Politics

Ganduje pushes for consensus candidate in Anambra APC governorship race

Published

1 year ago

February 5, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on Tuesday, disclosed that the party would prefer having a consensus candidate than having an unpopular candidate for the Anambra governorship ticket ahead of the November 25 election.

Ganduje also pledged to present an award to Anambra APC if they could be united and produce a consensus candidate to avoid the stress and the financial jamboree that comes with holding the conventional primary election to elect a candidate.

The former Kano State governor disclosed this when he hosted an APC support group known as Booth 2 Booth with Bola Tinubu at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

While assuring them that his leadership will ensure a fair and credible primary election in Anambra, Ganduje urged stakeholdersjostling for the ticket not to throw the state into chaos.

He said, “As a party, if we are to have good primary in the state, all our stakeholders are supposed to be born again. They (aspirants) are educated and rich. But we have told them that this time, it will not be business as usual. Let us support the system.

“We know they are very rich. But they should not use the money to scatter the state. They should use the money to develop the state and the APC. In fact, I would be highly interested if they could produce a candidate through consensus, and I would give them an award.

“You mention the option of direct or indirect primary. As an institution, I assure you, we will sit with the National Working Committee in conjunction with the leadership of the party in the state and agree on whichever method is best for the primary.”

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the group, Iyke Madu, told members of the National Working Committee that they are ready to work together only if the primary election winner emerges through a credible process.

He said, “We are here to make a request to see to it that a credible, free, free and transparent primary is conducted in Anambra State. This is to avoid the pitfalls of 2021, where primary election results were announced in hotel rooms, and a candidate who got 300,000 votes in the primaries could not even get up to 50,000 votes at the main contest against other parties.

“There is also the issue of insecurity in Anambra. As we speak, even the state government could not conduct their own local government elections due to insecurity. So we are here only requesting for the party to adopt an indirect primary method. Our constitution provides for that.”

Related Topics:APC chairman Election Kano Tinubu

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Politics

APC shifts presidential primary to May 23, 2026, releases revised 2027 election timetable

Published

9 hours ago

April 24, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress has pushed its presidential primary from May 15-16 to May 23, 2026, with governorship primaries now set for May 21, under a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko announced the changes Thursday after the party’s 186th National Working Committee meeting in Abuja. He said the adjustments align with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s updated schedule for the 2027 polls.

■ Key dates in the new timetable:

*Sales of forms:* Saturday, April 25 to Saturday, May 2, 2026.

■ Deadline for submission: Monday, May 4, 2026.

*Screening of aspirants:* Wednesday, May 6 to Friday, May 8, 2026 for House of Assembly, Reps, Senate, and Governorship. Presidential screening holds Saturday, May 9, 2026.

*Publication of screening results:* Monday, May 11, 2026.

Screening appeals: Tuesday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

■ Primary elections:

– *House of Representatives:* Friday, May 15, 2026

– *Senate:* Monday, May 18, 2026

– *State House of Assembly:* Wednesday, May 20, 2026

– *Governorship:* Thursday, May 21, 2026

– *Presidential:* Saturday, May 23, 2026

*Post-primary appeals:* Reps – May 18; Senate – May 20; State Assembly – date not stated; Governorship – May 23; Presidential – May 25, 2026.

Meseko said notice of the changes went to state chapters on Monday, April 20.

■Zamfara congresses

The NWC also approved a schedule for ward, LGA, and state congresses in Zamfara beginning Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Ward congresses hold Thursday, April 30. LGA and state congresses follow, with appeals slated for May 1 and May 3, 2026.

■ Mode of primaries

Meseko said the party adopted direct primary and consensus as provided in the Electoral Act 2026. “Aspirants are free to decide their preference,” he said. “Where consensus works, it stands. Where an aspirant does not agree to consensus, it automatically reverts to direct primaries.”

He dismissed claims that nomination forms would be restricted. “Forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the APC are available for all, not exclusively reserved for any individual,” he said.

■ INEC dates

INEC has fixed Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, and Governorship/State Assembly polls for Saturday, February 6, 2027. Party primaries and disputes must run between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns start August 19, 2026 for federal elections and September 9, 2026 for state elections.

Politics

Lagos 2027: Obasa Hosts Hamzat,Promises Support For Governorship Bid

Published

10 hours ago

April 24, 2026

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The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Thursday, played host to Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat at his official residence in GRA, Ikeja, promising to galvanise his expansive political structure to ensure Hamzat’s victory at the forthcoming governorship election.

Dr Hamzat is the presumptive APC candidate for the Lagos governorship seat, and the engagement was part of his ongoing strategic consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and leaders.

Speaker Obasa extolled Hamzat’s pedigree, commitment to infrastructure development, and loyalty to the party, adding that for the continued development of Lagos State, every discerning electorate must rally round him.

“I just returned from Abuja, and the conversation remains the same – Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is the next Governor of Lagos State. You have demonstrated unquestionable loyalty to our great party and even greater competence in serving Lagos. We love you, we support you, and we will do everything to ensure that we win the election,” Speaker Obasa declared.

Responding, Dr Hamzat expressed gratitude for the warm reception while highlighting Obasa’s legislative experience and political network, which he said are invaluable.

He reiterated his focus on collaborative governance, saying, “Lagos is a collective project. My consultations are not about personal ambition but about ensuring continuity, innovation, and inclusive development for our people,” Hamzat said.

Politics

ADC may face disqualification from 2027 Election Ballot

Published

24 hours ago

April 23, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the lingering leadership disputes rocking both the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, raising fresh uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The apex court took arguments from all parties involved in the appeals and cross-appeals.

After proceedings, it announced that judgment would be delivered at a later date.

However, no timeline was given.amd this has created tension, especially for parties battling internal divisions.

For the PDP, the crisis has already led to major changes. Earlier rulings had nullified the Ibadan convention that produced Kabiru Turaki as national chairman. The court also upheld the suspension of some top officials.

As it stands, the faction backed by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, remains in charge. This group is the one currently recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
While the PDP appears to have found some stability, the situation is more troubling for the ADC. The party is deeply divided into three factions. These groups are led by David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and Ogga Temitope. None of these factions has been officially recognised by INEC.

This lack of recognition puts the ADC in a difficult position. INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for all registered political parties to submit their membership registers. Only parties that meet this requirement will be cleared to field candidates in the 2027 elections.

With the Supreme Court yet to fix a date for judgment, time is running out. If the ruling does not come before the deadline, the ADC risks missing out entirely. This would mean the party may not appear on the ballot in 2027.