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Election: Archbishop cautions Nigerians against voting on basis of religious sentiment

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2023 General Elections
2023 General Elections
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The Archbishop of the African Church Province of Abuja, Peter Ogunmuyiwa, on Wednesday cautioned Nigerians against voting for candidate on the basis of religion in the 2023 general elections.

Ogunmuyiwa made the call at the Interfaith Peace Summit: Tips on 2023 General Elections, with the theme,” Prosecuting Peaceful Elections: Role of Faith Communities,” organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, in conjunction with the NTA Abrahamic Mission, in Abuja.

Ogunmuyiwa said: ” Religion of a candidate should not be the basis for our choices at the forthcoming elections but their antecedents and commitment to the development of the country.

” The effects of bad governance are felt on all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity, poverty has no religion and friend as when we have bad leadership all of us Christians, Muslims and others eill suffer.

” Democracy thrives on diversity and our diversity and our religions should be something that we harness together.

“We therefore need to be wise this time around and make wise choices in the forthcoming elections.

” We need peace in Nigeria. We can’t afford religious crises or civil war any longer which ordinarily is always instigated by the sentiment of religion or tribes.”

On the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the archbishop said any religion’s person could be a President of Nigeria.

” I am not an advocate of Muslim-Muslim ticket but if para venture the ticket wins, it will mean that christians also voted for the ticket. So, it will make a lot for the stability of this country.

” It will means a lot to the ideology of Abrahimic mission and if it comes to be and there is peace in Nigeria, then that will suggest that a Christian supports the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“The forthcoming elections are very interesting and eventually the will of God will prevail.

“But the signal will be that God is interested in Nigeria which ever way the election goes.

Earlier, the Chief Iman of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Faud Adeyemi,said the NTA Abrahamic Mission programme was widely accepted and had a lot of impact in the lives of Nigerians.

” Then we decided to move forward to see what can we do to get it more impactful now that elections are here.

“We want to use that expose to be able to get to the people so that we do the right thing for ourselves during the forthcoming election.

” We all know that we are mostly religious people in this country and that is why we brought Muslim and and the Christian leaders to talk from their religious perspective what should we be doing now that election is by the corner.

” And as people who follow God injuctions what are the things we should do to ensure peaceful elections in the country? Adeyemi asked.

Also, the Iman of the Abuja National Mosque, Dr Kabir Mohammed, urged Muslims and Christians to embrace themselves and continue to live in peace and harmony before, during and after the elections.

Similarly, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, said the agency was doing its best to instill positive attitude in the electorate to ensure peaceful polls.

Represented by Mrs Ebele Okonkwo, Assistant Director, Political and Civic Ethics and Values Department, Abari said the agency was also working to ensure that the election was all-inclusive.

This is by engaging women and the People with Disabilities to ensure that they are represented in the electoral process.

 

 

(NAN)

 

 

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 APC Chair Downplays PDP, LP, ADC Strength

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APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda
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The new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Thursday, downplayed the relevance and strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“There is no opposition for now,” he said dismissively on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme shortly after he emerged as the ruling party’s chairman on Thursday in Abuja which was  monitored by Newsblast.

“Zero fears,” he said of the opposition coalition champion on the ADC platform. The new APC chair also boasted that his party would win the next presidential election.

“Why is it that all the by-elections in the last two years were all won by the APC and in landslide victories, in most cases?” he quipped.

The former humanitarian affairs minister said the APC has no fears about the opposition parties, saying that they’ve all failed in off-season governorship polls post-2023 general elections in Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Imo states. The APC won the four governorship elections.

He said he would invest in legwork to bring more governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties to join the APC.

“My job is to unite the party, (and) to expand the party. We have 23 governors and we are still counting. My job is to bring in more. We would do legwork and bring in more,” he said.

So far in 2025, two governors dumped the PDP for the APC — Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori. At the moment, the APC controls 23 states, the PDP rules 10 states, whilst the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) control one state each.

 

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Tinubu To APC Governors: Nigerians Are Not Happy, Focus On Grassroots

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APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting
APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting
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President Bola Tinubu has charged the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus more on grassroots engagement to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Tinubu made the called at the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The president emphasised the need for increased community engagement and greater responsiveness to citizens’ concerns.

He said: “Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots.

“To you, the governors, you must wet the grass more and deliver progressive change to Nigerians. May God bless our democracy and grant us more fertile lands.

“To those working with me to achieve food sovereignty for our country, we will continue to work hard for you, Nigerians, and to listen to everyone to achieve the national goals.”

Tinubu reiterated the APC’s inclusive posture and affirmed that the party remains open to new members and fresh ideas.

He described the opposition as “a coalition of confusion” and urged progressive-minded Nigerians to join the APC and participate in its developmental agenda.

“Our doors are still open, and we should wholeheartedly embrace those who join us,” Tinubu stated.

Also speaking to the governors, Tinubu urged them to work collectively to leave behind a lasting legacy, including building a party secretariat in Abuja.

Tinubu added: “We should leave a legacy of development. The governors are here – 23 of them – to help identify a land, along with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

“We should establish a committee of progressive governors to identify suitable land and construct the secretariat.”

Tinubu acknowledged economic challenges but affirmed that progress has been made under his administration.

He cited the record N14.9 trillion in revenue collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the first six months of the year, a 43 per cent increase from the amount collected in 2024.

“It is not easy to navigate the stormy waters of economic instability. Now, the economy is stabilised – there is no fear for the country except for continued upward movement and sustained growth. I can assure you,” he stated.

Regarding security, the President noted that significant efforts have been made to restore safety across Nigeria.

“Thousands of terrorists and bandits have been neutralised. You can see that fear is decreasing. However, we must remain vigilant and take the matter seriously. We must invest more in our people, be accommodating, and remain committed to ensuring national security.”

The president welcomed new entrants into the APC, including Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and other key political figures.

The meeting observed a minute silence in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

At the president’s request, the meeting also observed a minute of silence in honour of Aminu Dantata and Oba Sikiru Adetona (the Awujale of Ijebuland), who both passed away recently.

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Nentawe Yilwatda Elected APC National Chairman

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APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda
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The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, has been elected as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

His nomination was put forward by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma, and seconded by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

The motion was adopted through a voice vote by NEC members during their meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

Yilwatda’s emergence comes as the APC works to strengthen its grip on power at the federal level and consolidate its presence in states where recent defections have bolstered its ranks.

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