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Botched Ekiti APC Primaries: Disband Al-Makura Committee, Cancel Votes Cast – Aspirants
No fewer than 27 of the 33 aspirants that participated in the marred governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State have called for disbandment of the organising committee led by Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura.
They also called for the cancellation of the votes cast by four local governments before the exercise was disrupted on Saturday.
The decision was reached by the aspirants after an emergency meeting on Sunday in Ado Ekiti.
Notable aspirants present at Sunday’s emergency meeting include a former governor, and chieftain of the APC, Segun Oni; former Speaker, Femi Bamisile; Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu; former senators Ayo Arise and Gbenga Aluko; Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Bimbo Daramola, among others.
However, Opeyemi Bamidele and the Minister of Mines and Steel, Kayode Fayemi were not at the meeting.
The aspirants were obviously opposed to Mr Fayemi, as they had insinuated that the alleged manipulations and compromises were done to his advantage.
Mr Fayemi, who preceded incumbent Ayo Fayose as governor of the state, appeared to be the leading aspirant in the disrupted governorship primaries on Saturday at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti.
He has insisted he was on the lead and that the results of the already held four local governments must remain.
The aggrieved aspirants alleged that the committee was openly biased and incompetent in the handling of the election.
They said the violence which occurred resulted from the shoddy way the committee handled the primaries.
The aspirants, in a communiqué issued and read by one of the aspirant, Yaya-Kolade, lamented the unfortunate incident that led to the protest and subsequent disruption of the primary.
They alleged that members of the primary committee compromised the integrity of the poll and that had invalidated its outcome.
The said they noticed lopsidedness and bias conduct on the part of the committee members, and urged the national leadership of the party to take further measures to ensure a rerun was credible.
“We want the committee to be disbanded completely and our National Working Committee should set up a new committee to conduct another primary that will meet international standard,” the communique stated.
“Even many of those in the panel were friends to a particular candidate and this we thought could vitiate the outcome of the election.
“We are determined to win Ekiti but the right thing must be done for a candidate that will command the respect of everybody to emerge.”
The aspirants also recommended an enclosed arena for the repeat of the election to forestall the interference of nature such as rainfall as witnessed in Saturday’s election.
“Apart from that, no aspirant should have more than an agent , because many of those who gained entry under the guise of being agents to some aspirants were used to perpetrate evil,” they said.
Also, the state chairman of the party, Jide Awe, called for the annulment of the poll,.
“There is no way you can conduct a primary without allowing State Executive Council to have a say,” he said.
“The aspirants were not happy. There are lots of lessons to learn as a party. One of the cardinal principles of a free and fair election is for the electorate not to have a doubt. When a system is doubted in an election it becomes invalid.
“When a system is disrupted, it becomes invalid. An invalid primary can’t produce a valid candidate. We want to have a credible election so that the electorate will be able to vote for us at the main election.
“With what happened we believe sincerely the committee is culpable and the security agencies are compromised. So the thugs that disrupted the election some people allowed them in.”
Mr Fayemi, a leading aspirant for the APC ticket, was accused of compromising the process.
He in turn accused the aggrieved aspirants of causing the violence that ended the voting exercise on Saturday because of their desperation to win.
Whoever emerges as APC candidate is expected to be the main opposition to the eventual candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party which is set to hold its primary on Tuesday.
Premium Times
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Tinubu Presents N47.9trn 2025 Appropriation Bill to NASS
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, presented the proposed 2025 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.
The N47.9 trillion budget saw a whopping N3.5 trillion allocated to the education sector.
Other sectors that got higher allocations include defence and security – N4.91tn, infrastructure – N4.06tn and health – N2.4tn.
“It is with great pleasure that I lay before this distinguished joint session of the National Assembly, the 2025 Budget of the National Assembly of Nigeria titled, ‘The Restoration Budget’ security peace, building prosperity,” Tinubu said as he concluded his 30-minute presentation at 1:10pm.
This budget highlights the government’s focus on improving education, healthcare, and infrastructure, in line with its ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ aimed at boosting the economy and addressing key national priorities.
The live broadcast of the budget presentation today revealed the government’s plans for the next fiscal year. With a strong emphasis on human capital development, the president highlighted the budget’s commitment to improving the nation’s economic foundation.
Education sector receives major funding
A significant portion of the 2025 budget is dedicated to education, with N3.5 trillion allocated to the sector. President Tinubu stated that part of this funding would be directed toward infrastructure development, including support for Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the establishment of nine new higher educational institutions.
“We have made provision for N826.90 billion for infrastructural development in the education sector,” Tinubu said.
This allocation aims to improve educational facilities and support ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s educational system.
Focus on human capital development
During the presentation, the president emphasized the importance of investing in Nigeria’s human capital. “Human capital development, our people are our greatest resource. That is why we are breaking record investment in education, healthcare, our social services,” he remarked.
Tinubu also pointed to the N34 billion already disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to assist over 300,000 students.
The budget includes continued investments in healthcare and social services as part of the broader goal of enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians.
Strengthening the economy and national security
Tinubu highlighted that the 2025 budget is designed to build a robust economy while addressing critical sectors necessary for growth and security.
“This budget reflects the huge commitment to strengthening the foundation of a robust economy, while addressing the critical sectors essential for the growth and development we envision; and secure our nation,” he said.
The budget aims to tackle key challenges and foster long-term economic stability by prioritizing infrastructure and development in key sectors.
Healthcare and social services allocations
In addition to education, Tinubu focused on the allocation for healthcare and social services. The government plans to increase investments in healthcare infrastructure and services to ensure broader access to essential healthcare for Nigerians.
These investments are part of the administration’s strategy to improve overall living conditions and enhance public health across the country.
President Tinubu’s proposed 2025 budget is said to reflect the administration’s commitment to achieving its development objectives, with a focus on economic growth, human capital development, and infrastructure improvement.
As the National Assembly reviews the budget, the president reiterated his administration’s resolve to address the nation’s most pressing needs.
Source: Nairametrics
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Ghana’s President-elect Mahama Visits Tinubu in Abuja
Ghana’s President-Elect, Dr. John Dramani Mahama, a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his residence, Presidential Villa, State House on Monday.
Mahama won 56 percent of the votes in this month’s presidential election, compared to the ruling party candidate and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who secured 41 percent.
The landslide comeback for former president Mahama ended eight years in power for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose last term was marked by Ghana’s worst economic turmoil in years, an IMF bailout and a debt default.
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I Stand by What I Said, Kemi Badenoch Replies VP Shettima
The leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has lashed back at Vice President Kashim Shettima over the latter’s reaction to her comments about Nigeria.
Badenoch was born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents.
Badenoch, who attained age 16 in Nigeria before departing the country for the UK where she was elected Conservative Party’s leader, described Nigeria as a nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.
However, Shettima, while speaking at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, December 9, 2024, accused Badenoch of “denigrating her country of origin” with her remarks.
The vice-president listed influential people whose families had migrated to other countries, commending former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a “brilliant young man who never denigrated his nation of ancestry.”
Reacting on Wednesday, Badenoch lashed back at Shettima, saying she doesn’t do “PR for Nigeria”.
Her spokesperson, as the Tory leader, according to UK Express, said: “Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the Leader of the Opposition in the UK.
“She tells the truth; she tells it like it is; she isn’t going to couch her words. She stands by what she said.”
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