Latest Political News In Nigeria For Today, Friday, 5th August, 2022

Welcome to the round-up of the latest political news in Nigeria, political gist, highlights of political events, and happenings in Nigeria for today Friday, 5th August 2022.

Read all the major political news, political event highlights, and happenings in Nigeria for today on a single page right here.

Why Lalong Was Appointed As Tinubu's Campaign Council DG – Adamu

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has revealed why Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State was appointed as the Director-General of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that the APC chairman had announced Lalong as the head of the presidential campaign council during a chat with State House correspondents on Thursday.

Adamu had earlier presented Lalong to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as the DG of Tinubu's presidential campaign council.

In a chat with reporters on Thursday, Adamu said that the choice of Lalong was based on his ability to do the work required to ensure victory for the party in the 2023 presidential election.

The APC chairman also expressed confidence in the chances of the ruling APC winning the forthcoming elections, stating that the party will continue to work towards improving the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking further, Adamu described the party's same faith ticket as a “positive development” for the country's politics.

Read more.

2023: Keyamo Reacts To Appointment As Tinubu Campaign Spokesperson

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has reacted to his appointment as the chief spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu 2023 presidential campaign team.

Keyamo on Friday, took to his Twitter handle to appreciate Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He added that he is humbled by the appointment.

“Special thanks to ⁦@officialABAT ⁩ and ⁦@KashimSM for finding me worthy to lead the line in the APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council as Official Spokesperson. I am humbled because both great leaders have been reputed to possess the uncanny ability to nurture mentees,” he wrote.

It will be recalled that Keyamo's appointment was announced on Thursday by the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu during a chat with State House correspondents.

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2023 Presidency: Charly Boy Raises Observation About Peter Obi As He Shares Picture With British Prime Minister

Veteran entertainer, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa popularly known as Charly Boy has stated that Britain might have codedly endorsed a presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria.

Sharing some pictures which he made into a collage, Charly Boy posited that candidates invited to the British Prime Minister's official residence have gone ahead to win the presidential election in Nigeria.

He shared pictures of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Peter Obi.

He added that after meeting the serving British Prime Ministers at their times, Obasanjo, Jonathan and Buhari have all gone ahead to win presidential elections in Nigeria, observing that Obi's recent meeting with the outgoing UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson may be a pointer to who will win the 2023 presidential election.

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PDP Crisis: Call For Ayu's Removal As National Chairman Unnecessary  – Lamido

The former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has rejected the call by supporters of Governor Nyesom Wike of River State for the sacking of the party's National Chairman, Senator Iyorcha Ayu.

Ezenwoko's Blog earlier reported that some of Wike's loyalists had demanded the removal of the party's national chairman and the chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

The loyalists of the Rivers governor called for the restructuring of the party's leadership to accommodate more Southerners and made other demands.

They stated that Northerners cannot occupy the positions of the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, National Chairman and the Governors' Forum Chairman.

Reacting to the demands in a chat with The Punch on Thursday, Lamido stated that the call for the removal of the party's national chairman was unnecessary.

The former Jigawa governor added that Ayu was one of the founding fathers of the PDP who has sacrificed for the growth of the party.

Read more.

Atiku's Campaign Spokesman, Bwala Shares Private Talks With Tinubu

The newly-appointed spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, has disclosed his private discussion with the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, before he dumped the ruling party.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that Bwala, who has been a staunch supporter of the APC until some weeks ago when he withdrew his membership of the broom party, on Thursday, was alongside former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, appointed as Atiku's spokespersons for the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview earlier on Channels Television political programme, Bwala said Tinubu had promised to make him his presidential spokesman.

Speaking on the live TV programme, Bwala said it is unknown to his critics that he dumped APC despite having a guaranteed appointment from Tinubu.

According to him, his decision to leave the ruling party was purely based on principle and conscience.

Read more.

What Lalong Said After Emerging Tinubu's Campaign Council DG

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has reacted to his emergence as the Director-General of the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had announced Lalong as the head of the presidential campaign council during a chat with State House correspondents on Thursday.

Adamu had presented Lalong to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as the head of Tinubu's presidential campaign council.

The APC chairman was accompanied by the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

In a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Macham Makut, governor Lalong promised to work hard to ensure that Tinubu wins the 2023 presidential election.

Lalong added that his appointment is a clear indication that the APC is well accepted in Plateau State and has the capacity to deliver in the forthcoming elections.

Read more.

PDP Reacts As Wike's Loyalists Make Demands To Resolve Crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the demands made by supporters and loyalists of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Ezenwoko's Blog earlier reported that some of Wike's loyalists had called for the restructuring of the party's leadership to accommodate more Southerners.

The loyalists stated that Northerners cannot occupy the positions of the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, National Chairman and the Governors' Forum Chairman.

Some loyalists of the Rivers governor also demanded the removal of the party's national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and the chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

Lastly, they demanded respect, equity, fairness and justice, adding that the dictates of the PDP constitution must be adhered to going forward.

However, the Wike supporters stated that as party loyalists, they would support any genuine decision by the party to ensure peace in the fold.

In an interview with The Punch on Thursday, PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba said that the demands made by Wike supporters do not align with the party's constitution.

Ologunagba stated that the party has consistently followed its constitution, stressing that the PDP is a democratic party.

Read more.

Bassey Akpan Emerges YPP Governorship Candidate In Akwa Ibom

A member of the National Assembly representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Bassey Albert Akpan has emerged as the governorship candidate for the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State, Ezenwoko's Blog reports.

The development was announced in a statement released by the YPP national secretary, Barr Vidiyeno Bamaiyi.

It could be recalled that the former guber candidate of the party, Pastor Andy Nyenime officially withdrew from the race some days ago.

The decision led to a fresh primary in the party in line with the 2022 Electoral Act guidelines as amended and monitored by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State.

Adopting option A4, delegates across the 31 Local Government areas of the State reportedly queued behind Senator Akpan and affirmed his candidature after which he was decorated with the Party's regalia for candidates and presented with a Certificate of Return.

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There Is A Reason I Won't Attack Tinubu Even Though I Am Atiku's Spokesperson – Bwala

A spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala has said that he will not be involved in a campaign that would malign the character of All Progressives Congress, APC, standard bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Bwala was appointed alongside Dino Melaye, a former senator, as spokesperson for the campaign organisation on Thursday.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Bwala, who had resigned his membership of the APC over what he described as his “principles and conviction” explained that he did not leave the party because Atiku promised to reward him with an appointment as being insinuated.

He stated further that he would never indulge in a smear campaign to tarnish the image of Tinubu because he holds him in high regards.

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Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Babachir Lawal Is The Closest Nigerian To Tinubu, He Has Bitten The Finger That Fed Him – Shittu

The former Minister of Communications and Director General of the Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance, Adebayo Shittu, has said that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal has bitten the finger that fed him.

Ezenwoko's Blog recalls that on Friday, 6th of July, some All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftains warned Nigerians against voting for any joint ticket that does not represent Christians and Muslims, saying that the party's presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had made a fatal error that could end his ambition in February's poll.

Amongst the chieftains who had called on Nigerians to shun the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket were Lawal and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Yakubu Dogara.

Reacting to Lawal's campaign against Tinubu during an interview with Punch, Shittu stated that Lawal was once close to Tinubu and his actions were a sign of betrayal.

Read more.

That will be all for today. You can read more political and other Nigerian news on Ezenwoko's Blog