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Group Faults Garba over Claims Tinubu Got 8,000 Votes in Abia

The national support group of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu has debunked claims by a former member of the House of Representatives, Adamu Garba that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, got only 8,000 votes from Abia State.

The political pressure group known as “OUK Grassroots Movement” in a statement in Abuja, described Garba’s statement as not only erroneous but ignorant.

It clarified that the former Abia governor and Senate President hopeful contributed over 300,000 votes to the victory of the Tinubu.

The group’s national leader Alhaji Murtala Mohammed in a statement yesterday, said apart from his error ridden comment, Garba has no moral standing to advise the party leadership as he had recently dumped the party over selfish reasons only to return a month after.

Explaining further, Murtala emphasised that Orji Kalu gave the president-elect over 300,000 votes rallied by the Movement from across Nigeria during the presidential election held on February 25. 2023

Murtala carpeted the ex House of Reps member’s comment on Channels TV programme Politics Today where he said that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-east did not do enough to give them the right to demand that the office of the Senate President should come to the South-east.

He dismissed the comment as fake news as according to him, Garba spoke out of ignorance because he did not know anything about the level of political structure put in place for the Senate Chief Whip by his numerous supporters across the country who wanted the former Abia Governor to run for president ahead of the 2023 election.

Murtala further noted that the group through Kalu’s support navigated the grassroots communities across the nation to rally votes for the APC president-elect.

Part of the statement read: “For the record, we formed a Movement to mobilise support for the former Abia governor to run for president and we were able to mobilise supporters across all the 36 States of the federation and FCT.

“When it became clear that our principal is not going to run for President we collapsed our structure for Tinubu and eventually we gave Tinubu over 300,000 votes

“What I am saying is that the political structure of Orji Uzor Kalu cuts across the whole country because he has followers and supporters all over the 36 States and FCT Abuja. So it is wrong to use votes from Abia State and the South-east geopolitical zone to judge his contribution to the election of Tinubu as president during February Presidential election.”

Meanwhile, the Abia North stakeholders under the aegis of Abia North Peace Foundation has said a former Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa is using Senator Orji Kalu’s name to seek relevance after losing the 2023 senatorial election.

Ohuabunwa, who represented Abia North Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, yesterday, opposed the possible emergence of Kalu as the Senate President for the 10th National Assembly.

Speaking during an interview with Channels TV, Ohuabunwa said Kalu was not competent.

When asked how he would feel should Kalu emerge as the next Senate President, Ohuabunwa said: “I will feel terrible because I don’t believe that he is competent to represent the Senate.

“He has not won the election so I wouldn’t want a Senate President that will be removed tomorrow.”

But the stakeholders in a statement signed by its Director General, Chief Nnanna Ukaegbu said Ohuabunwa was frustrated, following his rejection by Abia North voters in 2019 and 2023, saying he was only seeking relevance.

They said: “As stakeholders of Abia North Senatorial District, we must appreciate Nigerians rallying round Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu—a known performer and a detribalised Nigerian with an impeccable character and charisma.

“We commend Nigerians across board for supporting our son and we assure them that he won’t disappoint when he emerges as the President of the 10th Senate.

“Ohuabunwa’s unfortunate interview on Channels Television is a futile attempt of a frustrated and rejected politician to assess a national figure like Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

“Nigerians must know that our people voted massively for distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to defeat Ohuabunwa consecutively in 2019 and 2023. Hence, his dimensional frustration and bitterness towards sons and daughters of Abia North Senatorial District.

“We also appreciate Mr Ohuabunwa’s frustration arising from his dimming image after his catastrophic outing in 2019 and 2023 and his struggle to accept realities that he is not on the same lane with the current Chief Whip of the Senate having lost his polling unit, ward and local government area to him.

“We are aware that Ohuabunwa is trying to seek relevance using the name of our dynamic son and senator, Orji Uzor Kalu. We urge him to do it with decorum or remain silent as we have not forgotten his infamous frying pan sharing era that brought shame to Abia North Senatorial District.”

The group added that it is laughable that Ohuabunwa said Kalu did not win the Abia North Senatorial election, noting that Ohuabunwa lost his polling unit, ward and local government area to Senator Kalu.

“For the umpteenth time, we advise Ohuabunwa to have some shame and accept his unpopularity in Abia North Senatorial District and move on. How can a man who failed in his polling unit, ward and local government area to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu be talking the way he did on Channels Television?

“We want to urge our President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vice, Senator Kassim Shettima, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senators-elect, all patriotic sons and daughters of Abia North Senatorial District, Abians and Nigerians in general to remain focused with their eyes on the ball and refuse to be distracted by the attention seeker named Mao Ohuabunwa,” the group said.

Zone Senate Presidency To South East, Group Tells APC

A group which draws its members from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Concerned Nigerians for Sustainable Democracy, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to zone the office of the Senate President to South East.

The group urged the APC, the president-elect and other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that the South East zone gets the Senate president’s office in the 10th Assembly.

At a press conference in Abuja, the convener/coordinator of the group, Dr Amos Gizo, said insecurity will be tackled if the South East gets the office of the Senate president, adding that the people from the region will feel they are carried along.

“At present, as we face the transition, there are negative agitations to truncate the will of the people where Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been voted by the majority votes to lead the nation yet, some other antidemocratic elements are calling for an interim government, military coup and a stoppage of the swearing of a new government on May 29th, 2023.

“We are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to rise against these elements of anti-democracy and ensure that Democracy thrives and a smooth transition to swear in the President-Elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take over in order to minimize the myriad of problems facing the country.

“The South East has two APC governors (Imo and Ebonyi) and one APC governor-elect of Ebonyi. South-South has one APC Governor (Cross-River State) and one Governor Elect in the same Cross River State.

“The South East has produced six APC senators-elect in the 2023 election from five states. South-South has six APC Senators-Elect in 2023 from six states.

“From 1999 till date, South-South has produced Vice-president and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, none from South-East

“The South-South has produced two APC National Chairmen – Chief John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, none from South-East.

“The South South has also produced the National Secretary of APC in the person of Senator John Akpan Udodeghe. South South has produced a Senate Majority Leader in the person of Senator Victor Ndoma Egba. Currently, South-South has the deputy Senate President, HE Ovie Omo-agege. South Senate President from 1999 under Obasanjo and nothing more till date.

“Since then, the South-East has not produced any other top leadership under APC. Presently, there is a need to dilute the Peter Obi Phenomenon in the South-East.

“The need to give the South-East a sense of belonging since 2015 till date. APC need to douse the IPOB/ESN and general insecurity in the South-East. South-East is in the majority in terms of population spread across the federation against the South-South. Our position is to strengthen democracy, reduce political tension, reduce security threats and keep Nigeria one,” the group said.

“We are not mindful of the fact that democracy is a game of numbers but we are equally mindful that Nigeria is a cosmopolitan and a multi-religious state that needs special handling in the spirit of keeping the Nigerian state one.

“This world press conference desires all attention and with all seriousness to avoid an avoidable crisis,” the group added.

APC may zone Senate presidency to S’East

As the race for leadership of the 10th National Assembly gathers momentum, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might zone the Senate presidency to the South East. A source told The Guardian the move is to appease the zone.

Those eyeing the seat include, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso, Jibrin Barau, Sani Musa, Godswill Akpabio and Ali Ndume. Also speculated to be in the list against the ranking standing rule are former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West), outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South) and erstwhile governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North).

It’s unclear which of the lawmakers from the zone would get the nod of President-elect Bola Tinubu and the party in the events leading to the June inauguration of the next Assembly.

Already, there are speculations that Akpabio is already exploring the prospect of settling for a ministerial appointment. He is believed to be angling for either the Petroleum or Niger Delta ministerial seats in place of the coveted Senate presidency.

The source said: “To avoid losing out, Akpabio has since begun reaching out to Bola Tinubu personally and through his allies to return to any of the plum ministries, which appears to be more favourable to the former two- term governor, when compared to the Senate president position.

“His chances are very dim and he knows this. Our party and the President-elect are committed to forming a government of national unity, and quell restiveness in geo-political zones in the country, beginning with the Southeast by giving them the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.”

This comes, as the governing party is said to be considering between the North West and Central for office of the House of Representatives Speaker.

Among the are sitting Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase, Makki Yalleman, Adamu Yusuf Gagdi, Benjamin Kalu, Peter Akpatason, Muktar Aliyu Betara, Sada Soli Jibia, Tunji Olawuyi, Abbas Tajuddeen and Aminu Sani Jaji.

The speculation is coming against the backdrop of the meeting by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and some of the aspirants where the issue as to whether he has a preferred candidate was said to have been discussed.

A close source said: “The Speaker did not call us to ask anybody to step down, as it’s being said. One, there are insinuations and accusation that he is supporting one candidate.

“He called that meeting first to know how we are campaigning as individuals and whether we have problems among us the aspirants, which we said no. We don’t have any problem.

“Then, some of the aspirants raised an issue that Speaker’s boys are using his name for an aspirant, and that the Speaker asked them to campaign for him. And it has begun to create apprehension and tension.

“So, some people raised that observation for Speaker to call the attention of one of his staff that is parading himself that he’s under the instruction of Mr. Speaker to support one candidate. That was sorted out.

“Secondly, Speaker emphasised to us that he is a partyman and being the Speaker, he has never done anti-party. So, he assured us that any day, any time the party zones, he will be supporting the zone that the party zoned to. This is the only thing that happened. So, anybody that tells you anything outside that, is not true.”

10th NASS: Why Sen. Kalu should be next Senate President

The Progressive Youth Group, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the Senate Presidency to the South-East.

To this end, the pressure group had endorsed Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia) who is the Chief Whip of the Senate as the next Senate President.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the group’s Convener, Mr Idris Jibril.

He said: “having thoughtfully considered several factors and the greater good for all, the Progressive Youth Group hereby endorses Kalu as the next Senate President of the 10th Assembly.”

Jibril said that the senate as a critical institution provides a crucible for balance of power within the system of government practiced in Nigeria.

“The President-elect is from South-West, Vice President-elect from North-East, it is our fervent believe that the Senate President should come from the South-East.”

The convener also called on the Council of State to join their voices in this worthy endeavour.

“We believe that their endorsement of Kalu will further strengthen his candidacy and send a strong message of unity to the entire country.

“We urge the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, the President-elect, elected legislators, and stakeholders to put aside their differences and work toward a common good for the country.

“This is not about political affiliation but about the interest of the country and the Nigerian people.”

APC Considering S/East for Senate President, N/West, N/Central for Speakership

This is coming as a strong indication emerged that Senator Godswill Akpabio may have dropped his ambition to run for Senate President.

It has been claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering to zone the Senate President to South-East region for the 10th National Assembly.

Vanguard reported that the party is also planning to zone the Speakership position to North West or North Central.

It is claimed this could be the reason Senator Godswill Akpabio may have dropped his ambition to run for Senate President.

In the alternative, he is said to be pursuing a ministerial appointment in the cabinet of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

It will be recalled that Akpabio, a former Minority Leader of the Senate and immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, resigned his portfolio, following the provision of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act of 2022 to contest the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

But at the convention ground, Akpabio stepped down for Tinubu who later won the party’s ticket and also went ahead to win the keenly contested February 25, 2023, presidential election.

Vanguard gathered from reliable sources within the party hierarchy and the National Assembly, yesterday, that Akpabio’s decision to drop his Senate presidential ambition was informed by the decision of the party to zone the slot to the South East.

While some of the senators in the 9th National Assembly have publicly made known their intention to vie for the office of the Senate president, others are yet to do so.

Some of the contenders for the President of the Senate include former governor of Abia State and current Chief Whip, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Senators Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North); Sani Musa (APC, Niger East); and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South).

But, Kalu has the brightest chance to emerge the next Senate President in June when the principal leaders would be inaugurated, if the sources are anything to go by.

Also speculated to be on the list against the ranking standing rule are the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West); the outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South), and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North).

One of the sources who pleaded anonymity said that barring any last minute eventuality, the party leadership would soon announce the zoning arrangements of all the presiding and principal offices both in the Senate and the House.

Tinubu will be sworn in as president on May 29, 2023, barely two months from now and he is mandated by a new law signed by President Buhari in the constitutional alterations to form his cabinet within 60 days of assumption of office.

10th NASS: Why Orji Kalu is most qualified to be Senate President – Okeke, Anambra APC stalwart

The jostle for the seat of the Senate President in the upcoming 10th National Assembly is taking the centre stage with the Southeast positioned on top of the contest.

Therefore, peaking to newsmen in an interview, the Anambra South Chairman of the APC, Chief Izuchukwu Okeke, tipped the Chief Whip of the State and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, as the best option. Excerpt:

How do you see the performance of APC in the last eight years?

As they say in law, facts are sacred and it cannot be tampered with. The government of APC has done very well in the Southeast given the level of infrastructural development in the entire five states that make up the geo-political zone. Most projects abandoned by the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration came alive and you know that those projects were used as a campaign slogan to woo the voters in that geo-political zone and they were never completed and some remained on paper till the end of the PDP regime. When you look at those roads that were constructed under the then government of the NPN, you will discover that they have become recluses of themselves even under the PDP-led administration. But at the advent of the APC government they all came alive such as the Enugu-Okigwe – Aba- Port Harcourt expressway. Also the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway has been reconstructed and at least 75 per cent of the project. The era of COVID-19, however, affected the project because for almost a year all projects in the country stopped and if not for that the project would have been completed. The country also had another route to interface with other citizens, which I call a handshake across the Niger. Last Christmas season people used the Second Niger Bridge, which has been completed. During the elections the then government of PDP had promised to execute the project and later we heard that the project had no design and was not captured in that year’s budget. When APC came on board, the project was continued and today it is the toast of the Southeast and South-south. We had the Akanu Ibiam Airport which was upgraded to international status and great thanks to the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. There are a whole lot of them, including the Federal Government appointments to the Southeast by the APC government in the country. So, by and large, the Southeast has benefited bountifully.

How about insecurity in the Southeast?
The issue of insecurity is nationwide and not only in the Southeast alone and the APC government have been working hand in gloves with the respective state governors to put it on check. The much it has done made it possible for people to come out and vote in this election, but you know that there cannot be a perfect society even abroad.

How do you see the outcome of the last presidential election in the country?
Here in the Southeast there was calm as people came out to vote even though there were challenges in certain areas, which has to do with the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives. At the moment the matter is now at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal at the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court and it may amount to subjudice to talk more about that election. Meanwhile the Electoral Act made explicit that after INEC has made its declaration, the next stage is the court and whatever grievances anyone may have is at the court and talking more would make it preemptive.

Today, the issue of power rotation has come up given the emergence of Southwest and the Northeast as President and Vice President?

It has always been a reoccurring decimal at every stage of the country’s politics and in the past it is done with recourse to the major geopolitical zones in the country. In 1979 and 1999 we had Shehu Shagari as President from the North and Alex Ekwueme from the South or Southeast and Joseph Wayas from South-south with Edwin Umezoke from Southeast. Then we had in 1999 to 2003 Obasanjo from Southwest, Atiku Abubakar from Northeast, as Vice President with Evans Enwerem as Senate President. In fact, throughout the eight years of Obasanjo government the Southeast had the slot for Senate President and when Yar’Adua and Jonathan came into the saddle the dynamics changed, but the country moved on. Today, we have Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as President-elect with Kashim Shettima as Vice President-elect and it is fair and just to for the Southeast to occupy the post of the Senate President. Last time we had the opportunity of producing the Senate President in the persons of Senators Christ Ngige and Ostia Izunaso, but our people in their nature saw APC as anti-Igbo and didn’t vote for him and Bukola Saraki became Senate President. But today, we have Southeast people in the Senate and the Senator that deserves to be there is the former governor of Abia State and currently the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

\What informed your opinion about your choice of Senate President?

It is glaring that he is a ranking Senator and a principal officer of the current Senate. What more, he has been a pan-Nigerian and has the interest of the Southeast at heart. He is better experienced when compared with other members from our geo-political zone and he has built bridges across the country. His position as Senate President would also go a long way to douse the pockets of misgivings over the emergence of the Southwest and the Northeast as President and Vice President of the country. Other members who may be called ranking senators are not members of APC and their parties do not command the majority in the Senate while those in the APC are not principal officers of the Red Chambers. For the leadership of the party, which includes the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, they are better disposed to have him as the head of the National Assembly and he has been a loyal partyman. When it comes to the internal politics of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu understands the chemistry of the Red Chambers and would ensure that projects meant for the Southeast and South-south geopolitical zones are protected and well captured in the Appropriation Bill of the executive arm of government. Even in the South-south they cannot lay claim to the post of Senate President when the zone had earlier produced the President of Nigeria, which we in the Southeast supported them so it is reciprocal that they back a Southeast Senate President in this coming dispensation.

What do we expect from the coming APC government?

Well, my take is that the government of Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shettima should run an all-inclusive government devoid of ethnicity, religion and party affiliation. Even those who didn’t vote for them are Nigerians and they are subjects to the government and should have equal opportunity as those that voted for them.