Jonathan gives condition to join APC; Groups buy governorship form for Zulum / Newhitzgh

 Former President Goodluck Jonathan will only be joining the All Progressives Congress presidential race on the condition that he is endorsed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Anything short of this would not be acceptable to Jonathan who served as deputy governor, governor, Vice-President and President on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party from 1999 and 2015.

Saturday PUNCH had reported in February that some northern emirs had reached out to the former President, asking him to contest. Jonathan had also stayed away from activities of the PDP, including the last national convention.

Former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State had also stated that it was unlikely that Jonathan was still a member of the PDP as he was no longer involved in the party’s activities.

On Thursday, however, posters of the ex-President flooded the national secretariat of the APC on Blantyre Street, Wuse 2.

On Friday, youth and women groups demonstrated outside of Jonathan’s office in the Maitama area of Abuja.

The demonstrators, who arrived in five large buses, held up placards some of which read, ‘Jonathan, Please Run’, ‘Jonathan, do the needful’, ‘Jonathan for 2023’, ‘Jonathan Declare Now’ and ‘Goodluck Please Come Back, We Love You’.

Source: Punch Newspaper

2023: Groups buy governorship form for Zulum

A coalition of groups in Borno State has purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2023 gubernatorial elections for Prof Babagana Zulum to re-contest as a governor of Borno State.

The coalition which comprises registered clubs, associations, and professional bodies in the academia and health-care, marketers, transporters, and women groups, stated in a press briefing on Friday, in Maiduguri, that the performance of the governor in the past three years spurred them into purchasing the forms for his second term governorship bid.

“We are registering our unflinching support for the continuity of his Excellency Prof. Babagana Zulum, the executive Governor of Borno State for another four years, having witnessed the unprecedented and enormous achievements by his administration across all spheres of human endeavors in the state for the past three years.

“We also appeal to the general public and concerned citizens of the state to come 

en masse to support the cause. A dedicated account has been opened for them to make voluntary contributions to support this cause,” the coalition said.

Source: Punch Newspaper

2023: Presidency speaks on call for Buhari to set up interim govt

The Presidency has reacted to the call for an interim government to be set up after the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 to enable the drafting of a new constitution.

Aare Afe Babalola, the founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, had told the Buhari administration to suspend the 2023 general election and appoint an interim government instead.

According to Babalola, this interim government will use its time in office to draft a new constitution that is truly people-oriented.

He said the new constitution, to be produced within six months, would tackle insecurity, economic, political and other excruciating ills bedevilling the nation.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made the call amidst a myriad of security, economic challenges and other issues threatening the existence of the country.

But reacting to this, a Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, who appeared on Channels Television on Friday, said the Nigerian Constitution does not give permission to form an interim government.

Source: Daily Post

I’ll use experience garnered under Buhari to govern well – Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo visited Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to woo delegates of the All Progressives Congress, who will vote to elect the presidential candidate of the party.

Osinbajo paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, before he addressed hundreds of delegates and APC leaders in the state, on Friday.

The APC chairman in Oyo State, Isaac Omodewu; two governorship aspirants, Chief Niyi Akintola,SAN, and Senator Teslim Folarin, were among the party leaders present at the meeting.

The Vice President said his position as the number two citizen of Nigeria had placed him in a very good position to function very well if he is voted into power in 2023.

Primaries: 17 political parties yet to submit membership registers, says INEC

Ahead of the 2023 polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday said only one political party had submitted its membership register.

There are 18 political parties in the country, which implies that 17 parties have yet to submit their registers.

The commission called on political parties to submit copies of their membership registers before their primary elections. This it said was consonant with the provisions of the new Electoral Act (2022).

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this at the second regular quarterly meeting of Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja, said only one party had complied so far.

He said as stipulated in the Electoral Act, parties should submit their registers to the commission not later than a month to their primaries, congresses and conventions.