Politics
2023 APC Presidential Primary Day 2: Updates, Results from Eagles Square, Abuja
APC presidential primary: Delegates’ accreditation begins amid tight security
Delegate accreditation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Special Convention for the presidential primary election is currently ongoing at the Abuja International Conference Centre amid tight security, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN also reports that no fewer than 2,322 delegates from the 774 local government areas of the country are expected to vote at the presidential primary, including the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The delegates, three from each local government area, were seen in different uniforms popularly called “aso-ebi”, especially those from the western and southern regions.
The delegates in a queue would cast their votes for their preferred aspirant that would emerge as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Although 23 presidential aspirants bought the party’s presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the presidency, 13 were cleared by the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Presidential Screening Committee.
President Muhammadu Buhari at a dinner with the party’s presidential aspirants on Saturday backed the rotation of power to the southern part of the country in 2023.
This limited the number of aspirants that would be contesting the presidential ticket at the primary to those from the South if a consensus candidate was not picked.
NAN also reports that 11 governors from the North had in a statement on Saturday, announced their decision to support a power shift to the South
after Buhari’s tenure.
The governors, while urging presidential aspirants from the northern part of the country to step down from the 2023 presidential race,
said, “the decision to support a power shift to the south is in the best interest of the country.”
Meanwhile, there is watertight security at the Abuja Eagle Square located in the Central Business District, venue of the APC special convention, as vehicular and human traffic had been restricted.
All roads leading to the Eagle Square had been cordoned off, with mobile policemen positioned at strategic positions.
There is also gridlock in most parts of the city, including Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Ibrahim Babangida Way and other areas, as commuters are seen trekking to cover some distance.
Some residents of the FCT said the day should have been declared a public holiday, while journalists slated to cover the event struggle to get accreditation tags from the convention accreditation committee as they are seen hanging around.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, enters Day 2 of its presidential primaries and National Convention today.
Day 1 saw the ruling party hold meetings after meetings to reach an agreement on a consensus candidate, which we understand, proved abortive.
From all indications, it looks like the ruling party would settle for the primary election proper and allow the ad hoc delegates to decide the fate of these aspirants.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday told the Northern Governors elected on the platform of the party, that they should allow the delegates to decide, saying, “..Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody.”
There was, however, confusion in the ruling party after the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was said to have picked Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party.
This move was vehemently rejected by the Northern Governors, some members of the APC National Committee, and other chieftains of the party.
Moreso, the Northern governors went ahead to propose five candidates for the primary election in the persons of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi.
The APC sold 28 forms to 28 different aspirants at the rate of N100 million each and 23 of these contestants were screened last week.
Among the 23, 13 of them were said to have passed the screening exercise, according to John Oyegun, Chairman of the party’s presidential screening committee, while 10 others were ‘disqualified’.
But the National Chairman of the party countered the Screening Committee’s report, saying that no aspirant was disqualified. He said that all the aspirants would battle it out for the party’s sole presidential ticket.
Also recall that three aspirants, namely: the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele; and the Minister of Petroleum for State, Timipreye Sylva; did not submit their forms, while former President, Goodluck Jonathan and Akinwumi Adesina did not show up for screening.
The APC has a total of 2,340 delegates who are set to cast their votes for the aspirants.
And from all indications, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chibuike Amaechi, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Ahmed Lawan are the leading contenders for the party’s ticket.
Among the others ready to fight it out for the party’s flag are: former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; former Minister of Education for State, Emeka Nwajiuba; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Ogun State governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosu.
Others are Pastor Tunde Bakare, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Jigawa governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and former Zamfara State governor, Sen. Ahmed Yerima.
According to the Electoral Act, all the candidates must agree to step down for one of them for a consensus to be reached and if this is not the case, they have to battle it out in the primaries.
The ruling All Progressives Congress has today and Wednesday to decide who bears its flag for the 2023 presidential election.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has already emerged as the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP while Peter Obi, who dumped the PDP earlier, is now the flagbearer of the Labour Party, LP. Both men and their parties are keenly watching the developments in APC.
Follow this thread for updates and results of the APC presidential primary election.
Prominent activist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) member Aisha Yesufu has issued a public apology to governance advocate Yemi Adamolekun following a controversy over her inclusion in the party’s Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee.
The issue emerged on Wednesday after Adamolekun, former executive director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, expressed surprise on social media at seeing her name listed among members of the ADC committee.
Tagging Yesufu and ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, Adamolekun questioned the party’s process in a blunt post on X.
“ADC! ADC! ADC! How many times did I call you? This is not how to build credibility o! Please show me evidence of when I joined your party! Na wa….” she wrote.
Responding the same day, Abdullahi said the committee was designed to be expert-driven rather than strictly partisan.
“It is important to point out that not everyone on the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee is a member of the ADC. Many are not even politicians,” he said.
He added, “This is because the ADC believes that the task of developing workable public policies for the benefit of all Nigerians should not be left to politicians alone.”
Abdullahi maintained that the party had followed due process.
He said the ADC had undergone a “vetting process” and “took all necessary measures to ensure that everyone recommended to serve on this important committee was duly notified and had given their consent.”
Despite the disagreement, he expressed hope that Adamolekun would still participate, citing her “vast experience – even though she is not a member of our party.”
However, reacting on Friday, Yesufu, a member of the party’s Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration Committee, acknowledged the error and apologised publicly.
She wrote, “This is inexcusable, and on behalf of my party, accept my apologies for this mix-up. We do not take you and your need to have a better Nigeria for granted.”
Yesufu admitted the process was flawed.
“Like you rightly pointed out, you ought to have been informed and your consent gotten before your name is published.
“This is well noted, and going forward we will continue to ensure due diligence,” she said.
She added, “Thank you for calling our attention to this. We can only get better when we get such feedback and improve accordingly.
“The work to rebuilding Nigeria is enormous, and in our eagerness to start off, we must never forget due process and diligence.”
Yesufu also extended an apology to others affected by the publication.
“For anyone that was also not contacted and consent gotten before publication, kindly accept my apologies for the mix-up,” she said.
Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has attributed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid to what he described as the administration’s innovative and business-friendly economic policies.
He said President Tinubu’s economic initiatives are more favourable to businesses than those of previous administrations, adding that the reforms have reshaped his political alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abba made the remarks during a solidarity visit to the leadership of the City Boy Movement (CBM) in Abuja on Monday evening, where he led members of the Haske Atiku Organisation, now rebranded as the Haske Tinubu Organisation.
He recalled that he formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on January 15, collecting his membership card at Gwadabwa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where he publicly pledged support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
According to him, his decision to back the president was driven by admiration for the economic policies introduced since 2023, which he believes are positioning the country for stronger private-sector growth and investment.
According to him, “This administration has introduced policies that have every Nigerian in mind. If anyone says this government is not doing well, I will tell them they are lying,” he said. “I believe that if given another term, the government will do even more because it is focused.”
He explained that his long-standing experience in business has given him a clear perspective on economic governance in Nigeria.
“Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, I have been in business, and I am still in business today. The economic policies of Mr. President are favourable—not just to businesses, but to Nigerians in general, who are already benefiting from these reforms,” he stated.
He also explained that his decision to join the APC and align with the City Boy Movement was motivated by his passion for the Tinubu-led administration and his desire to serve.
“My joining the APC and the City Boy Movement is based on my belief in this administration. I also intend to use this platform to serve the people of Adamawa at the National Assembly level. Mr. President has made youth inclusion in politics a reality,” Abubakar added.
The Director General of the City Boy Movement, Mr. Oluwatosin Shoga reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to youth participation in governance and leadership.
He noted that one of CBM’s core strategic mandates is to ensure that young Nigerians are deliberately positioned for leadership roles while encouraging greater youth involvement in the political process.
Abba’s delegation was received by the Director General of CBM, Mr. Shoga, and the National Coordinator, Mr. Favour Abayomi.
Popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat has officially declared his intention to run for the 2027 Oyo State governorship under the Accord Party.
In a public declaration, Hamzat stated, “I am publicly declaring today that in 2027.
“I will not campaign for anyone or mobilise crowds for anyone.
“I will contest in the gubernatorial election under the Accord Party.”
The announcement signals Hamzat’s full commitment to his own political ambitions, stepping away from backing other candidates as he positions himself for the Oyo State governorship race.
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