Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Friday, 19th August 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
Wike, Atiku’s Loyalists Meet Over PDP Crisis
The reconciliation committee set up by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has finally met in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Naija News gathered that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri led the Atiku’s team that met with Wike’s loyalists in the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday.
Recall that the PDP plunged into crisis after Atiku overlooked Wike and picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate for the presidential election.
The Rivers governor, who came second in the party’s presidential primary, has refused to openly back the presidential ambition of Atiku.
Some top members of the party who are unhappy with the PDP leadership have also joined Wike in calling for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
‘I Have Joined The Obidient Movement’ – Ozigbo Dumps PDP As He Backs Labour Party’s Peter Obi For Presidency
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 Anambra governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo, has announced his decision to dump the party and back the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi.
Giving reasons for his decision to quit the PDP, Ozigbo told Arise TV on Thursday that at this precarious time in Nigeria’s history, a competent and visionary leader must be elected to lead Nigeria into the future.
He said Nigerians had been split into two categories: “those working to sustain the status quo and those uncomfortable with the status quo and want to bring positive change.
In a statement earlier released to journalists, Ozigbo endorsed Peter Obi for the 2023 general election.
2023: Jibrin Reveals Edge Kwankwaso Has Over Tinubu
A former lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Friday, revealed the edge the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has over the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
According to Jibrin, Kwankwaso has more experience and exposure than the APC presidential candidate.
He also noted that Kwankwaso would do the same thing he did as the Governor of Kano State when he emerge as President.
Jibrin said the qualities of Kwankwaso whom he described as his political mentor are visible for everyone to see.
Muslim-Muslim Ticket – Nigerians Must Remove Religion From Politics – Yahaya Bello
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has advised Nigerians to set aside religion while dealing with politics.
Bello insisted that the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the All Progressives Congress, APC, was a perfect match.
The APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu had chosen the former governor of Borno state Kashim Shettima as his running mate, this had led to an internal crisis in the party with some factions insisting that the same faith ticket was disrespectful towards Christians.
Sharing his thoughts on the APC crisis, while appearing on a Channels Televisions programme, Sunrise Daily, Bello stated that a one-on-one with the duo would show that they are the right candidates for the presidency.
Wike Has Told Us He Is Not Leaving The Party – PDP Ekiti Chair Speaks On Rumored Defection
The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Lanre Omolase has said that the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has no interest in leaving the party.
When asked who the former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose, a close ally of Wike, was supporting in the ongoing crisis, Omolase told The PUNCH, “It is clear that the PDP presidential candidate has emerged in the person of Atiku Abubakar, and that is where we stand in the Ekiti PDP. Nobody is doing any other things.”
Speaking further when he was asked his opinion on Fayose’s belief that Nigeria’s next president should come from the South, Omolase said: “If Governor Fayose said that, that is his personal view and it should be a reaction to a particular thing. That Wike is annoyed today does not mean that Wike is not a PDP member. He has told us that he is not leaving the PDP. He will work for Atiku. He is only aggrieved, and it is normal for individuals to be aggrieved.
2023: Fani Kayode Meets Tinubu, Speaks On What Would Happen Under His Leadership
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has revealed what would happen to Nigeria if the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu emerges as president.
Naija News reports that Fani-Kayode made this known after meeting with the former Governor of Lagos State alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
In a series of tweets, shared on Friday, the former minister said the meeting was fruitful and productive.
According to him, great things would happen in Nigeria under Tinubu’s leadership adding that they are prepared to go into battle and ensure victory.
2023: There Is No Opposition Party In Rivers State – Wike Mocks APC, Others
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said there is no opposition party in the South-South state.
Wike said this on Thursday at the flag-off of the 11th flyover project at the Rumuola- Ikwerre Road-Rumuokwuta Roundabout in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Naija News reports that the commissioning of the flyover was done by former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke.
The governor stated that all the political parties in the state have collapsed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their leaders are joining the party in droves.
Wike claimed that the politicians are joining the PDP because they are happy with the ongoing infrastructural development by his administration.
He asserted that the ongoing collapse of the membership strength of other political parties in the state is definitely an electoral advantage for the PDP.
2023: Nobody Washed Away Atiku’s Footsteps Fom His Hometown – Omokri
Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri has denied reports that some angry youths in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State washed away the footsteps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the area.
The North East zonal Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Media Support, Abubakar Sadiq Kurbe, on his Twitter page on Thursday, claimed that some youths protested against Atiku’s return to his hometown.
In a tweet accompanied by a picture, youths were allegedly seen using water and soap to cleanse the areas that the Atiku went to while he visited Jada village.
He wrote: “Adamawa Youths cleansing the Jada Road after Atiku’s visitation. Atiku couldn’t construct the road as Vice President but he is passing through the same road President @MBuhari constructed to ask for our support, how is that possible.”
Reacting to the tweet via his Twitter handle, Omokri refuted the claim and described the tweet as mentally lazy propaganda.
Drama As Filling Station, Hotel Belonging To Atiku’s Allies Sealed Off In Port Harcourt
The crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension.
The differences in the party have seen some properties belonging to allies of the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar reportedly sealed in Port Harcourt.
According to reports, security operatives on Thursday sealed a filling station in Port Harcourt reportedly owned by a member of the House of Representatives, Chinyere Igwe.
The affected lawmaker is an ally of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, who is a supporter of Atiku.
According to Daily Post, a hotel owned by a relative of Opara, Chinda has also been sealed off.
This is coming after the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike warned that he would seal properties that is been used by politicians who are planning to destabilise the state.
Those Whom Fayose Helped Are Plotting His Downfall – Ekiti PDP Chair
The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti, Lanre Omolase has alleged that beneficiaries of former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose are plotting his downfall.
Omolase, while speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, shared his view on the Ekiti State gubernatorial election which took place two months ago and produced Biodun Oyebanji of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
Naija News reports that Oyebanji polled 187, 057 votes; Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled 82, 211 and Bisi Kolawole of the PDP polled 67,457.
Speaking on the reason why some members of the PDP believed that Fayose played a pivotal role in the loss of the party, Omolase said, “Ask them, how many of them contributed a penny to the election? The same Fayose that they are criticising today used his resources to prosecute the election right from the time of the congress to the primary to the real election. The man (Fayose) worked very hard with full determination to win that election.
APC Muslim-Muslim Presidential Ticket Will Destroy Nigeria’s Unity – PFN
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has said the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) will jeopardise the unity of the nation.
Naija News reports that the PFN General Secretary, Dr Cosmos Ilechukwu, stated this at a press conference held at the National Secretariat of the fellowship on Thursday in Lagos.
Ilechukwu stated that the same-faith ticket fielded by the ruling party was not in the interest of Nigeria and will further destroy the country’s peaceful coexistence.
He stated that PFN has never endorsed candidates and will not be doing so in the 2023 elections, adding that the fellowship will continue to urge Christians to participate in the electoral process.
2023: Details Of Tinubu’s Meeting With APC Governors Emerge
The details of the meeting between the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the governors of the party have emerged.
Naija News earlier reported that Tinubu met with the APC governors on Wednesday after addressing the party supporters at the MKO Abiola stadium, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
In a chat with DAILY POST, a party source said one of the resolutions taken at the meeting was to appoint different roles for the party chieftains in the Presidential Campaign Council.
The APC stalwart added that the organogram of the campaign structure was also discussed and the appointments to the council were also discussed at the meeting.
He disclosed that the campaign council also has 14 directorates in the campaign council, while the Zonal Campaign Coordinators for the six geo-political zones would be headed by the governors.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
This article was originally published on Naija News
