Politics

APC And The Race For Presidential Ticket

Published

11 years ago

September 22, 2014

The All Progressives
Congress (APC) recently released the guideline for the conduct of its primary election upon which it would pick its presidential candidate for the 2015 general polls. According to the guideline, the collection of the expression of interest forms for the presidential primary election will commence on 24th September, 2014, while sales of nomination forms will start on September 25 and end on October 2.
To prepare the minds of aspirants ready for the presidential race, the APC has also slated October 25, 2014 for its special national convention when it will choose its standard flag bearer. Similarly, the APC has adopted what it called the “modified direct primaries” to pick the party’s candidates for the 2015 with a renewed hope to wrestle political power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is holding the helm of affairs at the centre since 1999.
APC, an amalgamation of three opposition parties of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Political Change (CPC) , the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a fraction of Governor Rochas Okorocha-led All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), says the formation of a mega opposition party is a better and sure strategy of dethroning the ruling PDP and installing the desired change in the polity in line with APC’s roadmap.
Political observers believe that the character and future of APC will be defined and determined by its standard bearers. The major standard bearer is the presidential flag bearer and contenders for the presidential ticket, however, are not living anything to chance in order to secure the ticket.
The modified direct primaries approved by the APC involve participation of about 300,000 party members who will be voting to determine the party’s presidential candidate. This has since caused a stir among aspirants, and in some cases, forcing them to change their strategies of winning the soul of the party.
Though, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provided either direct or indirect primary, APC opted for the direct; a method that will ensure the participation of the largest number of party members. “We call it modified because we are also aware of certain constraints of getting our 20 million members or thereabout to queue for election, especially in areas, where we have security challenges like Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States. We are working out a formula that will still enable the largest members of our party to participate,” APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed, told journalists at the end of the inaugural meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja.
One of the strongest contenders for the APC presidential ticket is Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, a former head of state, who, if given the ticket will be taken the fourth shot at the presidency. Buhari, who many described at a serial presidential candidate, was the ANPP presidential flag bearer in 2003 and 2007 respectively, but lost to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2011, Buhari became the CPC presidential candidate, and again it was a fruitless attempt as he lost to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Despite Buhari’s three unsucessful attempts at the presidency, many of his supporters maintain that the ex-head of state remains the best material for the APC presidential race.
The South East Zonal spokesman of APC, Osita Okechukwu, said “giving all the indices, the APC already has a de facto presidential candidate in person of Buhari.”
Relying on Article 20 of the APC constitution, Okechukwu argues that for nomination of candidates either for party offices or presidential ticket, the consensus option will be first explored.
While acknowledging that there are “a lot of quality people in the APC,” Okechukwu also doubted “any person who the leadership of the APC will tell Buhari to step down for.” This is why Buhari’s chance of becoming APC flag bearer is a fait accompli. According to Okechukwu, if the consensus option is explored, Buhari stands the chance of landing on automatic ticket.
Even though the APC spokesman was categorical that there will be no automatic ticket for Buhari and other presidential aspirants in the party, there are fears that the manoeuvres by certain forces in APC to make Buhari the party’s presidential candidate in 2015 is a bad omen, likely to tear the party apart.
A spokesman of the defunct CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, however, defended the plan to give Buhari automatic ticket. According to him, “of all the aspirants, only Buhari had the clout to defeat President Jonathan during the 2015 presidential election.”
Fashakin notes that “Buhari is the face against corruption in the country… Nigerians and the opposition know that it is only Buhari who can fight corruption in the country. He is the only one who can face President Jonathan during the election because of his antecedents.”
The claim that none of the other candidates in APC can match the popularity of Buhari either in the North or in the South is also strong. To seal the hope of those who may be rooting for another presidential candidate other than Buhari, Fashakin said it would be wrong for people to think that the supporters of Buhari would vote for any one that emerged apart from the former Head of State. He hinged his argument on the ground that “majority of the voters especially in the North, might not have faith in such a candidate.”
Another strong contender to APC presidential ticket is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Like Buhari, Atiku is an old bird to presidential race. In 2007, Atiku secured the defunct ACN presidential ticket and lost to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Another attempt by Atiku in 2011 under the Peoples Democratic Party ended at the primaries where he lost to Jonathan.
Many may argue that Atiku has not recovered from the political loses, yet some party leaders sympathetic to Atiku’s cause believed that “the former vice president has the reach and the required contacts to mount a successful challenge to Jonathan and the PDP come 2015.”
Buhari may be reputed to have most party members on board but sources said “Atiku has what it takes to get the job done.” Apart of Atiku’s strategy is his overtures to APC governors from whom he reportedly promised to pick his running mate in return for their support.”
Furthermore, at the state party and local council levels, Atiku is known to have held consultative meetings with the party chairmen at those levels; a situation that has added value to the political fortune of the former Vice President. It is rumoured that Atiku may make a formal declaration of his presidential ambition in a matter of days to apparently position himself for the presidential contest in APC.
Atiku is using every opportuned fora to sell his potentials and what he stands for. In his goodwill message to the 2014 second plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Warri, Delta State, Atiku called on catholic bishops to pray for the emergence of a God-fearing administration that would make Nigeria spiritually, morally and socially sanctified.
However, the rumoured presidential ambition of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, appeared to have been put on hold. Tambuwal who is reportedly set to dump PDP and join APC may have dropped his presidential ambition after consultations with some prominent politicians
According to a relaible source, “one thing is that he (Tambuwal) is a realist and knows how to cut his coat according to his cloth. The moment he sensed that it would be difficult for him to challenge political heavy weights such as Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubukar in the race for APC ticket, he changed his mind.”
Barring any last minute twists, Tambuwal, upon joining APC would seek instant waiver from the party leadership to contest the governorship election in Sokoto State. But analysts opined that Tambuwal is heading to “political wilderness,”
The political heavy weights like Buhari and Atiku in APC presidential race, notwithstanding, there are others aspiring for the race. They include Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; Senator Bukola Saraki and the publisher of the Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isiah. The Kwankwaso campaign group claimed that its candidate is still consulting, while many believed that the presidential aspirations of Okorocha, Saraki and Nda-Isiah only exist on pages of newspaper as they will soon bow to political exigencies.
Many see the battle for APC’s presidential ticket as a straight political contest between Buhari and Atiku with party leadership likely to settle for the former because, he (Buhari) reportedly enjoys greater popularity than the latter. Many people, however, expressed fear that the choice of either Buhari or Atiku for the APC presidential ticket portends danger for the party as supporters of the loosing aspirant may refuse to give their best in the 2015 polls. Worst still, the dust generated from the APC inaugural national convention is still unsettled. Resolving the acrimony arising from the convention is a herculean task the APC leadership will have to contend with.

Samuel Eleonu

Buhari and Atiku Abubakar

Politics

Senate Urges Tinubu To Sack CAC Boss

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

The Senate yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to remove the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Hussaini Magaji, over what lawmakers described as a persistent refusal to appear before its Committee on Finance.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during a session where members of the President’s economic team were present for engagement with the committee.

Tension rose at the commencement of the meeting when agency heads were introduced and senators observed the absence of the CAC Registrar-General, who had been invited to account for the commission’s activities, particularly on revenue matters.

Moving the motion, Kalu expressed anger over what he termed repeated disregard for legislative oversight, accusing the CAC boss of consistently avoiding invitations to appear before the committee.

He said, “Since I came to the Senate, this CAC man has always given excuses that he is in the Villa or going to London. He is not above the law. This man is not coming to the Senate. Look at the ministers of finance and budget. They are both here. We summoned them and they came.

“But this man thinks he’s bigger than the Senate. We’re not going to take that rubbish again. He had refused on so many occasions to honour our invitation to appear before this committee. We have issues with the reconciliation of the revenue of CAC.

“I move a motion that the man should be reported to Mr President and ask for immediate removal because we cannot continue with him. Is that what we’re doing here? He should come and give us an account of what he had done.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, corroborated the concerns, pointing to unresolved discrepancies in the reconciliation of the commission’s revenues.

He noted that despite several invitations, the registrar-general had failed to show up to address the issues raised by senators.

“The registrar-general of the Corporate Affairs Commission has refused on so many occasions to honour the calls, invitations or summons of this most important committee.

“There are only about three committees that are in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Committee of Finance is one of those committees. Sections 88, and 89 have given us these powers.

“And as registrar-general, we have issues with the reconciliation of their revenue. Anytime he is invited, he will give us one reason or another, and he will send junior officers to come and talk to the Senate. That cannot be accepted,” he said.

In a further show of frustration, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed that the Senate escalate the matter by withholding approval of the CAC’s 2026 budget pending the registrar-general’s personal appearance before the committee.

Oshiomhole also suggested that the commission be restrained from spending its internally generated revenue without prior approval of the national assembly.

“This senate should decline to appropriate anything in the 2026 budget until we are satisfied that he has accounted for previous money and spending properly.

“And should he spend money that is not appropriated, he should be heading to Kuje prison,” Oshiomhole said.

The motion urging the President to remove the CAC Registrar-General was subsequently put to a voice vote and adopted.

The development underscores renewed assertiveness by the Senate in exercising its constitutional oversight functions, particularly over revenue-generating agencies.

The Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates companies and business registrations in Nigeria, is a key contributor to non-oil revenue, making accountability and transparency central to its operations.

News

Amend Constitution To Accommodate State Police, Tinubu Tells Senators

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police to tackle insecurity nationwide.

President Tinubu made the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

The president said that the creation of State Police has become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

He noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

The president commended the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.

“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.

Tinubu thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.

You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” the president said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the president for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.

The Senate President prayed for the administration, and for the nation’s peace and prosperity.

Politics

FCT COUNCILS’ ELECTIONS: PDP WINS GWAGWALADA CHAIRMANSHIP AS APC SECURES AMAC, BWARI

Published

4 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Alhaji Mohammed Kasim, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Philip Akpeni, the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Sunday morning.

Alhaji Kasim polled 22,165 votes to defeat Alhaji Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 17,788 votes.

Alhaji Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1, 687 to come in third place.

“I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026,” Akpeni said.

“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, the APC candidate, was declared the winner of the chairmanship poll with 40,295 votes.

Andrew Abue, the Collation Officer for AMAC, said Hon. Maikalangu, who is the incumbent AMAC chairman, was returned elected having scored the highest number of votes cast.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.

According to Abue, the total number of valid votes in the chairmanship poll was 62,861, while the total votes cast stood at 65,197.

He added that the number of registered voters in AMAC was 837,338, while the total number of accredited voters was 65,676.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council Chairmanship election.

Announcing the result on Sunday in Bwari, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Nurudeen, stated that Ishaku polled a total of 18,466 votes to emerge victorious in the February 21, 2026 poll.

“I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Bwari chairmanship held on Feb. 21, 2026. That Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Nurudeen said.

According to the results declared, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) polled 3,515 votes to place second and third respectively.

The declaration adds to the series of results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections, as political parties assess their performance ahead of future contests.

INEC UPLOADS 2,602 OF 2,822 FCT CHAIRMANSHIP RESULTS ON IReV

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had uploaded 2,602 out of the 2,822 expected polling unit results from Saturday’s chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at 5:55am on Sunday, data retrieved from its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed.

According to The Tide source, the figure represents an overall upload rate of about 92.2 per cent across the six area councils of the territory.

A council-by-council breakdown indicates that Municipal Area Council recorded the highest number of submissions in absolute terms, with 1,309 of 1,401 polling unit results uploaded, representing 93.43 per cent.

In Gwagwalada Area Council, 330 of the expected 338 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 97.63 per cent — the highest upload rate among the six councils.

In Bwari Area Council, INEC uploaded 463 of 485 polling unit results, translating to 95.46 per cent.

In Abaji Area Council, 129 of 135 polling unit results had been uploaded as at 5:55am, representing 95.56 per cent.

In Kwali Area Council, 164 of the expected 201 polling unit results were available on the portal, representing 81.59 per cent.

In Kuje Area Council, 207 of 262 polling unit results had been uploaded, representing 79.01 per cent — the lowest rate among the six councils as at the time of review.