Vice president Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated the winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Osibanjo in a statement on Thursday described Tinubu as one who has “shown passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building”. His message to Tinubu reads, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at our party primaries and his emergence as the Presidential Candidate and Flagbearer of our great party, the APC for the forthcoming 2023 Presidential Elections. “I also congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and all leaders of the APC for a successful Special Convention and Presidential Primary. “For many decades, our Flagbearer has shown passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building. His sterling contributions to our democracy and its progress stand him out. His wealth of experience will certainly be critical in our party’s continued efforts to attain a more secure and prosperous Nigeria. “To all members of our great party, regardless of who you voted for at the primaries, we must now unite behind our Presidential Candidate and Flagbearer to ensure victory for our party in the 2023 elections. “As true progressives, we must remain strong and united in pursuing our collective vision as a party toward building a country that can provide a decent life and livelihoods for all our people”.

  A factional presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Amb. Jude Ezenwafor has withdrawn from the presidential race. Ezenwafor who was a Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to Mr. Obi emerged in the factional primaries held on Wednesday, 8 June in Abuja However, in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, he said his decision to withdraw is personal and appealed with his supporters to understand him. The letter reads, “I hereby withdraw from the forthcoming Presidential Election in 2023. After consulting my supporters Nationwide, I decided to withdraw for personal reasons. “I regret any inconvenience my withdrawal might cost our great Party. I thank the leadership of our great Party for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria”. His resignation is coming Moments after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it does not recognize him as the presidential candidate of the party.

  The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has met former Vice-president and the party’s standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, behind closed doors. The meeting was held on Wednesday evening, in Abuja, led by the BOT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin. The BOT and the party’s standard-bearer had in the aftermath of the presidential primary held in May scheduled a meeting to discuss the subject of who will be the running mate to Abubakar. A source close to the BOT told our correspondent that the meeting between Atiku and members of the BOT was an interactive session surrounding the 2023 elections, challenges Nigeria faces, as well as the unity of the party. The meeting may also not be unconnected to the subject of selecting a running mate for the former vice president. Those in attendance were former vice president Namadi Sambo, former governor of Jigawa State, Dr Sule Lamido, former Imo State governor, Senator Emeka Ihedioha, former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, Prof. Jerry Gana and a host of others.

Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist, has won the presidential ticket of the African Action Congress (AAC) unchallenged. Sowore was affirmed as the party’s presidential candidate at the AAC convention that took place in the federal capital territory (FCT) on Thursday. The activist will be up against Bola Tinubu, APC standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate; Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, and others in the 2023 elections. Before the party’s convention commenced, Sowore stepped down from his position as chairman of the party he played a key role in founding. Last week, the court of appeal in Abuja affirmed Sowore as the substantive chairman of the AAC. In May 2019, the AAC reportedly suspended Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 elections, as well as Malcolm Fabiyi, who was deputy national chairman. In July 2019, a federal high court in Abuja, presided over by Inyang Ekwo, ruled against the activist who appealed that decision which declared Leonard Nzenwa as the acting chairman of the party. The appellate court set aside the judgment of the lower court recognising Leonard as acting chairman and awarded N200,000 as damages in favour of Sowore.

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pegged the deadline for the submission of list of Presidential candidates and their running mates by political parties at June 17. The Commission warned the dedicated portal for the submission of list of candidates for national elections will automatically shut down at 6.00pm (1800hrs) on Friday 17th June 2022. However for governorship and House of Assembly elections, the list of candidates shall be uploaded from 1st to 15th July 2022. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, gave the hint at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja on Thursday. The Commission stressed further that only names of candidates that emerged from democratic primaries as provided by Sec. 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 shall be submitted. Yakubu said: “All primaries end today Thursday 9th June 2022. For the next one week from tomorrow 10th June 2022, all Political Parties are required to submit their list of candidates for national elections (Presidential/Vice Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives) latest by Friday 17th June 2022. “For State elections (Governorship/Deputy Governorship and State Houses of Assembly), the list of candidates shall be uploaded from 1st to 15th July 2022 as already provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election already released by the Commission. “All political parties are required to upload the details of their candidates for each constituency to the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP). To achieve this objective, four officials recommended by each of the 18 political parties were trained on the procedure for uploading the nomination forms to the dedicated web portal. “Confidential Access Codes to the portal have already been given to each Political Party to facilitate the uploading of its nominations”. He continued: “For emphasis, the Commission wishes to remind Political Parties that only the names of candidates that emerged from democratic primaries as provided by Sec. 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 shall be submitted to the Commission. Similarly, the list of all Presidential and Governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their running mates (i.e. Vice Presidential and Deputy Governorship candidates) without which the nomination is invalid. “All nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm (1800hrs) on Friday 17th June 2022 for national elections and 6.00pm (1800hrs) on Friday 15th July 2022 for State elections. With this innovation, the Commission has eliminated the physical interface between party officials and INEC staff for the purpose of submitting the list of candidates for the 2023 General Election. “A Nomination Centre has been set up here at the Commission’s Headquarters to receive and process all nominations by political parties, including dedicated telephone lines to serve as Help Desk for any Party that may need assistance. In our avowed commitment to openness and transparency of the process, the media will be invited to the Nomination Center so that Nigerians will see our level of preparedness for the exercise”.

  President Muhammadu Buhari has described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the right presidential candidate for Nigeria. Tinubu clinched the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday. The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, congratulated the APC presidential flagbearer in the 2023 elections and assured him of “full and unwavering” support. He expressed belief that Tinubu will safeguard and improve on the democratic achievement and legacy. Buhari said the party must now unite behind the candidate to achieve victory at the 2023 elections. He said: “Having emerged victorious he has our full and unwavering support. Now, our party must unite behind our candidate to achieve victory at the 2023 elections so that our government will continue to secure our communities, grow our economy and continue the fight against corruption. “During the Primaries, there were factions and disagreements amongst the contestants and now that the process has ended we must build a united front in our party. In this way, the APC will remain the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. Now, it is time to put the process behind us. “Because what we can all agree is that the APC remains the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. But the way to demonstrate that we can get on with this job is to unite.” The President added: “The movement we created in 2013 is beyond individuals. Together, we made history by becoming the first party in our country’s history to unseat a party in power and propel our candidate into the Presidency through a peaceful democratic transfer of power. “We strongly believe that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will safeguard and improve on this democratic achievement and legacy. He is the right candidate for Nigeria’s aspiration because he is the APC’s candidate and under the continued stewardship of our party. Nigeria can achieve greatness and fulfill its destiny in Africa and the World. “The high point of this extraordinary convention of our party was the energy of the Presidential aspirants and it is from amongst them that we have chosen the most popular leader. “I recognize and commend the enthusiasm and self-confidence amongst our party men and women. “I also thank the delegates for making the right decision leading to the emergence of our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has ratified the Labour Party’s leadership structure, recognising officials loyal to presidential candidate Peter Obi. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has ratified the Labour Party’s leadership structure, recognising officials loyal to presidential candidate Peter Obi.   Factions of the Labour Party have rejected Mr Obi as the consensus presidential candidate, nominating other aspirants as the flag bearer. A Check on INEC’s official website showed that Julius Abure and Umar Farouk were recognised as the Labour Party’s national chairman and secretary; Akingbade Oyelakin as the national legal adviser. A former deputy national chairman of the party, Calistus Okafor, claiming to be the party’s chair, had sued Messrs Abure, Farouk and Oyelakin, declaring their leadership illegal. But the defendants insisted they were elected chairman and secretary at a party conference in Benin in March 2021. Last week, Mr Okafor filed an ex parte application praying the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to declare him the lawful chairman of the party. Mr Okafor supports a presidential aspirant EJude Ezenwafor as the party’s candidate. He described him as “a man of integrity,” affirmed “to be the presidential candidate of the Labour Party come 2023.” Meanwhile, another faction is rooting for the candidacy of Sampson Charles Uchenna as the party’s presidential flag bearer.