Politics
Ganduje warns Northern leaders against 2027 presidential ambition
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has cautioned Northern leaders against vying for the presidency in 2027, emphasizing that the position remains with President Bola Tinubu from the Southern part of the country.
According to him, after Tinubu’s second term, it will be the North’s turn to produce a president.
Dr. Ganduje issued this warning at the APC National Secretariat while receiving members of the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre (PBAT Media Centre), and other groups actively promoting Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South.
“And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our president has come from the South and is going to, Inshallah, go for a second term in 2027. And then after that, it will be the North’s turn.
“I believe we are on the right course, and we encourage you to continue working on that. We will study your documents and see areas of cooperation. Thank you, and God bless.”
Ganduje commended the youth organizations for their dedication to the party’s agenda.
“There is no doubt we are blessed with the youth forum this morning. First, we were visited by the Tinubu Young Generation Forum, which is very active in promoting the renewed hope agenda of our president and party. Now, we are hosting another youth forum, the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum.
“I have already assessed you. This is an active and focused youth forum because I’m highly impressed with the data you presented. This shows that you are not beating about the bush. You know precisely where you are going, you have articulated your agenda, and you have gathered useful election data. I’m highly impressed.
“So, APC is ready to provide you with all the assistance that you need.
I have even seen that you are assisting the government in public enlightenment regarding the tax reform agenda. Initially, the tax reform was misunderstood, but over time, public engagement has improved understanding.
“People now see the purpose of the tax reform. Even members of the National Assembly are now fully conversant with the policy and ready to support it. So we thank you.
“Support organizations like yours are crucial in ensuring public enlightenment and inclusiveness in governance. We have seen your plans to mobilize voters for the 2027 election, which is very encouraging. I congratulate you on this.”
The APC chairman reiterated that President Tinubu is a leader for all Nigerians, not just one region.
“Our president is for the North, the South, and all six geopolitical zones. We have received support groups from every region, and we are pleased that our party believes in zoning.
“We are grateful that you found it important to pay this courtesy visit and re-present yourselves. You previously introduced yourselves when I was appointed as one of the patrons of this great organization.
“During the electioneering campaign, we had thousands of support groups. However, only a few have remained consistent, increasing their tempo even after the elections. Now, they have developed new blueprints to sustain their activities.
“As young people working with the youth, men, and women, your role is crucial. We are highly impressed with your activities, and we believe this is how it should be.
“The Young Generation Forum, I assure you, is on the right path. The way you are progressing, you are creating a niche for yourselves and establishing a national identity.”
Ganduje praised President Tinubu’s leadership and reforms, describing them as necessary for national development.
“Our president is doing very well. He is a reformer, a visionary leader, and he is focused. We are happy with his reforms because they are absolutely necessary for this country’s socio-economic development.
“Many things went wrong over a long period, and it requires ‘surgery’ to fix them. However, we are beginning to see positive outcomes, especially in the economic sector. We believe these reforms will continue to yield results, ensuring that Tinubu’s legacy and renewed hope agenda are fulfilled.
“We also appreciate your congratulatory message regarding my appointment as Chairman of FAN. I didn’t expect that you were even aware of it. We are grateful and assure you of our continued support in all your activities.”
Ganduje also emphasized that the APC is not just an election-focused party but an institution committed to active governance and public engagement.
“FEC is not a business-as-usual affair. We aim to remain active throughout the year, not just during elections. Our branches are working actively.
“Even today, we are meeting with the chairmen of our state branches to assure them of our participation in their programs. We want to keep party activities alive at all levels.
“Additionally, we have established the Progressive Institute to educate our members on our constitution, manifesto, and programs. The institute will also provide policy recommendations for the government.
“As we said, this is not business as usual. We are committed to making our political party an institution—one responsible for membership registration, recruitment for elected and appointed offices, and assisting the government in achieving its manifesto.
“The activities of the Young Generation Forum add color to our party’s work, and we appreciate your dedication.”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
Barrister Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, apprehensive of massive defection to the party urged defectors to go through legitimate route and due process.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokuta, Adebayo when he met with SDP members and executive members led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said the party is open to defectors, but they must do so legitimately.
Flanked by the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, the former presidential candidate allayed fears that defectors may hijack the party, stressing that the National Working Committee of SDP can only issue membership cards through the executive at the state levels.
He said, “People are counterfeiting naira, they are counterfeiting the dollar, they’re bringing counterfeit rice, and NAFDAC is chasing counterfeit drugs. Why are you surprised that there are counterfeit party cards? Especially if the party cards are carried by counterfeit politicians who have a history of doing counterfeiting in their former parties. So, we should forgive everybody, but this counterfeiting will not work in SDP.”
“We are not fighting anybody we are only saying ‘come to our house through the front door not through the ceiling or the window.’ That’s all. Everybody here joined the party legitimately, anybody coming will join legitimately”.
“We have spoken to the National Chairman and the NWC, he said there’s no counterfeiting of anything. Any card that’s not given through the state, LG and executives is not from the SDP. So, if they come, you will tell them to go away. Put your name in our register here and pay us here. We will get the card for you. That’s how it is”.
“They want to run faster than their legs. Secondly, you are hearing rumors that people are coming to our party, Awolowo is coming, Azikiwe is coming, Balewa, Ahmadu Bello is coming. Let’s see them. Nigerians know us and they know them.”
He ruled out any plan that SDP would merge or collaborate with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or any political party ahead of 2027 general election.
According to him, SDP is committed to the well-being and welfare of Nigerians, while he ruled out insinuations that the party is an appendage of APC.
“Maybe APC has appendicitis; they should go to the hospital to kill it. We are a strong party. We are older than any of the parties available. Our mission is clear: we are not in government with them.
“I led the party in the last election. I’m still standing here. I’m not a minister under Tinubu; all the state chairman and the national chairman are intact, including the national secretary. So, we are standing on our own.
“The reason people look down on us is because we don’t attack people, but we tackle issues because our party is a party of intellect. We are the only party that’s a little to the left. Having been a little to the left since we came in 1989, we remain so.
“The problems of Nigeria can only be found with solutions on the left, which is that chapter two of the Constitution, invest money in education, in housing, in healthcare, good infrastructure, let Nigerians live what chief Obafemi Awolowo called a life more abundant,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
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