Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 1st June 2022.
Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.
2023: Atiku Receives Certificate Of Return As PDP Flagbearer
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday presented a Certificate of Return to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Naija News reports that this development is coming after the former Vice President won the presidential primary of the main opposition party last Saturday.
Atiku polled 371 votes to defeat his closest contender Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, who polled 237 votes.
The National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, presented the certificate to Atiku at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
Read more.
2023: Kwankwaso Should Collapse Structure With Peter Obi – Deji Adeyanju
Political activist, Deji Adeyanju has advised the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, to collapse his political structure to work with the flagbearer of the Labour Party (PDP), Peter Obi.
The convener of the Concerned Nigerian movement made this known in a tweet via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
Adeyanju opined that Kwankwaso is only influential and has support in Kano State, while Obi is popular all over the country.
He asserted that both leaders will make a good President and Vice President.
Read more.
Moneybags: Lawan Writes APC Delegates Ahead Of Presidential Primaries
The President of the Nigerian Senate and 2023 Presidential hopeful, Ahmad Lawan, has written to the All Progressives Congress, APC, delegates ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.
Lawan who is aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari admonished delegates to consider competency than moneybags.
The Yobe-State politician charged the delegates to choose a person that would lead and not rule the country.
Lawan made the call in a letter written to the APC Delegates on Wednesday, Naija News understands.
He stressed that there is a need for the politicians to examine past behaviours of aspirants and their public engagement before now.
Lawan again, charged the delegates to look for a leader that will not buy their votes but one that is prepared to sell and deliver their dreams.
Read more.
2023: Buhari Imposing A Candidate May Backfire – President’s Ex-Minister
President Muhammadu Buhari has been warned by a former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu over his plan to impose a candidate on the All Progressives Congress in 2023.
According to Shittu, the plan of President Buhari ahead of the presidential primary of the ruling party may backfire.
Shittu gave this warning during an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday.
The former minister’s comment was in respect to Buhari’s statement during his meeting with Progressive Governors’ Forum at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
Read more.
PDP: Tambuwal Did Not Betray Wike For Atiku – Dino Melaye
A former lawmaker representing Kogi West in the Senate, Dino Melaye has dismissed insinuations that Governor Aminu Tambuwal betrayed his friend and Rivers counterpart, Nyesom Wike.
Tambuwal was instrumental to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate after he shockingly withdrew and backed the presidential ambition of the former Vice President.
Recall that Atiku defeated Nyesom Wike who was his closet rival at the presidential primary of the main opposition party on Saturday night.
Atiku gathered votes of 371 delegates while Wike, polled 237 votes.
Tambuwal’s withdrawal and backing of Atiku had drawn reactions from some Nigerians who felt the Sokoto Governor betrayed Wike who is his friend and who backed his ambition against that of the former VP in 2018.
Speaking on TVC’s current affairs programme, Journalists’ Hangout, Dino Melaye said betrayal shouldn’t be related to Tambuwal’s decision to step down for Atiku as there was no written agreement with Wike.
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2023 Presidency: What Atiku Said After Receiving PDP Certificate Of Return
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has charged all party members to unite and work together to win the 2023 presidential poll.
Atiku made this known on Wednesday when he received the Certificate of Return at the party’s headquarters in Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The former Vice President applauded the party for conducting a free and fair presidential primary election and ensuring a hitch-free exercise.
Atiku stated that the love and unity shown by the Governors of the party, his worthy co-aspirants, present and past leaders, stakeholders and party supporters give him an assurance of a better tomorrow.
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PDP To APC: ‘Jonathan Should Feel Insulted Being Linked To Presidency’
Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa has said former President Goodluck Jonathan should feel insulted for being rumoured to be testing the presidential ticket again.
Naija News reports that Jonathan has been consistently linked with plots to seek reelection in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was gathered that some northern governors and close aides to President Muhammadu Buhari were behind plots to draft Jonathan into the presidential race.
A group had also purchased the 100 million naira Presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC for the ex-president.
But Jonathan did not turn up for the presidential screening of the APC which held on Monday and on Tuesday.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, Bulkachuwa said it is laughable that there is a rumour about Jonathan aspiring for the APC presidential ticket despite.
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Abaribe Attends APGA Presidential Convention In Abuja
Former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has been spotted at the special national convention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Abaribe it would be recalled recently resigned as the Senate Minority Leader after he dumped the PDP and defected to APGA.
The APGA convention holding at the national headquarters of the party in Katampe, Abuja is to elect/confirm its 2023 presidential candidate.
The event has in attendance major party chieftains including former Minister Frank Nweke Jr and many APGA loyalists from across the country.
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2023: Dino Melaye Tackles Buhari Over Appeal To Be Allowed To Choose His Successor
Former Kogi Senator, Dino Melaye has tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over an appeal made to Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be allowed to choose his successor.
Melaye on Wednesday, described the move as dictatorial, unconstitutional, and undemocratic, calling on Nigerians to resist such action as it is an attempt to impose a leader on them in 2023.
The former lawmaker said Nigerians must wake up and defend their hard-earned democracy against any form of attack.
But Melaye in his reaction via a Twitter post said the use of the word successor and not flag bearer or candidate is an attempt to impose the next President on Nigerians which would be firmly resisted.
He accused Buhari of trying to force his will on all Nigerians but said such will not be allowed as Nigeria must be rescued.
Read more.
Asari Dokubo Sends Message To Wike After Losing PDP Presidential Primary
Former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo has slammed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for claiming that he was betrayed by Southern Governors during last Saturday’s presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News recalls that Wike on Monday alleged that his Southern counterparts were responsible for his loss to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the PDP event in Abuja.
Wike said the Southern governors betrayed him by working against their earlier agreement that the Presidency should return to the South.
In a Facebook live on Tuesday, Dokubo said Governor Wike has no moral right to complain about betrayal following his betrayal of former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
Dokubo stated that the behaviour, utterances and actions of the Rivers governor led to his loss and should not blame anyone for his mistakes.
The former militant, however, asked Wike to reconcile and appease those he had offended by his actions and utterances during the campaign.
Read more.
Why Buhari Choosing A Consensus Candidate Will Destroy APC – Lukman
The Vice-Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Salihu Lukman has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against going ahead to push for a consensus presidential candidate.
Recall that Buhari had on Tuesday asked APC governors to support him in picking his successor.
Reacting in an open letter to the president, Lukman said the move could destroy the party before the 2023 presidential poll.
He told Buhari that picking a consensus candidate will be highly risky to adopt as it can erode all his lifelong achievements.
Read more.
2023 Presidency: Buhari Will Pick Successor From South – Osita Okechukwu
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari would pick his successor from the Southern part of the country.
Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday.
Naija News reports that Buhari had appealed to the APC Governors to allow him to pick his preferred successor ahead of the party’s presidential primaries on June 6.
Buhari made the appeal during a meeting with the governors and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
President Buhari during the meeting also called on APC governors to make decisions that would enable the party to remain in power.
According to Okechukwu, the President would choose his preferred presidential candidate from the South in the interest of equity, harmony and amity of the Nigerian state.
Read more.
PDP: Why I Dumped Saraki For Atiku Abubakar – Dino Melaye
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye has said he backed the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar because Nigeria needs a unifier.
Melaye, who is a former lawmaker representing Kogi West in Senate, said Atiku will win the 2023 presidential election by a landslide.
Speaking on TVC’s current affairs programme, Journalists’ Hangout, the ex-lawmaker expressed confidence in the party’s ability to reclaim power from the APC government.
On him switching support from the former Senator President, Bukola Saraki to Atiku, Dino Melaye said he decided to back the known over the unknown.
Read more.
2023 Presidency: Former Chief Judge, Peter Emerges APGA Presidential Candidate
Renowned Professor of Law and former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Peter Umeadi, has emerged the presidential flag bearer of the Victor Oye-led faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
According to reports, Umeadi clinched the presidential ticket at a special convention attended by factional party leaders and members drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country at the Katampe-Abuja national headquarters of the party.
The troubled party accredited 150 delegates, affirmed the candidacy of Umeadi by a voice vote.
Speaking about the election, Victor Oye, a factional national chairman of the party expressed optimism that Umeadi would be sworn in as President of Nigeria in 2023.
The party has been torn between Edozie Njoku and Victor Oye, both claiming to be the substantive national chairman of the party.
Read more.
That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Naija News
This article was originally published on Nigeria News