POLITICS
APC Chieftains Want National Chairmanship Slot Retained in South South

Some Chieftains of the ruling-All Progressives Congress(APC) have raised the alarm over alleged plans by a powerful group in the party to zone the National Chairmanship position out of the South South Zone in the forth coming national convention.
The Chieftains who spoke to DAILY ASSET on conditions of anonymity said retaining the slot in the South South “would ensure unity, equity and stability in the party”
Investigations by DAILY ASSET revealed that there were some underground plots to rezone the chairmanship outside the South South.
Until his ouster recently following the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole held the position on behalf of the South South geo-political zone.
As the party prepares for another National Convention, pundits said if the party’s tradition was maintained, another candidate from the South South should take over and complete Oshiomhole’s tenure, which was truncated by the dissolution of National Working Committee.
It was learnt that some influential party leaders like Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi were in favour of the retention of the chairmanship in the South South geo-political zone.
It was however, gathered that based on the political permutations for Buhari’s successor in 2023, some interest groups were pushing vigorously for the rezoning of the chairmanship slot to suit their political interests.
Although, some members of the party said such moves ran against the grain of existing wisdom just as they were capable of creating more crises in the party.
Those familiar with the intrigues told FDAILY ASSET that a prominent leader of the party from the South West who is interested in the 2023 presidential race, was scheming seriously to have the chairmanship slot zoned to the South East to preclude the zone from the presidential race.
A party stakeholder in Abuja, Chief George Ohikere, who spoke in an interview on the matter said “The race for 2023 has started with the current permutations on the chairmanship. The plot to zone the chairmanship to the South East is to thwart the presidential aspiration of the zone and make it dead on arrival”.
Another influential member of the party from the South South, who is also believed to habour presidential ambition, it was learnt, has also activated his lobby machine to push for the chairmanship to go to North Central to pave way for his aspiration.
The various blocs, it was learnt were bringing pressure to bear on the Governor the National Caretaker Committee, led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to move the chairmanship slot outside the South South.
A source told DAILY ASSET that influential members of the party were relying on the pledge by the National Caretaker Chairman to ensure justice at all times and were hopeful that the final decision on the matter will be in the overall interest of the party.
POLITICS
Buhari Felicitates Tinubu at Midterm, Calls for Nigerians’ continue support

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated his successor, President Bola Tinubu, on his midterm, calling for Nigerians’ continue support for his administration’s efforts to address poverty and inflation.
This is contained in a statement issued by Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday.
Buhari also called for steadfast support for the All Progressives Congress-led government as it marks its second year in office, saying reforms would achieve success gradually, not overnight.
He warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to mettlesome domestic politics.
According to him, as the party and the government celebrate, the country should be reminded that leadership is a continuous journey.
Buhari expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the Tinubu-led administration to curb poverty and inflation, which, he said, had hit the poorest families.
Seeking Nigerians’ support for Tinubu-led administration, he said that the task of reducing poverty and inflation mustn’t be left only for the government.
“The private sector and all of us, as citizens, must join in all ways we can,” he said.
The former president urged Nigerians to remain optimistic and stay confident about the country’s future, saying ‘our expectations from our governments should not get heavy’.
While expressing his heartfelt felicitation to Tinubu on his two years in office, Buhari prayed God to keep and grant him the wisdom and care to continue to lead the country. (NAN)

President Tinubu Appoints Ex- Speaker, Enugu Assembly, Odo, as UNN Governing Council Member
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, and Mr. Muhammad Tahir, as governing council members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The appointment comes as part of the President’s renewed efforts to reposition federal tertiary institutions for excellence and global competitiveness.
Odo served as a two time speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2015.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain also served under the previous administration of Muhammad Buhari as a governing board member of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Also appointed were the governing councils members of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
The appointments were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Onanuga said President Tinubu charged the new council members to justify their appointments by ensuring that their respective universities move forward.(NAN)
POLITICS
PDP NEC Gets Under Way in Abuja

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
All is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today at the party’s Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District, Abuja. After a marathon meeting of the various organs of the PDP at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, officials of the party have converged on Legacy House for the long awaited NEC meeting, which had been postponed for several times.
Security in and around the house has been beefed up with the deployment operatives from the Police, DSS and NSCDC. Many prominent members of the party, including its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, were absent from the marathon meeting.The NEC, one of the highest decision-making organs of the PDP, comprises of Party National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), principal officers of the National Assembly, state chairpersons, former governors, and founding members, among others. The NEC meeting is expected to address critical issues affecting the party, including strategies for upcoming political engagements, leading to the 2027 general elections.On Monday, barely 24 hours to the much expected NEC meeting, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) keep to its threat and sealed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Wuse Zone 5 for failure to ground rent, a situation the party described as temporary set back.However, reprieve came to the PDP and others who had their properties sealed as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened and gave them 14 days to pay their ground rent.