HammerTimes News Online

Tag: #LP

  • Debate group decries refusal of major presidential candidates to participate in debate

    The Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG), on Sunday in Abuja, said one of its biggest challenges is the refusal of major presidential candidates to participate in the debates.

    Mr John Ugbe, NEDG Chairman, said this at the opening of the national presidential debate, organised by the group in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), some media organisations, the Transition Monitoring Group and some Civil Society Organisations as well as some foreign partners.

    Ugbe added that in spite of the development, NEDG would continue to work tirelessly to promote transparency and accountability, to help the public make informed electoral decisions to grow the country’s democracy.

    “For many years, our organisation has been dedicated to providing a platform for the candidates to express their views and answer questions from the public.

    “Our goal has always been to promote transparency and accountability, and to help the public make informed decisions.

    “However, as we all know, hosting a debate is not an easy task, there are many challenges and obstacles that we must overcome.

    One of the biggest challenges the organisation faced is when a presidential candidate refuses to participate in the debate,” he said.

    Ugbe said such behaviour not only undermined the democratic process, but also denied the public the opportunity to hear from the candidate and make an informed electoral decision.

    He added that the development sends a message that such candidates are not willing to engage with the public, to listen to their concerns, or to be held accountable for their actions.

    “It is a great disappointment that this has happened in this particular debate, but we must remember that the show must go on.

    “We must continue to provide a platform for the remaining candidates to share their visions for the future and to answer the questions of the public,” he said.

    He assured that the NEDG would continue to be a voice for the people, and would not let anyone, not even a presidential candidate stand on its way.

    He prayed that the best presidential candidate would win the coming elections, and that the people would always come first.

    Also speaking at the event, Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), thanked NEDG for the initiative, saying that debates were a form of political accountability all over the world.

    He said debates are necessary because they give citizens the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates what they intend to do if elected into office.

    “Therefore, all over the world, civil society and media and other non state actors are pushing to ensure that we have political debates as a form of accountability.

    “Anybody running away from having political debate is running from accountability and it is not good.

    “So, it is absolutely necessary as citizens, as patriotic Nigerians, that those who seek to govern us, should be able to tell us how they will run the country,” he said.

    Rafsanjani said without such commitments from candidates, they would do otherwise when they get into office.

    He added that transparency is guaranteed through debates because it would be difficult for anybody to deny what they are committed to during debates.

    “So, transition monitoring group will continue to push and ensure that not only presidential debates are happening, but also gubernatorial debates.

    “For those who have decided to come, it is a measurement of the fact that they are ready to account and we wish them all the best,” he said.

    According to reports that out of the four presidential candidates that indicated interest to feature at the debate, according to the organisers, only Rabiu Kwankwoso, presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), attended.

    The presidential candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party, Peter Obi, did not make it to the debate. 

  • Atiku, Obi, Tinubu take presidential campaign to U.S.

    The three leading presidential candidates in the 25th February 2023 Nigerian presidential election, Messrs Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, took their campaign ‘fight’ to Nigerians in the United States.

    According to reports, the support groups for Abubakar, Obi and Tinubu converged on New York at the Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival to canvass votes for their candidates.

    Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Obi is that of the Labour Party (LP) and Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The support groups for the leading presidential candidates joined the Nigeria Independence Day Parade and Carnival in a float, with DJs and supporters dancing to the candidates’ campaign lyrics.

    They later regrouped at the Dag Hammarksjold Park where they continued singing and dancing to attract Nigerians to their candidates.

    The Coordinator of Save Nigeria Group for Obi/Datti, Mr Stephen Osemwegie, said Nigerians in the diaspora wanted a Nigeria that works for everyone, bemoaning the economic situation in the country.

    “When people call us from home, the calls are no longer ‘how are you’. The calls are ‘please help me, save me’. So we in the diaspora are trying to get involved and being engaged,” he said.

    “We found Obi to be a competent leader with integrity. He does say ‘go and verify’ and we verified his claims and they are largely true.

    “Except maybe he may miss one number or the other but if you go through his antecedents, he is really a good man.

    “And in Nigeria, we don’t have this type of people coming out very often. So we see this as a one in a lifetime opportunity.

    “That’s why we came out in full force to let people know that this ‘Obidient’ movement is not just a Nigeria thing,” he said.

    He also said that many Nigerians in the diaspora would vote adding, “because I will be in Nigeria for the election, I’m that determined. Many of us are going to buy our tickets”.

    “One of the things Save for Nigeria Group is doing is to ask Nigerians, ‘instead of going for Christmas, go in January or February and vote.

    “We are also asking people to support grassroot movements in Nigeria. Support them through your finances if you can. Also call your family members that call you for money.

    “Ask them, ‘do you have your PVC’? ‘No PVC, no dollars. That’s what we are doing,”  Osemwegie said.

    The Chairman of the PDP in the United States, Pastor Joe Olobor, said he was rooting for Atiku because he was the most experienced and prepared among the frontrunners for the election.

    Olobor said: “Nigerians in the diaspora are actually influencers and that is why it is very important that we sell our candidate to them to be able to galvanise and utilise their influence over the many people they have in Nigeria.

    “We in the diaspora especially in the United States send a lot of money to Nigeria to take care of our people back home. And we will not continue to do that if we have a good government to actually do the right thing.

    “Of all the three candidates, Atiku is the most prepared candidate, the most experienced and the greatest unifier, both South and North. That’s what we are selling,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Tinubu Support Group, Mr Lukman Ajasa, said Tinubu was the best among the presidential candidates because he had antecedents.

    Ajasa said particularly, Tinubu would be able to address the security situation in the country, stabilise the economy and provide welfare for the citizens.

    “My candidate is an accountable politician. He has fixed Lagos States and we can all see what Lagos is now.

    “If you compare him to what the other candidates have done, they have not even done a quarter of what he (Tinubu) has done. I believe Tinubu is the best president for the country.” Ajasa said.

    He, however, warned politicians against taking the Nigerian electorates for granted, saying the people can now fight back through their votes.

    “The candidate need to open their ears and listen to what the people want. The electorates have heard enough and are ready to fight back.

    “So as a politician, you must listen to the electorates and what they want. You must tell them how you want to fix the grassroots, particularly, the local governments.

    “Fix the local governments and you have fixed Nigeria,” he said.

    No fewer than 20 Nigerian Associations, groups and religious bodies joined the parade and carnival, including the UN Staff Recreation Council, Association of Nigerian Physicians, Akwa Ibom State Association and Christ Apostolic Church first in the Americas

  • 2023: Labour Party receives over 200 decampees, promises massive mobilisation in FCT

    Ahead of the 2023 General Elections, the Labour Party (LP) has recieved over 200 decampess from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kuje Area Council, FCT.

    The defectors who handed over their APC membership cards, posters, brooms and the umbrellas of the PDP, said the move had become necessary for true democracy to thrive in the country.

    Mr Fanimi Oluwabusayo, the FCT Auditor of the Party, who donated a new office to the party and other logistics at Gaube assured that the party has come to deliver Nigerians from the hardship the two major parties has put Nigerians.

    Oluwabusayo, popularly known as Biggy who also added that Labour Party is coming with full force to change the narrative of democracy in the country, said it was time for a positive change.

    “I want to enjoin Nigerian youths to go and verify our candidate’s and to also come out en-mass to vote for reliable candidate’s come 2023.

    “Vote the Presidential candidate Peter Obi, his Vice Yusuf Datti baba, Senetorial candidate for FCT Hajiya Ireti kingibe, House of Representative Abuja South Madam Ohiomero Joy and Joshua Obika Amac/bwari constituency.

    “We enjoy you all to join this force and bring positive change and move Nigeria to a better height to end poverty and suffering in the country,” he said.

    Mr Abu Tanko, who spoke on behalf of other defectors, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were dissatisfied by the approach and policies of both the APC and PDP.

    The Chairman of Kuje Labour Party, Mr Oguh Hyginus, said more defectors were still coming to the party befor the 2023 general elections for the development of democracy in the country. (NAN)

  • Nigeria Will Collapse if Tinubu Becomes President- Clergy

    Prophet and Head of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele has declared that if the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu forces himself to be president, Nigeria will collapse.

    Primate Ayodele also revealed that there will be many special fraudulent acts by both the All Progressives Congress (APC)and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 in addition to card reader problems.

    He warned that unless Nigerians shun money for votes, the country will not get the right president as a result of the level of poverty, stressing that Nigeria will still be backward except the people resolved to reject voting for the sake of money.

    Primate Ayodele, who stated these while unveiling his book of prophecies: Warning to the Nations: A Collection of Divine Signals, 2022/2023 and beyond’, said that the outcome of the coming election will surprise so many people.

    In the words of Primate Ayodele; “The international community would want to support Peter Obi. Northerners would want to give Atiku Abubakar their support. They don’t have any plans for Bola Tinubu.

    “All that Tinubu is doing will not translate to anything. The Muslim-Muslim ticket will never work in Nigeria. It is dead on arrival. This will affect the APC, theMuslim-Muslim ticket will tear the party apart.

    “We have not witnessed any majordeception at the moment. We should expect more damning deception that would mark the end of APC in Nigeria. It is the end of the APC at the moment.

    “They want to Islamise Nigeria with the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Sadly, the party followers have not even seen it. God is against the Muslim-Muslim ticket. APC will not win except they want to set Nigeria ablaze.

    “For Atiku, he needs to be more tactical and strategic. Obi’s party will only make noise. It Is a waste. I have not seen Obi’s party amounting to anything.

    “Apart from this, let us rebuke violence in the election. Neither the PDP nor APC will make Nigeria better unless we get the right people.

    “None of the three namely, Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar can make Nigeria move forward. None of them can get a genuine victory. We cannot get thatMKO Abiola-kind-of-victory anymore. Any candidate that wins, will still be the same story.

    “But God must give us a leader as was the case during the days of Saul in the Bible. 2023 cannot help Nigeria. There will still be corruption and insecurity. There is a need to solve this problem urgently. It is either true federalism or every region stands on its own,’ he said.

    Ayodele also said that there would be economic protests, adding that when the people experience hardship, they would protest.

    According to him, “Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb. Honestly, Nigeria cannot move past 2035. 2023 will determine a lot in Nigeria. A lot of things will be determined. It will not cause war but, see a massive protest.

    I see more hardship ahead except if the government does what is needed. Salaries will be owed at a scale we have never imagined. Many government agencies will be grounded. Many banks will become unhealthy. The CBN knows.

    “The government will fake the GDP of the country. Let us wait and see because things will not be the same again. We need prayers for this nation; we need God’s intervention” he stressed.

  • Nigeria Will Collapse if Tinubu Becomes President- Clergy

    Prophet and Head of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele has declared that if the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu forces himself to be president, Nigeria will collapse.

    Primate Ayodele also revealed that there will be many special fraudulent acts by both the All Progressives Congress (APC)and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 in addition to card reader problems.

    He warned that unless Nigerians shun money for votes, the country will not get the right president as a result of the level of poverty, stressing that Nigeria will still be backward except the people resolved to reject voting for the sake of money.

    Primate Ayodele, who stated these while unveiling his book of prophecies: Warning to the Nations: A Collection of Divine Signals, 2022/2023 and beyond’, said that the outcome of the coming election will surprise so many people.

    In the words of Primate Ayodele; “The international community would want to support Peter Obi. Northerners would want to give Atiku Abubakar their support. They don’t have any plans for Bola Tinubu.

    “All that Tinubu is doing will not translate to anything. The Muslim-Muslim ticket will never work in Nigeria. It is dead on arrival. This will affect the APC, theMuslim-Muslim ticket will tear the party apart.

    “We have not witnessed any majordeception at the moment. We should expect more damning deception that would mark the end of APC in Nigeria. It is the end of the APC at the moment.

    “They want to Islamise Nigeria with the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Sadly, the party followers have not even seen it. God is against the Muslim-Muslim ticket. APC will not win except they want to set Nigeria ablaze.

    “For Atiku, he needs to be more tactical and strategic. Obi’s party will only make noise. It Is a waste. I have not seen Obi’s party amounting to anything.

    “Apart from this, let us rebuke violence in the election. Neither the PDP nor APC will make Nigeria better unless we get the right people.

    “None of the three namely, Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar can make Nigeria move forward. None of them can get a genuine victory. We cannot get thatMKO Abiola-kind-of-victory anymore. Any candidate that wins, will still be the same story.

    “But God must give us a leader as was the case during the days of Saul in the Bible. 2023 cannot help Nigeria. There will still be corruption and insecurity. There is a need to solve this problem urgently. It is either true federalism or every region stands on its own,’ he said.

    Ayodele also said that there would be economic protests, adding that when the people experience hardship, they would protest.

    According to him, “Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb. Honestly, Nigeria cannot move past 2035. 2023 will determine a lot in Nigeria. A lot of things will be determined. It will not cause war but, see a massive protest.

    I see more hardship ahead except if the government does what is needed. Salaries will be owed at a scale we have never imagined. Many government agencies will be grounded. Many banks will become unhealthy. The CBN knows.

    “The government will fake the GDP of the country. Let us wait and see because things will not be the same again. We need prayers for this nation; we need God’s intervention” he stressed.

  • Osun Election: Aregbesola Reacts To Adeleke’s Victory

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has reacted to the electoral victory of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ademola Adeleke in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State.

    The minister travelled out of Nigeria on Friday, thus, technically boycotting Saturday’s governorship election in his state.

    Reacting to the development on his  verified Facebook page on Sunday after Adeleke emerged victorious, Aregbesola described Oyetola’s defeat as the work of God.

    Aregbesola wrote: “Osun Le Tente”. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” – (Daniel 4:17)”

    Adeleke, 61, defeated Oyetola, 67, with a total of 403,371 votes against 375,027 scored by Oyetola – a difference of 28,314 votes.

    Adeleke won in 17 local government areas comprising Atakumosa West, Boluwaduro, Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife North, Ifelodun, Ila, Ilesa West and Irepodun.

    Other local government areas won by the PDP candidate are Obokun, Odo-Otin, Olorunda, Oriade, Orolu and Osogbo.

    The highest votes for PDP were from Osogbo (30,401), Ede North (23,931) and Olorunda (21,350).

  • Osun Election: Aregbesola Reacts To Adeleke’s Victory

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has reacted to the electoral victory of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ademola Adeleke in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State.

    The minister travelled out of Nigeria on Friday, thus, technically boycotting Saturday’s governorship election in his state.

    Reacting to the development on his  verified Facebook page on Sunday after Adeleke emerged victorious, Aregbesola described Oyetola’s defeat as the work of God.

    Aregbesola wrote: “Osun Le Tente”. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” – (Daniel 4:17)”

    Adeleke, 61, defeated Oyetola, 67, with a total of 403,371 votes against 375,027 scored by Oyetola – a difference of 28,314 votes.

    Adeleke won in 17 local government areas comprising Atakumosa West, Boluwaduro, Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife North, Ifelodun, Ila, Ilesa West and Irepodun.

    Other local government areas won by the PDP candidate are Obokun, Odo-Otin, Olorunda, Oriade, Orolu and Osogbo.

    The highest votes for PDP were from Osogbo (30,401), Ede North (23,931) and Olorunda (21,350).

  • PDP’s Adeleke win Osun State Governorship Election

    The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ademola Adeleke has won the Osun State governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


    Adeleke polled 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor and Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gboyega Oyetola who polled 375,027 votes.

    The PDP candidate won 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Osun State governorship election.

    APC candidate Oyetola won in the remaining 13 LGAs, according to results announced by INEC on Sunday morning.

    The collation and announcement of results were held at the INEC office in Osogbo, the state capital.
    Adeleke, a former senator and younger brother to the state’s first governor, Isiaka Adeleke, defeated Oyetola, by a margin of about 44,426 votes.


    13 other candidates that took part in the election includ|ed Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP), Goke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, who contested under the platform of Labour Party (LP)

    Caretaker Chairman of the party in Osun state, Dr. Akindele Adekunle before the announcement declared that the party had secured a majority as well as more than two third spread across the 30 local governments and area offices.

    PDP in a statement noted that the victory of the party at the poll is a product of mass mobilisation and grand coalition of people of Osun state against bad governance and insensitive leadership.

    While thanking the people of Osun state for endorsing and affirming Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid, the party sternly warns against any attempt to tamper with the result of the election.

  • PDP’s Adeleke win Osun State Governorship Election

    The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ademola Adeleke has won the Osun State governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


    Adeleke polled 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor and Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gboyega Oyetola who polled 375,027 votes.

    The PDP candidate won 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Osun State governorship election.

    APC candidate Oyetola won in the remaining 13 LGAs, according to results announced by INEC on Sunday morning.

    The collation and announcement of results were held at the INEC office in Osogbo, the state capital.
    Adeleke, a former senator and younger brother to the state’s first governor, Isiaka Adeleke, defeated Oyetola, by a margin of about 44,426 votes.


    13 other candidates that took part in the election includ|ed Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP), Goke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, who contested under the platform of Labour Party (LP)

    Caretaker Chairman of the party in Osun state, Dr. Akindele Adekunle before the announcement declared that the party had secured a majority as well as more than two third spread across the 30 local governments and area offices.

    PDP in a statement noted that the victory of the party at the poll is a product of mass mobilisation and grand coalition of people of Osun state against bad governance and insensitive leadership.

    While thanking the people of Osun state for endorsing and affirming Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid, the party sternly warns against any attempt to tamper with the result of the election.

  • PDP’s Adeleke win Osun State Governorship Election

    The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ademola Adeleke has won the Osun State governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


    Adeleke polled 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor and Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gboyega Oyetola who polled 375,027 votes.

    The PDP candidate won 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Osun State governorship election.

    APC candidate Oyetola won in the remaining 13 LGAs, according to results announced by INEC on Sunday morning.

    The collation and announcement of results were held at the INEC office in Osogbo, the state capital.
    Adeleke, a former senator and younger brother to the state’s first governor, Isiaka Adeleke, defeated Oyetola, by a margin of about 44,426 votes.


    13 other candidates that took part in the election includ|ed Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP), Goke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, who contested under the platform of Labour Party (LP)

    Caretaker Chairman of the party in Osun state, Dr. Akindele Adekunle before the announcement declared that the party had secured a majority as well as more than two third spread across the 30 local governments and area offices.

    PDP in a statement noted that the victory of the party at the poll is a product of mass mobilisation and grand coalition of people of Osun state against bad governance and insensitive leadership.

    While thanking the people of Osun state for endorsing and affirming Ademola Adeleke’s governorship bid, the party sternly warns against any attempt to tamper with the result of the election.