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How I “outsmarted” Adamu to deliver Tinubu as APC candidate – Omisore

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Bu Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Two years after the intrigue-filled June 2022 presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that produced ex-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu as the party’s standard bearer, the party’s National Secretary at the time, Iyiola Omisore, has made some disclosures of how he delivered his “mission” for a South-Westerner to secure the much-coveted ticket of the party.

Omisore was a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Friday.

The mathematician and former Osun State deputy governor confirmed that the then APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, wanted the North to retain the Presidency after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari who is from the North-West geopolitical zone, but he (Omisore) had a mandate to deliver a South-West person as the party’s flag bearer.

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In politics, everybody has their own mindset; we came from different (geopolitical) zones to the NWC (National Working Committee) at that time, representing differing different interests,” he said.

“I was the most senior member of the party in the South-West and my mandate was to deliver South-West for Presidency. Somebody from South-South too, his own mandate was to deliver South for Presidency, I want to assume so.

“So, my own was to get to my destination which I have gotten to today. The way and manner I did my journey is between me and God. I can’t castigate anybody who tried to be smart but if you want to be smart and I outsmarted you, to God be the glory. But the point is that my mission was to deliver the South-West for Presidency which we are today.”

Omisore said though Adamu backed a different aspirant, the NWC was able to present a convention “where democracy took place and democracy was respected. We voted, everybody had a choice and it was transparent. And the moment there is a transparent primary, there won’t be no noise; it is only when people feel cheated that they go to court.”

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The former APC National Secretary said everything that happened in the buildup to the APC presidential primary was “all political”. He said “whatever we did then was for that time,” adding that the party had moved on to consolidating on democratic gains for the benefit of Nigerians.

In the build-up to the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Adamu announced then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the party’s “consensus candidate” but the announcement was strongly rejected by a league of northern governors who preferred Tinubu.

Despite the dramatic twists and intra-party squabbles, Tinubu won the keenly contested primary, trouncing strong contenders like Lawan, ex-Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, amongst others. The former Lagos governor would later defeat opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) at the February 2023 general election to clinch the number one spot at Aso Villa.

About two months after Tinubu was inaugurated as Nigeria’s President, specifically in July 2023, Adamu and Omisore resigned as APC National Chairman and Secretary respectively in controversial and unclear circumstances, paving the way for a new NWC with ex-Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje and former Senate spokesman Ajibola Bashiru as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

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15 huts razed, one injured in renewed Jukun-Tiv violence

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A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between the Jukun and Tiv communities has erupted in Taraba State, with suspected Jukun militias launching an early-morning attack on Dekeh Village along the Wukari–Kente Road.
According to security sources available to Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

About six armed assailants stormed the village, opening fire indiscriminately and setting 15 huts ablaze. The attack forced residents to flee in panic, leaving behind food items, including yam seedlings, which were destroyed in the blaze.

One resident identified as Mdue Saaondo, sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. He was rescued by a joint team of police and military personnel and transported to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari for medical treatment.

The Taraba State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have also scheduled a security meeting with the Wukari Local Government Traditional Council as part of efforts to restore peace and encourage dialogue between the Tiv and Jukun communities, who have long-standing disputes over land and territorial claims.

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“Patrol and surveillance operations are ongoing to forestall further violence and ensure stability in the area,” police authorities stated.

The incident adds to the growing list of violent clashes that have plagued southern Taraba in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the communal tensions.

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2025 U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles zoom into quarter-final after draw with Kenya

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked a place in the quarter-final at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after playing out a 2-2 draw against Kenya.

Aliyu Zubairu’s side finished second in Group B with five points from three games.

The Atlas Cub of Morocco top the group with seven points after beating Tunisia 3-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.

Kenya started the game strongly, and deservedly took the lead after six minutes.

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Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu handled the ball inside the box, and after initially awarding a free kick to Kenya, the centre referee pointed to the spot following consultation with VAR.

Captain Kevin Wangaya Colly slotted the ball past Ebenezer Harcourt to give the Rising Stars the lead.

The Flying Eagles fought back seven minutes later with Lillestrøm striker Kparobo Arierhi netting after he was put on through on goal by Simon Cletus.

Nigeria dominated the game in the second half but failed to test the Kenyan goalkeeper.

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Kenya took the lead for the second time in the game through substitute William Nwangi on 68 minutes.

Nwangi lashed home Humphrey Kegengo’s free kick from inside the box.

Daniel Bameyi, however, converted from the spot to hand the Flying Eagles a share of the spoils.

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Trump announces judicial nominees, accuses US court of obstruction

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United States President Donald Trump has announced a fresh slate of judicial nominees in a series of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday.

The president, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over what he sees as judicial obstruction, followed up on Wednesday with a post criticising the judiciary for allegedly preventing him from carrying out the mandate of the American people.

The Republican leader, whose second-term agenda has encountered multiple judicial roadblocks, wrote: “Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do.

“Activist judges must let the [Donald] Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”

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Trump named Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, as a nominee for a judgeship on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot” in a post on Tuesday.

The 78-year-old also nominated Judge Cristian Stevens to serve on the same court, describing him in another post as “a Great Patriot.”

The announcements came a day after a federal appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to revoke temporary legal status from hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans living in the United States.

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