Politics
2023 presidency: Tinubu, other’s chances brightens as Southern governors oppose Northern presidency
Amid speculations that the All Progressives Congress, APC, National leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu may contest presidency in 2023, he may have slimmer resistance from the Southern part of country.
This is as governors of the Southern part of the country on Saturday vowed resistance presidential candidates of northern origin.
Chairman of Southern governors forum, Rotimi Akeredolu emphatically said governors would oppose any presdential candidate from the northern zone across party lines on 2023 election.
Akeredolu said this while featuring on a Channels Television programme, “Politics Today”
He stressed that presidency cannot go back to the North after President Muhammadu Buhari must has ended his eight years tenure in 2023.
The governor said: “The Southern governors from three major political parties of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were unanimous in their resolution on the zoning of the presidency and would follow it to the letter.
Akeredolu’s insistence was a follow up of the decision of the Southern governors to support presidential candidates of the zone irrespective of party differences.
“If we have anything that we have agreed, that we have unanimity, it is the issue of president in 2023. All of us, irrespective of our political party; there are three political parties that are in the Southern Governors Forum.
He called on the three major political parties to pick their candidates from the South, saying any party that pick its presidential candidate from the North has imperil its chances of winning.
”But it has to come from the South. We are saying that there must be rotational, justice, and fairness in it, that is what we are pushing.
“If my president, Muhammadu Buhari has ruled for eight years, then it cannot be from the North again.
“The next president must come from the South. We have not got to the stage where we will say let us give it to somebody who is competent.
“There are many people that are competent. We have competent people in the North as we have competent people in the South.
“So, the president can come from any part of the country. But if you have occupied the position for eight years, then it has to rotate back to the South.
“We can continue to do that until it gets to a point where the issue of zoning becomes an anathema.
Bola Tinubu and others from the Southern zone may indicate strong interest to contest the presidency.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his Deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on the affirmation of their electoral victory in the recent judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal.
In a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said the landmark judgment validates the overwhelming support of the Edo State electorate for the APC’s candidate in the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
The party stated that the Governor’s victory stands as an affirmation of the popular will of the good people of Edo State.
“We applaud the judiciary for its well-reasoned decision in the matter, underscoring its independence, professionalism, and commitment to strengthening democracy in our country.
“Our great Party salutes the good people of Edo State for their massive support of our Party during the past election, and for their patience and sustained support through the litigation.
“Confident that this well-deserved victory will further energize Governor Okpebholo, who is already saturating the state with good governance and dividends of democracy, we urge the Governor to do even more for the Edo electorate, and translate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into meaningful benefits for all in the state.
“We remain thankful to President Tinubu, our visionary and dogged achiever, for his exceptional leadership of our great Party”, the party said.
The Chairman of the Unity and Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Senator Usman Jibril Wowo has appealed to aggrieved members of the party to building bridges of unity rather than internal crisis that does no one any good.
He said, now is a better time to build bridges of unity in the party through the privilege of APC Reconciliation Committee put in place, hence, party members should speak to each other as brothers and sisters.
Senator Wowo said this in Abuja while felicitating with the Muslim Ummah for a successful Ramadan season which culminated in the celebration of the Sallah.
He called on all members of the party to take advantage of the internal reconciliatory structure of the party to vent their issues, for an amicable resolution so that they can amplify the name of the FCT as the Center of Unity.
He said “let us come together and talk about these differences and forge a united headway towards a bigger APC in the future, we must know that the area councils elections are just by the corner.”
He said it is not an accident that the Christians are also observing the Lent season which is an expression of faith and obedience to God.
Senator Wowo said while it is human to suffer imperfection it is also for man to continue to exercise understanding and forgiveness towards one another where such need arises but this can only come where there are clear communications between parties involved in the conflict.
Wowo said Nigerians in exercise of their grievances should approach conflict resolution with open mind so that parties would make way forward in unity.
The former lone Senator of the Federal Capital Territory said the move by the party to reconcile all grieving parties has become important following the unpleasant performance of the party in the last area councils elections.
He argued that ahead of the next area council elections it was proper for all the grieving parties to come together and share their reservations for an amicable resolution of these differences which can only be resolved by talking together.
According to Senator, Wowo the reconciliation committee is in accordance with he party constitution to retain her members at all time.
Sen Wowo said, “The party has a duty to ‘promote reconciliation, encourage and facilitate the settlement of dispute in amicable manner, among members of the party”
He said any association of humans naturally experiences conflict and this is one of such that can be resolved when they come together to the same table and digest the matter and eliminate those areas of conflict so that they can move forward.
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
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