Politics

Buhari, Tinubu ‘ve betrayed Nigerians’ expectations on APC — Ex-party’s NWC member

Published

2 years ago

August 26, 2024

Former national vice chairman, Northwest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Moh Lukman, has lamented that former president Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu, have betrayed all the expectations Nigerians have on the party.

Lukman warned that if by the end of December this year no structured engagement to develop the alternative political platform has commenced, it means that any opposition to APC and President Tinubu in 2027 will be based on personal ambitions of individual political leaders.

Advocating an alternative political structure to rescue the country, he claimed that progressive degeneration has invariably brought the country to its knee whereby public resources are practically the private resources of so-called elected leaders.

In a statement he issued in Abuja on Monday, the former director general APC Progressive Governors Forum noted: “How are the opposition political leaders strategising to re-orient political leaders in the country to address these challenges? Beyond individual press statement, Nigerians legitimately expect political leaders to be meeting and debating proposals around all the country’s challenges.

“In addition, given all the confidence invested in APC, former President Buhari and President Tinubu, and in the end betray the expectations of Nigerians, what is Nigerian political opposition doing to guarantee that when elected they will not jettison their campaign promises?

“This is largely a function of how much commitment opposition political leaders are willing to demonstrate to build structures of accountability, which will regulate the conducts of all political leaders. For instance, to what extent are opposition political leaders committed to building structures of political parties?

“Once commitment of opposition political leaders is only about supporting their personal ambition to become candidates for 2027 elections, it only means that opposition political leaders are not committed to building the structures of political parties.

“Weak commitment to building the structures of political parties is responsible for the current tragedy whereby Nigeria is a democracy that despises meetings. We are a so-called democratic nation that undermine and destroy all structures that promote negotiations. Because of our inability to negotiate our differences, we have been unable to convert our diversity into resources and assets for nation building.
Consequently, political opportunism has taken centre stage and political leaders, including opposition politicians, cheaply use our differences to hoodwink citizens,” he argued.

While commenting further, Lukman noted that; “the political challenges facing our dear country are very clear.

What is required to develop alternative political platform to rescue the country is also very clear. It is all about whether opposition political leaders in the country are willing and committed to developing stronger relationship based on disposition to be selfless.

“Being selfless is all about capacity to invest higher levels of trusts among all opposition political leaders without limiting it to personal ambition to emerge as candidates. The other related issue is the question of negotiation to produce alternative policy proposals, which opposition political leaders will be committed to implementing if elected.

“No doubt, Nigerians are going through very harsh excruciating conditions. Since the commencement of the Fourth Republic, it is a case of progressive degeneration that invariably brought the country to its knee whereby public resources are now practically the private resources of so-called elected leaders.

“Developing alternative political platform in the country should be about restoring the virtue of selflessness among political leaders in Nigerian politics. Opposition political leaders must recognise the urgency requiring strategic initiative to produce the alternative political platform to rescue Nigeria.

“The reality is that if by the end of December 2024, no structured engagement has commenced based on strategic initiative to develop the alternative political platform, oriented based on selfless disposition of opposition political leaders, it simply means that any opposition to APC and President Tinubu in 2027 will be based on personal ambitions of individual political leaders.

If that is the case, the risk of producing a government that is worse that the current one will be high. Irrespective of whether the government is led by Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso or any of the orphaned leaders of APC, any successor government that emerged based on personal ambition of political leaders risked being worse,” Lukman wrote in his statement.

Politics

Fubara To Contest Rivers Governorship Seat Under NDC

Published

13 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Rivers State politician, Blessing Fubara, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The politician has already obtained both the nomination and expression of interest forms needed to participate in the governorship race ahead of the 2027 election.

Blessing Fubara shares the same surname and local government area with the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Both men are from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. However, there has been no confirmation that they are family members.

The Chairman of the NDC in Rivers State, Success Jack, confirmed that Blessing Fubara is among those seeking the party’s governorship ticket.

He also stated that he could not confirm whether the governorship aspirant is related to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

According to him, the party is preparing seriously for the 2027 general elections and hopes to win not only the governorship seat but other elective positions in Rivers State.

The development comes weeks after Blessing Fubara left the All Progressives Congress and joined the NDC.

Following his defection in Abuja, he was received by former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, alongside other leaders and members of the party.

After joining the NDC, Blessing Fubara said his decision was taken for the interest of Rivers people.

He also stated that the future of the state must be protected ahead of the next general election, expressing confidence that the state would experience positive changes after the 2027 polls.

Politics

Desmond Elliot Withdraws from APC Lagos Assembly Primaries, Cites Intimidation

Published

20 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Surulere I lawmaker Desmond Elliot has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress Lagos House of Assembly primaries, citing intimidation across multiple zones.

In a viral video posted online, the lawmaker said he was stepping out of the race despite seeking re-election under the APC. He alleged that his supporters faced intimidation during the process in several parts of the constituency.

Elliot’s decision came as the primaries held across Lagos on Tuesday. Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Federal Constituency, praised the conduct of the exercise in Surulere, describing it as peaceful.

The withdrawal narrows the contest for the APC ticket in Surulere I ahead of the 2027 general election. Party officials in Lagos have not yet responded to Elliot’s claims, and the APC state chapter has not announced whether the primary in the constituency will proceed with other aspirants.

Elliot has represented Surulere I in the Lagos State House of Assembly since 2015.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYkCaAiMxxt/?igsh=ZWw5czl6MHJhNnRy

Politics

Political Shockwave in Rivers as Fubara Pulls Out of APC Governorship Race, Backs Party’s Candidate

Published

20 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled to take place on Thursday, a development that has stirred fresh political conversations across the state.

The governor announced his decision in a personally signed statement titled “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,” which was released on Wednesday night.

In the statement, Fubara explained that his withdrawal followed wide consultations with political associates, stakeholders, and supporters. He stated that the decision was taken in the overall interest of peace, unity, and stability within the APC and Rivers State at large.

According to the governor, politics should not be allowed to divide the people or create unnecessary tension within the party. He stressed that preserving unity among party members and maintaining stability in the state remain more important than personal political ambition.

Fubara further pledged his total loyalty and support to whoever eventually emerges as the APC governorship candidate, assuring party faithful that he remains committed to the success and progress of the party ahead of the next general elections.

The Rivers governor also appreciated his supporters across the state for standing by him throughout the political process. He thanked party leaders, youth groups, women supporters, and political associates who had continued to show him solidarity and encouragement.

He urged his supporters not to see his withdrawal as the end of his political journey, but rather as a decision made in the collective interest of the party and the state. He also appealed to them to remain peaceful, united, and committed to the ideals of the APC.

Political observers have described the development as one of the biggest political surprises in Rivers State in recent times, especially considering the growing speculations and intense political alignments ahead of the governorship primaries.

Analysts believe the governor’s withdrawal may reshape the political calculations within the APC and influence the direction of the party’s governorship race moving forward.

The announcement has continued to generate mixed reactions from political stakeholders and residents across Rivers State. While some supporters described the move as strategic and mature, others expressed surprise over the governor’s sudden exit from the contest.

Several party faithful, however, commended Fubara for placing party unity and stability above personal ambition, noting that his decision may help reduce internal tensions and strengthen the APC ahead of the elections.

The development has also intensified attention on the remaining aspirants contesting for the APC governorship ticket, as consultations and political meetings continue ahead of the primary election.

Many observers believe the governor’s endorsement of the eventual APC candidate could play a major role in shaping the outcome of the party’s governorship battle and future political structure in the state.

As political activities continue to gather momentum in Rivers State, all eyes are now on the APC primaries and the next phase of political developments expected to unfold in the coming days.