were among 159 inmates pardoned.
The two former governors, who were both jailed for fraud, were granted pardon on the grounds of age and ill-health.
Nyame was convicted in 2018 and given 14 years imprisonment for diverting public funds, but his sentence was later reduced to 12 years in 2020, following a ruling by the Supreme Court which affirmed the judgment of the court of appeal on the matter.
Dariye was sentenced to 14 years in prison for N1.126bn fraud, but his jail term was reduced by four years, following a verdict by the Supreme Court affirming an earlier judgment by the appellate court.
Speaking on their pardon, Obasanjo said it was based on the strong advice of Malami as AGF.
The former president said Buhari sought the advice of the Council of State to grant the two former governors presidential pardon on health grounds.
“Words circulated later that neither of them had a life-threatening illness; it was all made up.
“It was all part of Malami’s financial shenanigans and he played many of such to his advantage. His principal concurred, condoned, turned a blind eye and a deaf ear and paid lip service to fight corruption while cohabitating comfortably with corruption in multifarious ways.
“I was made to understand that some officials of the EFCC were terribly disappointed, discouraged, downcast and lost the pep in doing their work of fighting corruption as a result of this government action,” Obasanjo said.
He noted that another sore thumb in the administration of Buhari was the shameful way the project of a new national carrier for the country was handled by the former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, said to be a close blood relation of Buhari.
“Hadi Sirika believed that he was fooling Nigerians when after N85bn had been budgeted for the establishment of Nigeria Air and released, the dishonourable minister reputed to be a close blood relation of Buhari hired an aircraft from Ethiopia Airline, painted it in Nigerian colours and left it as a parting gift to Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Later, he denied having spent N85bn on the project and that, from 2016 to 2023, all of the money voted and budgeted for Nigeria Air was N5bn.
“Where has the money budgeted for the establishment of Nigeria Air gone? Neither the outgoing president nor the incoming president has done enough about it.
“You can do anything, and no matter how atrocious, if you are rightly connected, there will be no consequence. In the circumstances of outgoing and incoming presidents, you can get away with murder unless you do not rightly belong. There are selective justices and selective consequences at best.
“For the minister of aviation, it was the most reckless and condemnable audacity, barefaced stealing with the encouragement and condonation of the presidency.
“About 230 million Nigerians were being taken for a ride as if we were all stupid fools. Without consequence, he would get away with his action and others would do worse,” Obasanjo stated.
He added that there were many more in Malami and Sirika’s class within the cohorts of the Buhari administration.
The EFCC is currently prosecuting Sirika and three others, Fatima Hadi Sirika, Jalal Sule Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment on six count amended charges bordering on contract fraud to the tune of N2,825,032,220.97.
The former President feared that Tinubu’s cohorts may outdo Buhari, judging by the first one or two years in office.
The octogenarian said he blew the whistle on his ex-minister for power and steel, Dr Olu Agunloye, on the alleged fraudulent $6bn Mambilla Power Project contract to tackle the sore and repulsive corrupt practices of officeholders in the country.
Obasanjo laments wastes
Speaking on how the chief executives both at the federal and state levels encouraged waste and corruption, he cited the examples of Agunloye, Buhari, and late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
He said while some waste could be inadvertently occasioned by lack of knowledge, capacity and general inadequacy to do otherwise, some are deliberate and have cost the nation a fortune.
Obasanjo explained that under the military leadership of the late Gen Murtala Mohammed whom he served as his Vice, the nation lost $150m on balloon communication for the Ministry of Communication in the eagerness to improve on telecommunications.
He said, “The contractor and our external and internal consultants along with engineers in the ministry assured us that the balloon communication would work, but it had to be abandoned as unworkable after close to $150m had been expended.”
Obasanjo said this was a good example of inadvertent waste just like continuous issues of gas flaring said to have cost the nation a revenue loss of a whopping $59bn as of the end of 2023.
The former President, however, observed that the decision of Buhari during his military leadership to arbitrarily cancel the contract for the metro line in Lagos State, which was meticulously negotiated by the then governor of the state, the late Lateef Jakande, was a grievous error.
The contractor, Interinfra, reportedly went to court in Europe and obtained 650m French francs which is about $100m, almost the amount of money the project would have cost.
He said that was how, his successor, Yar’Adua, also disregarded the legal counsel and cancelled the concession agreement on the Ajaokuta Steel Plant with the affiliate facility of the Iron Ore Mining Company with Global Steel Holding Ltd.
“The contract would have lawfully become null and void and the government entitled to more than $26 million as damages from the Indian firm.
“This was because the firm appeared unable to pay the first tranche for the Ajaokuta shares before the first anniversary of the agreement (May 25, 2008). This failure would have given Nigeria a right to over $26 million as liquidated damages under Clause 12 of the Ajaokuta Share Purchase Agreement.
“Instead, the Federal Government agreed to part with about $496 million to settle a $5.23bn claim by the Indian firm. It was another waste of resources that could have gone for the provision of infrastructure for Nigeria,” he lamented.
He disclosed further that “With the heavy payment by Nigeria for inappropriate actions of revocation of agreements and contracts by Presidents Buhari and Yar’Adua, there seems to have developed a new industry in Nigeria of local contractors and foreign contractor seeking old contracts and agreements, purchases and transactions that can be unearthed to punch holes in them to make bogus claims with the arbitrator, judge or mediator being procured to join the sharing formula.
“This, I believe, is the case of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd and Olu Agunloye for Mambilla on which I blew the whistle. Agunloye and his cohorts, for personal aggrandisement, were taking Nigeria for a ride.
“Some families are spuriously appearing for properties developed by governments more than 50 years ago or more acquired, paid for and developed by government and these families are claiming compensation again with the support and collusion of people in government. The government has to be milked dry once the claimants’ mouths are watered. What a people!”
Presidency defends project
The Presidency described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar coastal highway as a visionary legacy project with enormous economic potential.
Darem in an interview of TVC, said the coastal road would bring enormous economic potential to the country, adding that the project would be one of the best infrastructure in the country.
“Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a visionary legacy project with enormous economic potential.
“Recall when the Lekki-Epe corridor was opened, everyone thought that President Bola Tinubu, who was then Governor of Lagos, didn’t know what he was doing.
“That corridor has opened up in the last 15 years, and some of the highest rates of real estate have sprung up. We’ve seen the Dangote refinery, we’ve seen the Lagos Free Trade Zone and a lot of developments along that corridor.
“Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, when completed and fully utilised, will be one of the best projects ever put out by any President of this country.”
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, in a statement on his X handle, said “While it is common for many elder statesmen to write books aimed at sanctifying their days as the leader of the country, despite obvious flaws, another elder statesman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has just published a memoir containing claims that would further relegate his integrity as the leader who opened Nigeria to the cankerworms of corruption, by neglecting important projects that could have changed the trajectory of this country if he had focused on what mattered in his days.
“By underplaying the importance of the Lagos-Calabar project in his latest book, OBJ has not only affirmed to those who witnessed his administration’s several failures to address the needs of the country when he had the opportunity, but he has also put in written form, a position which generations to come will indeed question when the road that will end up as one of the most significant endeavours of any Federal Government in the history of the country finally becomes a reality.
“Despite spending eight years in government and failing in his attempt to force himself on Nigerians for a further four years, Baba Obasanjo failed woefully in addressing the infrastructural needs of his state; indeed, it took former President Buhari just three years to deliver the first modern rail to pass through baba’s backyard in Abeokuta.
“The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was southwest and indeed one of Nigeria’s most important road projects in recent times, both baba and the PDP spent 16 years without getting the project beyond 30 per cent completion until Buhari happened.
“What about the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway that has now been inherited by Governor (Dapo) Abiodun in 2024 because the President who hailed from the state failed to make it a reality, despite having all the power and goodwill to do so?”
The presidential aide queried the corruption allegations in the Obasanjo administration, as he asked the former president to attempt to explain to Nigerians why he failed to help the country transit into a great country under his leadership.
He said, “Should we delve into the corruption that brought Nigeria’s power sector to its knees despite the claims of spending billions of dollars to fix the same under his administration? Or his failure to revive our refineries, killing our steel industry and fraudulent privatisation of NITEL, among others?
“President Obasanjo must emulate others before him by returning to his writing board to at least attempt to explain to Nigerians why he failed to help Nigeria transition into a proper country under his leadership, despite emerging at a time when the goodwill was at an all-time high, compared to these days when President Tinubu now has to take all the decisions they failed to take.
“Like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and Lagos-Abuja Highway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is a project that will change the economic landscape of our country for life and former President OBJ must pretend not to be jealous of the master strategist who is rewriting the history of the southwestern presidency by fixing all that needs to be fixed across the country.”
He concluded that Tinubu would not be deterred by distractions, adding that Nigerians who understood development would also not be distracted.
By Emmanuel Igwe
ABAKALIKI, Ebonyi State — The people of Ori Agba zone in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have declared their unalloyed support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, Chief Hon. Egah Paul Chidiebere, popularly known as Double Chief, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made yesterday when political stakeholders and residents from Ntezi, Okpoto and Agba communities gathered at the country home of Hon. Agu Chigozie Agu, the PDP contestant for Ishielu South State Constituency and Chairman of the PDP in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The gathering provided an opportunity for stakeholders from the Ori Agba zone to express their concerns over what they described as years of inadequate representation and marginalisation of Ishielu Local Government Area in the distribution of constituency projects and other dividends of democracy.
Addressing the gathering, members of the group argued that the federal constituency, which comprises Ezza North and Ishielu Local Government Areas, should benefit from equitable political representation and development.
They particularly expressed concern that Ezza North has occupied the federal constituency seat for about 12 years and indicated their desire for Ishielu Local Government Area to have an opportunity to produce the representative.
According to the stakeholders, the issue was not about antagonising Ezza North but about ensuring fairness and rotation between the two local government areas that make up the constituency.
The group therefore rallied behind Chief Egah Paul Chidiebere, describing him as a candidate capable of providing effective representation and attracting meaningful development to the constituency.
The political gathering also witnessed a wider endorsement of the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
The Ori Agba stakeholders said their decision to support Odii was aimed at pursuing what they described as a strategic political objective—ensuring that the people of the area secured effective representation at both the federal and state levels.
They maintained that the emergence of Odii as governor in 2027 would provide an opportunity for a new approach to governance and development in Ebonyi State.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that an Odii-led administration would promote equitable development across the state and ensure that rural communities and constituencies receive greater attention in the implementation of government programmes.
They subsequently urged voters across Ntezi, Okpoto and Agba communities to remain united and mobilise massively for the PDP candidates in the 2027 elections.
The endorsement is expected to add another dimension to the emerging political contest in the Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, particularly as stakeholders continue to debate the principle of rotation and equitable representation between the two local government areas.
For the Ori Agba stakeholders, however, the message from the gathering was clear: they want greater political representation for Ishielu and are prepared to support candidates they believe can deliver that objective.
The group also called on PDP supporters in Ishielu and across Ebonyi State to remain committed to the party and work collectively towards its success in the 2027 general elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party have been accused of engaging in widespread vote-buying across Osun State, with agents of both parties allegedly offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000 ahead of today’s governorship election.
Unlike previous elections, the alleged vote-buying reportedly began six days before the poll.
Some voters claimed that the parties also collected the bank account details of thousands of voters about a week before the election, with plans to transfer money to them after they cast their ballots.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is being challenged by Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nine other candidates.
A total of 1,906,390 registered voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are expected to participate in the election.
Findings by our correspondents revealed that agents of both Accord and the APC allegedly began distributing cash between Monday and Tuesday.
In some cases, the alleged inducement involved the distribution of food items and cash, with beneficiaries reportedly being asked to swear oaths promising to vote for the candidate of the party providing the items.
Our correspondents also came across viral videos purportedly showing supporters of Adeleke and Oyebamiji distributing cash, salt, rice and other items while urging beneficiaries not to betray them at the polls.
Ilesa
Voters in Ilesa alleged that the APC was distributing N20,000 to voters across polling units in Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East Local Government Areas.
According to some beneficiaries, the money was being distributed at the residences of designated APC chieftains in various polling units.
The voters said the alleged distribution began on Tuesday and continued until Friday.
One beneficiary, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I collected my N20,000 at the Bonnke area of Ilesa on Wednesday. The cash was in N1,000 and N500 denominations. We had over 200 voters and it was done unit by unit. I collected mine around 11am at the bungalow belonging to one of the APC chieftains in our unit.”
A human rights activist in Ilesa, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, corroborated the allegation.
“At the Coca-Cola area, people were given N20,000 each at one particular storey building. But you have to show your voter card before being paid.
“At Abiola Avenue, APC members gave N20,000 to each voter. I was there. The storey building where the money was shared belongs to an APC leader in the area,” he alleged.
At Iroye and Imo areas of Ilesa, it was further alleged that APC supporters distributed rice and an undisclosed amount of money to voters.
“I saw them. They are APC supporters. They provided money and rice, but I don’t know the exact amount they were distributing. They were cursing the beneficiaries, saying it would not be well with them if they failed to vote for AMBO after collecting the money,” a student leader in Iroye said.
It was also alleged that while the APC was offering N20,000, Accord was distributing N10,000 to voters.
At Olowu Village in Atakunmosa East LGA, Accord was reportedly distributing N10,000 and asking beneficiaries to swear an oath of allegiance. A community leader said the alleged distribution began about three weeks ago.
The community leader further claimed that Accord leaders were distributing the money openly and without apparent fear of arrest.
Other residents in Ilesa also alleged that the ruling party had begun distributing N10,000 in Ifofin, Iloro, Okesa and other parts of the city since Tuesday.
Ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, the journey of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid is one marked by a narrow defeat, a rerun loss, a legal battle and, ultimately, a major comeback.
Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, first contested the Osun governorship election in 2018 under the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola
The election produced a remarkably tight race between PDP’s Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.
At the initial count, Adeleke polled 254,698 votes, while Oyetola scored 254,345 votes, giving the PDP candidate a lead of just 353 votes.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the election inconclusive after cancelling 3,498 votes in some polling units across Ife North, Ife South and Orolu Local Government Areas.
Explaining the decision, the Returning Officer, Prof Joseph Fuwape, said the margin between the two leading candidates was lower than the number of cancelled votes.
“Since the margin between the two leading candidates was lower than the registered cancelled votes, the election had to be declared inconclusive,” Fuwape said.
INEC consequently scheduled a rerun in seven polling units.
The rerun that changed everything
The rerun was held across four local government areas on September 27, 2018.
Oyetola won the rerun, polling 1,160 votes against Adeleke’s 325 votes.
The additional votes overturned Adeleke’s initial advantage, and Oyetola was eventually declared governor-elect.
Oyetola finished with 255,505 votes, while Adeleke ended with 255,023 votes — a difference of just 482 votes.
Adeleke rejected the result and vowed to challenge it.
Speaking through his brother, Dele Adeleke, he insisted that the PDP would seek legal redress.
“Adeleke’s mandate can’t be stolen, it will be retrieved. The wish of the people will stand at the end,” he said.
The defeat did not end Adeleke’s governorship ambition.
Four years later, Adeleke returned
Adeleke returned to the race in 2022, again facing Oyetola, who was then the incumbent governor.
This time, however, the result was different.
In the July 16, 2022 governorship election, Adeleke secured 403,371 votes, defeating Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes.
Adeleke won 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyetola won 13.
The result gave Adeleke a margin of 28,344 votes, a sharp contrast to the 482-vote difference that separated the two men four years earlier.
Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said:
“I declare Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen, on behalf of the chairman of INEC, of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” Ogundipe said.
Adeleke was subsequently sworn in as governor on November 27, 2022.
The battle was not over
Oyetola and the APC challenged Adeleke’s victory at the Election Petitions Tribunal, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.
The legal battle lasted several months.
In January 2023, the tribunal annulled Adeleke’s victory after deducting votes it considered affected by over-voting and declared Oyetola the winner based on its recalculation.
Adeleke rejected the judgment and described it as a “miscarriage of justice”, saying the tribunal’s decision represented “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”
He subsequently appealed the decision.
Appeal Court restores Adeleke
The Court of Appeal later overturned the tribunal’s decision and restored Adeleke as governor.
Oyetola, however, proceeded to the Supreme Court.
In March 2023, the Supreme Court upheld Adeleke’s victory, bringing the legal battle over the 2022 Osun governorship election to an end.
Now, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Adeleke is seeking another term in office as the Accord candidate, with other candidates including APC’s Bola Oyebamiji also competing for the Osun governorship.
PUNCH
Headline
As Renewed Hope Sets Up 134,000 Polling Unit Ambassadors
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central District and Director General of South East Governors Forum Sen Ekwunife has dismissed insinuations that there is fractionalization in the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state.
This is coming as the Anambra state chapter of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors has so far set up a total of 143,000 Polling Unit Ambassadors ahead of the 2027 Presidential election in the area.
Ekwunife who attending a meeting of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Awka contended that the party is one and ever united in it’s bid towards delivering President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the coming election.
“No there is no division in Anambra APC and APC is one , one family, one people and the APC will win as one united family” she stated .
Ekwunife further described the Renewed Hope Ambassadors as a body of people who are determined to work for the reelection of Tinubu based on his track records of achievements so far in the South East geopolitical zone.
“The Renewed Hope Ambassador is for everybody. It is for us , for our President, for the Senators it is for Federal House of Representatives, for the State House of Assembly and for the stakeholders”
“We are here to reemphasize the need for the APC to win the coming elections like the Presidency Senatorial, Federal House of Representatives and state Assembly”
“This is because we have seen what Mr President has done for the South East and for Anambra state and Igbos ”
“We have seen what Mr President has done for Anambra, for Imo , for Abia , for Enugu and for Ebonyi state ”
“As ambassadors it is aimed at rekindling the great thing that Mr President has done for us and that is why we are here today”
“We are here to state categorically that we shall vote for our party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu , top to bottom”
“I am sure that what you saw today in the morning is not the same that you saw in the afternoon in terms of infrastructural development by Mr President and we have seen renewed roads, renewed infrastructure and a renewed hope and a renewed government which is a government that is working for the people and that means that democracy is about the people, democracy is about giving the people hope and it is about seeing the infrastructure, seeing it and touching it “she said .
Speaking shortly after the meeting the state Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Chief Okey Ezenwa;
“You are aware that the Renewed Hope Ambassador in Anambra state have representation of the state local government, Wards and we have 25 man polling unit Ambassadors in every polling unit in Anambra state so that is already a viable machinery for election and we want the candidates to tap into this repository of electoral materials for there own election and this has already been put in place for the Presidential election” he said.
According to a communique issued by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Anambra state after it’s meeting and signed by the Coordinator Okey Ezenwa , the body stated ;
“All Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Anambra State are directed to make the RHA structures in their respective federal constituencies and senatorial zones available to APC candidates contesting the January 16, 2027 National Assembly elections”
“The RHA resolved to collaborate with other political groups and entities that share and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision and agenda”
” The meeting reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of one party, one message and one mobilisation framework in advancing the Renewed Hope agenda in Anambra State”
“The meeting further called on all RHA coordinators and members across the state to remain committed, focused and united in their efforts to communicate the achievements of the Tinubu administration and mobilise support for the Renewed Hope agenda” the body said .
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
There is growing confusion in the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the party’s candidate for Anaocha 1 State Constituency, following a dispute between two aspirants laying claim to the party’s ticket.
The constituency, which is the immediate constituency of the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has been embroiled in controversy as the serving member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Nkechi Ogbuefi, insists that she remains the duly nominated candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.
Ogbuefi, who is the Deputy Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, said she participated in the party’s primary election and was duly returned and nominated as its candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency.
She alleged that Hon. Azubuike Okoye had been parading himself as the party’s candidate despite, according to her, not purchasing the NDC nomination form, participating in the screening exercise or taking part in the party’s primary election.
“I joined Mr Peter Obi when he went to the Labour Party and also joined him when he became a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“We had our primary election and it was resolved that all serving members must be given automatic tickets. I, like other sitting members, was given my nomination form and we took part in the primary election of the party.
“After the primary election, I was returned and duly nominated as the candidate for Anaocha 1 Constituency,” she said.
Ogbuefi further alleged that Okoye, after purchasing forms in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and participating in its House of Representatives primary, had been parading himself as the NDC candidate for the State House of Assembly.
She said the matter had also been taken before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where, according to her, the NDC appeared and affirmed her as its candidate.
“Another candidate who heard that I was returned went to the Federal High Court in Abuja and, because it was an originating summons, the NDC came there to affirm me as the candidate of the party.
“The court ultimately affirmed me as the winner of the primary election of the party.
“The party also stated that at no time was Azubuike Okoye’s name submitted as a candidate. He did not purchase the form of the party, he did not take part in the screening of aspirants and he did not participate in the primary election,” she stated.
Ogbuefi further claimed that the state chairman of the NDC, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, had advised her to disregard Okoye’s claim, saying that Peter Obi personally forwarded her name to him as the party’s candidate.
Efforts to reach Uzoezie for his reaction were unsuccessful, as several calls placed to his phone were not answered. Text messages and WhatsApp messages sent to him also received no response.
However, reacting to Ogbuefi’s allegations, Okoye declined to make a definitive claim to the ticket, saying the matter would be settled when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publishes the list of candidates submitted by the party.
He urged those involved in the dispute to remain calm, saying there was no need for individuals to engage in arguments or trade accusations on social media.
“My brother, I cannot say anything now and I cannot say I am the candidate of the party. I don’t want to join issues with those claiming to be candidates of the party in Anaocha Constituency 1 until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publishes the list of candidates sent by the party to the Commission.
“So I want the reporters to remain calm because if I say that I am the candidate and INEC publishes another name, what sense does it make?” he said.
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