Tinubu rallies APC leaders, candidates for elections

• Published date: 16 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Ex-Lagos governor, governorship, National Assembly standard bearers brainstorm

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday spoke on how the ruling party can win next month's election.

He said candidates for president, governor, National Assembly and Houses of Assembly must imbibe team spirit and subscribe to the strategy of hardwork to sweep the polls.

The former Lagos governor, who held a crucial meeting with the candidates at the Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Abuja, said: 'We must not fail party members who gave us tickets.'

The meeting, which attracted a large number of flagbeares, was attended by Tinubu's running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, the party's National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Others at the meeting were the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa State), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Simon Lalong (Plateau); PCC Deputy Director General (Admin), Hadiza Bala Usman, PCC Deputy Director-General (Operations), Adams Oshiomole, PCC Secretary, James Faleke, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel and former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al'Makura.

Almakura told reporters that the strategic meeting was successful, adding that the candidates displayed a rare enthusiasm which showed that the party was strong enough to achieve huge successes at the polls.

Faleke, who also spoke with reporters after the parley, debunked the rumour of a frosty relationship between some governors and candidates.

Emphasising the significance of the February and March polls, the eminent politician said the candidates cannot afford to disappoint the party that honoured them with the flags.

Tinubu said Nigerians were just recovering from what he described as 'many unproductive years of the former Peoples Democratic Party's government,' adding that they expected a new lease of life from the candidates.

He said: 'I am pleased to meet with you today because in you I see our party's hope and path to success. In you I see the hope of historic national progress as well.

'As so often in life, victory is not a cause for...