Politics
Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Sunday, 22nd May, 2022
Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Sunday, 22nd May 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
2023: Why I Dropped Igbo Presidency To Support Ahmad Lawan – Uzor Kalu
Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu has defended his decision to drop his agitation for a 2023 southeast presidency in support of the presidential ambition of Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Uzor Kalu in a personally signed statement on Sunday, held that no one loves the Igbo race more than he does and he took the step in the best interest of the southeast.
It will be recalled that Kalu who was until recently a presidential aspirant himself, dropped out of the 2023 race and declared support for Senate President Lawan who is from the northeast.
His decision has sparked several reactions including condemnations. One of the reactions came from Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi.
But Kalu in a swift response took to his Facebook page on Sunday to shed more light on his decision and why he feels he has done the right thing.
The former Abia State Governor in a statement titled ‘Mbazuluike Amaechi: “North East, Only Alternative To South East Presidency “- Orji Kalu’ explained that since it had become clear that other regions were not going to support zoning which would have encouraged the call for a 2023 Igbo presidency, he had to realign so the region won’t lose out completely.
2023 Presidency: SDP Lists Conditions To Allow Tinubu, Others Join Party
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has listed conditions to allow aggrieved presidential aspirants of various political parties to contest the 2023 Presidency on its platform.
There have been speculations that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants are planning to join the SDP in the coming days.
It was learned that Tinubu and the PDP presidential hopefuls might defect to the SDP if they fail to secure their parties’ presidential tickets.
In an interview with reporters on Saturday during the party’s congress in Lagos, acting National Chairman of the SDP, Chief Supo Shonibare, said the party will not be an alternative platform for any corrupt presidential hopefuls.
2023: Igbo APC Presidential Aspirants Hold Closed-Door Meeting In Abuja
Southeast presidential aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently meeting in Abuja, the country’s capital city.
The meeting which is holding behind closed doors is been hosted by former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha at his Abuja residence.
Naija News understands other aspirants in attendance include former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, former Science and Technology Minister, Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Ken Nnamani, Mrs. Uju Ken-Ohanenye.
PDP Suspends Primaries Indefinitely In Imo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo says it has suspended its primaries for the House of Assembly and House of Representatives indefinitely, over the unreconciled delegates list.
The Legal Advisor of the party in the state, Mr Kessinger Ikeokwu in a statement on Sunday attributed the non-conduct of the primaries to confusion caused by the National Assembly.
Naija News understands that Imo would not vote along with other states who were now voting with their three-man and one-man national delegates.
He said: “Please note that the reason for the suspension of the PDP house of assembly and house of representatives primaries in Imo was a result of the confusion that arose from the error of the national assembly in the country.
Buhari To Meet Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Lawan, Others As APC May Opt For Consensus
Indications have emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari is set to meet with presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s primaries.
It was gathered that Buhari will use the opportunity of the meeting to help reduce the number of presidential hopefuls.
He is expected to ask them to accept the outcome of the primary as was done during the APC presidential primary in 2014.
2023: Tinubu Arrives Yobe To Consult With Delegates
The National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu has arrived in Yobe State to meet with delegates.
Naija News reports that he arrived the North East state enroute Cargo International Airport in Damaturu, the state capital.
The APC national leader is in Yobe to ask delegates for their votes ahead of the APC presidential primaries on May 29.
Intelligence Report Explains Why Lawan Joined APC Presidential Race
A possible reason Senate President Ahmad Lawan was drafted into the crowded 2023 presidential race on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) has filtered into the open.
According to a political risk consultancy firm that gave insight into the game plan in its weekly intelligence report on Nigeria, Nigeria Politics & Security, there are likely to be some defections before APC’s presidential primaries on June 1 by those who now believe that they have little or no chance of being selected for the party’s ticket.
According to the intelligence report, Lawan is one of those who submitted the forms on time, adding, ‘’despite his late entry into the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, he has emerged as one of the frontrunners as the APC seeks ways to respond to the possibility of facing a northern candidate representing the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
2023 Presidency: Fayemi Reveals Ways To End Farmer-herder Crisis In Benue, Others
The Governor of Ekiti and Presidential hopeful, Kayode Fayemi, has promised to end the farmer-herder crisis in Benue and other states in the North Central region.
Fayemi stated that the lingering crisis has led to the killings of innocent citizens in the region and disrupted farming which the region is known for.
He, however, promised to end the crisis by being fair to everyone, equitable, offering inclusiveness and giving everyone a sense of belonging if elected the next President in 2023.
Naija News reports that Fayemi stated this when he met with All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in Makurdi, Benue state on Saturday.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) also promised to make the North-central zone the country’s top tourism and mining destination if elected as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.
Bola Tinubu Planted Jimi Agbaje In PDP – Olabode George
Elder statesman and former Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, has berated the former governorship candidate of his party in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje.
George, a former military officer, stated that Agbaje should never be compared to the late Funsho Williams.
He told The PUNCH that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, may have planted Agbaje in the PDP to destabilise it.
George said with the introduction of electronic voting it would be difficult for Tinubu and his allies to manipulate the upcoming governorship election in the state.
Asked what were the major reasons PDP governorship candidates like the late Funso Williams to Jimi Agbaje and others failed in previous elections, George said: “Forget about Jimi Agbaje. Let me say it openly. Bola Tinubu sent him here (to the PDP) and it was the inadequacies and the interference especially from the locals of our party that brought Agbaje here. Was Agbaje working for us?
PDP: You Were Unknown When I Made You Ekiti Deputy Governor – Fayose Tackles Eleka
Former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose has asked his former Deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka “not to forget history that soon”.
Naija News reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant stated this while reacting to a letter to the party’s leadership by Olusola-Eleka.
In a letter to the PDP National Chairman personally signed, the former Deputy Governor had claimed that he entered the campaign because of pressure from former State Governor Ayodele Fayose.
2023 Presidency: Tinubu Speaks On Being Sick
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu has broken his silence over his health.
There have been speculations that the former Governor of Lagos State has medical issues he is battling with.
There have also been several videos on the internet indicating how the APC leader is physically unfit.
Tinubu while speaking at the Nasarawa Government House on Friday during his meeting with state delegates said he is not sick.
The former governor while speaking on his ability to rule the country said he is not applying to become a wrestler.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
