Category: 2023 Presidential Candidates
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Peter Obi Speaks On Northern Children Attending Arabic School
Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, spoke yesterday on the part of Northern children attending Islamic school (Quranic/Arabic school).
The former Governor of Anambra State observed clearly that the northern kids are vast in the knowledge of the Islamic holy book; hence, he submitted that if elected, his administration would exploit the quranic proficiency to give the children a career pathway built on skills.
Naija News reports that Obi noted this on Sunday during a televised dialogue on Arise Television.
Obi and other 2023 presidential candidates including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), were in attendance at the Arise TV town hall meeting to further their dialogue on what they have for Nigerians if elected.
Speaking on northern children’s ability to master the Islamic holy book, Obi said such efficiency means the kids would be able to master skills to hike out of poverty.
“If they can learn Quran, it means they are intelligent,” Obi said as part of his broad response on tackling education in Nigeria if elected.
He added: “I will meet them where they are learning Quran” and let them know they can have skills.
“What we need to do, other than increased investment in education, is also to have increased inspection across state and local government.”
The presidential hopeful stressed that Education in northern Nigeria has lagged behind the rest of the country for decades, with a substantial majority of the country’s out-of-school children being from the region, per UNICEF estimates.
Obi repeatedly suggested that education in Nigeria could play a major role in piloting the country out of endemic poverty and deprivation. If elected at the upcoming presidential election, he said he would earmark 10 percent of federal budgetary provisions to education, a feat never before achieved in the country’s 62 years of self-government.
This article was originally published on Naija News
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Happy Birthday My Elder Brother – Peter Obi Felicitates Atiku At 76
Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has felicitated former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on his 76th birthday.
Naija News reports that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clocked 76 years old today, Friday, November 25, 2022.
Obi in a congratulatory message via his Twitter page on Friday referred to the Wazirin Adamawa as his elder brother.
The former Governor of Anambra State prayed to God to protect and continue to bless Atiku as he celebrates this year’s anniversary of his birth.
Obi’s tweet reads: “My Dear Elder Brother, HE Alhaji @atiku Abubakar, I rejoice with you as you turn 76 today. May God who has brought you thus far in life, protect and bless you always. Happy birthday sir.”
President Buhari Reacts To Gospel Singer, Sammie Okposo’s Death
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday reacted to the demise of popular Nigerian gospel singer, Sammie Okposo.
Naija News reported earlier that Okposo slumped and died on Friday morning.
Colleagues in the music industry, fans, Christian communities and entertainers have been sending their condolences to the family of the deceased since the sad news broke on the internet.
Joining the host of others in sympathizing with the family of the deceased, President Buhari in a condolence message issued by his media aide, Femi Adesina, said the singer’s death on Friday left many in Nigeria and across the world severely shocked.
Buhari commiserated with the Christian community, particularly Okposo’s colleagues in gospel music and the younger generation, who had over the years identified with his elevating style of praise and worship.
The president noted the unique platform of worship created by Okposo, Okposo Praise Party, his creative contributions to the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, and the inspiring role he played in grooming talents and mentoring them to stardom.
The Nigerian leader prayed for the repose of the musician’s soul, urging the family to find solace in his investments of love.
This article was originally published on Naija News
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Tinubu, Joe Biden Are Mates, Atiku, Peter Obi Are People With Questionable Character – APC Chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Mike Msuaan, said on Thursday that the ruling party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s age shouldn’t be a thing to debate on.
Msuaan compared the former Governor of Lagos State to United States President Joe Biden, saying the duo are of the same age range; hence age should not be a barrier for the Nigerian politician.
The Director of National Youth Mobilisation (North Central) of the APC Presidential Campaign Council urged Nigerians to borrow a leaf from President Biden.
He said, “The US president is as old as Tinubu. It’s not about age. It’s about what you have upstairs. Tinubu has the experience better than all of them.
“The right thing the president would do is to assemble the best hands for the country. He has been tested and trusted. He did it in Lagos and he is going to do it for Nigeria.”
Speaking about Tinubu’s competitive edge in the February 2023 presidential election, Msuaan said he couldn’t see the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, competing with the APC flag-bearer.
The APC chieftain said candidates of the opposition parties are people with questionable character, hence they are miles away from Tinubu in the 2023 presidential race.
The Benue-born politician stressed that Tinubu would outshine Obi and Atiku, adding that the duo pose no threat to the presidential ambition of the former Governor of Lagos State at the poll.
Msuaan said, “We didn’t see Asiwaju contesting with Atiku and Peter Obi. These are people with questionable character. We know what Atiku did to this country. He threw the youths of the North-Central and this country to the street.
“The privatisation exercise that he mishandled that drove the youths of this country to be jobless. Under Atiku as vice president, over $16 billion was invested (in electricity) and up to date, we are still in darkness. Is that the person that should rule us? Or are we talking of Peter Obi who has zero records in Anambra State?”
Tinubu, APC Has No Problem With BVAS
Speaking further, the APC chieftain said Tinubu has no problem with the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the 2023 general election, as speculated in some quarters.
Naija News reports that Msuaan made the statement when he met with scores of party stalwarts on Thursday in Abuja.
Continuing, the PCC youths mobilization director stated that he and his supporters had commenced a door-to-door campaign and perfected some strategies to ensure that Tinubu swept at least 70 percent of ballots in the North-Central geopolitical zone in the 2023 elections.
Msuaan said, “Why should the APC be afraid of BVAS and electronic transfer of results when the youths are strongly behind us? Why should we be afraid? I told you that if election is conducted tomorrow we are going to win.
“They are the ones running after us. We have already given them more than 30 per cent gap ahead. And by tomorrow, if elections were conducted, we would give them more than 50 per cent. We are very comfortable with the arrangement made by INEC.
“We are going to win with that because that has taken care of the manipulation of those who want to do ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ on Election Day. Asiwaju is the next president of this country by the grace of God.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
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ATM Comment: Your Identity Still Unknown – Atiku’s VP, Okowa Fires Back At Tinubu
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has responded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, over his comment in the state.
Recall that Tinubu had on Saturday, during his presidential rally in Delta, slammed the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for his consistent visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to Tinubu, the Wazirin Adamawa loves Dubai more than Nigeria. The APC presidential candidate also accused Governor Okowa of making his state’s resources available to fund Atiku’s exorbitant lifestyle.
The former Governor of Lagos State also warned that Delta was not an Automated Teller Machine for migratory politicians from the state. Naija News reports that Tinubu’s comment was contained in a statement issued by his media officer, Tunde Rahman.
The APC candidate in his address at the Warri Township Stadium accused the opposition party of abandoning infrastructural development in the state and leaving Delta to rot away.
He said, “Delta is among Nigeria’s largest oil and gas producing states. Revenue from oil and gas has historically been the backbone of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
“As such, your state and other oil producers have made a one-of-a-kind financial contribution to the building of modern Nigeria. The nation is thankful to you.
“Delta has all it takes to be great and help lead the nation forward. Yet, for the past 23 years, those governing your state have taken you for a hard and long ride by selling you short. They have not done the things they should have and could have done for you.
“The infrastructure in the state was better 30 years ago than it is now. The state has recorded historic debts run up by the incumbent, yet the infrastructure and other things still remain lacking because of under-investment and neglect.
“The money is much, but it does not have legs. Where did it go? Not to your welfare. Perhaps, it has found a home with a certain presidential candidate who loves Dubai more than Nigeria.
“But Delta State is not an ATM for migratory politicians. It is a place where good and hardworking people reside and work to create decent and peaceful lives for themselves and their families.”
Your Identity Still Unknown – Okowa Fires Back At Tinubu
In a swift response to Tinubu’s allegations and demeaning comments about his person and relationship with Atiku, Okowa said he does not have time to respond to someone whose identity is still unknown to Nigerians.
Speaking through a spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, the PDP Vice Presidential candidate said Deltans appreciated the state’s infrastructural development and that the state was “not like Lagos that Bola Tinubu put in his pocket.”
Aniagwu, while interacting with The PUNCH in an interview, said “We don’t have time to respond to somebody whose identity is still unknown. Let him first of all go and clear himself; when and where he was born, the schools he attended and other records about him so we can know who we are talking to.
“Somebody whose records are still in doubt cannot be the one talking. Our state cannot be in his pocket the way he did Lagos. Delta is not Lagos, and our people cannot be deceived by such a person.”
The Defeat In Edo Is A Child Play – Okowa To Oshiomhole
Replying to former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, who also took a swipe at him ahead of the 2023 general elections, Okowa, through his aide, said he thought the APC chieftain would have learned from the past events.
Aniagwu said the defeat Oshiomhole and APC suffered in 2020 in Edo will be less compared to what he will suffer in Delta come 2023.
He said: “With the kind of wonderful defeat and disgrace he, the APC and Adams Oshiomhole suffered in the last Edo State governorship election, we thought he would have learnt some lessons. That 2020 defeat in Edo will be child’s play compared to what they will suffer in Delta State in 2023.
“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been prudent in managing the state economy. We have a lot of infrastructure on the ground for all the money that accrued to the state, ranging from roads to bridges, schools and human capital development. Their (APC) governorship candidate did not tell him that the road from the airport to the stadium is a federal road the APC-led Federal Government failed to fix,” the statement added.
This article was originally published on Naija News
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![[BREAKING] 2023 Election: Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, Others To ‘Share’ 187 Million Ballot Papers](https://youthousereporters.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Peter-Obi-Bola-Tinubu-and-Atiku-1.jpg)
[BREAKING] 2023 Election: Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, Others To ‘Share’ 187 Million Ballot Papers
![[BREAKING] 2023 Election: Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, Others To 'Share' 187 Million Ballot Papers](https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Peter-Obi-Bola-Tinubu-and-Atiku.jpg)
Supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Omoyele Sowore, and other presidential candidates will compete with 187 million ballot papers come February 25, 2023, to ensure victory for their preferred candidate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed this on Friday, Naija News reports.
Speaking on Friday (today) ahead of the much-anticipated exercise, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission will print a total of 187million ballot papers for the 2023 presidential election.
Okoye, during his address at a Roundtable with Bureau Chiefs/ Editors in Abuja today, said 93.5 million ballot papers would be used on February 25 for the presidential election.
He revealed that the remaining 93.5million ballot papers would be spared for run-off of the presidential election in case there is no clear winner.
More details shortly…
This article was originally published on Naija News
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Tinubu, Atiku, Others Will Suffer Landslide Defeat Come 2023 – Kola Abiola Boasts
Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola’s son and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kola Abiola, has expressed optimism about emerging victorious in the 2023 presidential election.
The politician boasted in Abuja on Saturday that he will defeat his counterparts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, respectively, come 2023.
Naija News understands that Abiola made the bold declaration at the launch of his party’s manifesto in Abuja, yesterday, November 13, 2022.
The presidential hopeful said Atiku, Tinubu, and other candidates would suffer a landslide defeat in the polls. Abiola used the medium also to fault speculations of a merger between him and other presidential candidates in 2023.
He said PRP has “A very strong grassroots network and would commence its national campaign soon.”
He maintained that the party has structures in all the local government areas with 711 candidates nationwide. While dismissing insinuations that he was riding on his father’s legacy, Abiola said that PRP would make a big difference in the forthcoming election.
Babangida: Wike And Allies Bury The Hatchet, Make Fresh Demands From Atiku
Reports have indicated that the crisis plaguing PDP seems to have come to an end. Naija News recalls that the PDP G5 Governors led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers state have been at loggerheads with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku, and its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu after Wike failed to clinch the presidential ticket.
The G5 Governors include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and their leader, Nyesom Wike of Rivers state.
The aggrieved governors are calling for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu from his position, maintaining that it is against the party’s constitution for the two strongest positions to be held by individuals from the same region.
However, indications have emerged that former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) appears to have brought the crisis rocking the main opposition party to an end.
The parley, which appeared to be fruitful, saw the G5 making fresh demands. A party chieftain, who spoke under the guise of anonymity said the G5 has agreed to work for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar if their fresh demands would be acceded to.
Their demands, according to the reliable source, are: “That the top government offices should be shared among the six geo-political zones;
“That the security chiefs should be shared among all the geo-political zones and that all the party’s offices in the South should move to the North and vice versa if Atiku wins.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
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APC Presidential Ticket Given To The Wrong Person – Kwankwaso
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has asserted that the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was handed to an entirely wrong person.
The former Governor of Kano State submitted this while addressing a bloc of supporters yesterday in Ebonyi State.
Naija News understands that the presidential candidate was at the old Presidential Lodge Abakaliki on Wednesday to inaugurate his presidential campaign office ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Kwankwaso recalled how he contributed to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 as the presidential candidate of the APC.
He noted that Buhari, at the time, won and was fortunate to get the party’s ticket for a second term and equally won the 2019 polls.
Kwankwaso, however, was worried that the ruling party has now fielded a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the 2023 poll.
The presidential candidate, however, did not speak in detail about why he referred to the APC presidential flagbearer as the wrong choice for the ruling party.
Kwankwaso said Nigerians had a bad experience under the administration of the PDP before APC came to power in 2015, but that the experience had worsened in the last 7-year reign of the APC.
He said: “We were five governors that started APC to produce President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Unfortunately, when we were angry with PDP, APC became worse. And one big mistake APC made was giving its presidential ticket to the wrong person.
“In the North, we are the party to beat. APC has failed the nation. You may not understand what we are talking about because you have more security and a good economy here than what we see in the North.”
“I Am Willing To Step Aside” – Kwankwaso Gives Condition To Withdraw From Presidential Race
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso had earlier given a condition that can make him drop out of the 2023 presidential race. According to the former Kano State Governor, if the party gets a better candidate, he is ready to withdraw from the race.
Kwankwaso said he is not desperate to become the next President of Nigeria but however believes he is the best candidate for the job.
Naija News reports that he stated this in Enugu on Tuesday while commissioning some campaign offices for his party.
He also blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ‘unpalatable’ situation in Nigeria, saying 2023 is an opportunity for Nigerians to change the narrative by voting for him.
“I am willing to step aside if the NNPP gets a better candidate but for now, I am the best there is and that is why I am working tirelessly to ensure that we win the elections and give Nigerians a better representation,” Kwankwaso said.
This article was originally published on Naija News
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2023 Presidency: We Are Supporting The True Unifier – Igbo Elders Declare
Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, is the true unifier, and we are supporting him in the coming presidential election, said Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF).
Naija News reports that the South East geopolitical zone leaders declared this on Friday, November 4, 2022.
According to the IECF, the Labour Party presidential candidate is the only one among his counterparts devoid of tribal sentiment.
The IECF leaders, who also pride themselves as Ime-Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said their decision to back the former governor was because he is the anointed one by God.
The chairman of IECF and former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Naija News reports.
According to him, with Obi as Nigeria’s president, an end will come to other agitations by different groups in the country, and no one will be treated as second-class citizens anymore.
Ezeife said, “We, before now, agreed in the Southern and Middle Belt Forum to call all the candidates from the South-East, interview them and adopt one person. But that has been overtaken by events. If you look at the candidates from A to Z, you find out that one from the South-East is everybody’s candidate.
“He is the true unifier in Nigeria because he will banish poverty, insecurity, and all the negatives associated with Nigeria. That person is Peter Obi, and he is the person whom all of us will support.”
According to him, the South-East elders were the ones who prevailed on Obi to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in May so he could contest the presidential election.
The IECF leader added: “If you look at the records, you’ll find out that the elders in Abuja really worked hard to get him out as a candidate. We forced him to get out of the PDP so that he could be a candidate for president. So the question of even adopting him doesn’t arise as he is our trusted, God’s anointed candidate to remake and recreate Nigeria. He will make everybody happy.
“Obi will make Fulani belong to Nigeria and have a say. He will ensure Yoruba don’t want to go and will also make Igbo and all groups stay in Nigeria and have the country restructured to work.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
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APC’s Tinubu Identifies His Two Major Contenders In 2023 Presidential Race
The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified only two candidates as his major contenders in the 2023 presidential race.
Naija News reports that after the deregistration of some political parties months ago, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced a total of 18 parties for the February 2023 election, with each fielding a candidate for the presidential seat.
However, Tinubu on Sunday through his Vice Presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima, acknowledged having only two contenders in the presidential race.
Though the ruling party’s candidate did not directly mention the names of the major contenders, his comments were a reference to recent actions and comments by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart in the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Shettima who represented Tinubu at an interactive session with leaders of the Tijanniya Sect in Kano on Sunday, said: “Peter Obi calls Lagos home, not Ekwulobia or Awka because Asiwaju has provided the template that made Lagos the most peaceful.
“Lagos state now has the 5th largest economy in Africa.”
Tinubu Will Not Make His Stay In Nigeria 50%
Shettima said of the PDP candidate that “He (Tinubu) will not divide 50% of his time in Dubai and 50% in Nigeria.”
Naija News understands that Shettima further made allusion to Atiku’s often visits and stay in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, telling the clerics that, unlike the PDP candidate, his principal would be promising total dedication.
Recalling the PDP candidate’s comment at the interactive session with a group of northern political leaders under the Arewa Joint Committee at Arewa House, Kaduna, Tinubu described Atiku as a divider.
Recall that Atiku while responding to a question by the Northern elders on why the northerners should vote for him, replied that, “What the average Northerner needs is somebody who’s from the north and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.
“This is what the Northerner needs, it doesn’t need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.”
Naija News reports that Atiku whose political mantra in the current election period has been that he is the unifier, received knocks from Nigerians over his statement at the Kaduna event.
Atiku’s controversial comment was subsequently rejected by even the organizers of the event. The Northern elders publicly disassociated themselves from the comment and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has as well called on Atiku to apologize for the gaffe.
You Are A Divider
In his interaction with the sect leaders today, Shettima said, “Between all of us running (sic), we are three now left. Isn’t it? One just failed the most important part of the examination. Are you a unifier or a divider? He said ‘I am from the North. You are a divider.”
The APC Vice Presidential candidate also claimed that PDP had spent $16billion on electricity in its 16 years rule but failed to address the situation of epileptic power supply.
“I am reminding you that you don’t need a party who has served 16 years and forget that electricity is the only driver of industrialization and wealth of every nation.
“They spent $16bn and we are still paying for estimated metre and billing. No more!
“I promise to give you 100 not 50, even Dubai they are talking about has only 50. So you will have it better from me than in Dubai,” he added.
This article was originally published on Naija News
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2023: NPC Invites Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, Others To Signing Of Peace Accord
The National Peace Committee (NPC) has invited presidential aspirants to the signing of peace accords ahead of the 2023 elections.
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and presidential hopefuls from other political parties are expected to honour the invitation.
Naija News understands that the peace accord signing is meant to commit the presidential hopefuls to ensure violent free conduct of their campaigns ahead of the polls.
The letter reportedly signed and issued on Thursday by the Chairman of NPC, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), invites the candidates and their spokespersons to append their first signature on the peace accord on September 29, 2022.
The event, according to the letter, would be held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja and the peace accords will be signed twice ahead of the 2023 general polls, Naija News understands.
“The first signing is scheduled to happen at the start of the campaigns this September and the second in January of 2023 just before the elections.
“The first accord signing is intended to commit political parties, candidates and their spokespersons to conduct their campaigns (both online and offline) in a peaceful manner, devoid of ethnic, religious and hateful rhetoric that will incite violence and further aggravate the growing tension and insecurity in the nation,’’ the letter reads.
The letter stressed that the essence of the accord is to promote issue-based campaigns to complement ongoing peace initiatives aimed at promoting a violence-free and inclusive electioneering process before, during and after the declaration of the final election results.
This article was originally published on Naija News