NewStats: 3,264,963 , 8,185,224 topics. Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 11:57 PM 5a468

•As President Tinubu hints on desire to win FCT

From Ismail Omipidan, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he observed the two rakaat eid prayer for the first time since he became the country’s President in May 2023, began what looked like a formal re-election bid by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the first time since some of his party faithful and ers began the move towards drafting him to run for a second term, President Tinubu gave a hint of his desire to win the FCT for the APC in the next election.

Historically speaking, from 1999 to date, ruling parties have only lost presidential elections twice, in the FCT. And that is, in 2019 and 2023 and all happened under the APC. Can President Tinubu change the tide?

Speaking when he played host to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, who led a delegation of prominent FCT residents, including the clergy, judicial officers, mandate secretaries, area council chairmen, political office holders, royal fathers, and heads of security agencies, among others, on a traditional Sallah homage to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the Eid-el-Fitr holiday, President Tinubu said “I can see the diversity of men and women here. I must thank the Honourable Minister of FCT. It’s worth it. It is nothing other than a privilege to be the landlord of every one of us in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

“And when we started, he came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the istration, and give opportunities to many of you that would have still been hindered by property rights.


“The independent Civil Service Commission solution and all of that we discussed provide opportunities for upward mobility and promotions that are consistent with the civil service structure, the area councils’ structure, and the indiscriminate development in the face of dwindling resources.

“I the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please, take us out of this problem of the Treasury Single (TSA) so that I can do more work and achieve more.’ Then I said, ‘Okay, tell me what you’re about to do.’

“And he presented it, and I threw in my own political jab: ‘Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?’ I said, ‘I know where you are coming from—your own party (PDP) or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, we settle that, Oga.’

“And things started changing rapidly, and I started looking at the opening up of the rural areas, abandoned projects, and the residence of the Vice President, which had been abandoned for years, coming alive. The health centres are being rehabilitated. The health facilities for the residents of FCT are being upgraded. Our teachers and schools are being rehabilitated, and buildings are being furnished. Thank you, Wike.”

And that was the closest President Tinubu ever came, albeit publicly, as far the 2027 election bid is concerned.

For now, apart from what looked like the President’s interest in 2027, which he subtly revealed by himself on Sunday, there are already strong indications to suggest that President Tinubu is interested in second term. So far, he has shown very strong interest in rebuilding the party. The security situation across the country is changing for the better. His deliberate patronage of party chieftains and faithful across the country, is seen as part of strategies to fortify the party, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Although, Daily Sun’s investigations so far reveal that APC would have to double its efforts, if it wants to retain the presidency, those angling to dislodge it too, would require more than a rebranded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) respectively, to sack Tinubu and his party.

Already, some leaders of the APC have begun campaigning for the re-election of President Tinubu, ahead of 2027, two clear years before the contest, even when the party and the President have yet to formally kicked off the campaign.

Among the top APC leaders and chieftains that have keyed into the re-election bid are: National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the latest being the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. All of them, at different fora have openly canvassed for President Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

For instance, at the APC headquarters in Abuja while addressing groups recently, Ganduje urged politicians from the North planning to run for president in 2027 to wait until 2031, making it clear in an unmistakeable term that President Tinubu should be allowed to complete two , in line with the North/South power sharing arrangement.

Likewise, on a recent national television interview, the SGF, Senator Akume, equalled called on the former Vice President and PDP 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, alongside other northern politicians, who may be eyeing the presidency now, to tarry awhile and wait till after 2027.

Also, speaking in the same vein last Wednesday, during a special Iftar dinner organised by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in Abuja, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, assured President Tinubu that his second term is secure, despite opposition efforts to unseat him in the 2027 election.

“We will come back in 2027, in Jesus’ name, Amen. We will offer prayers for our party, that yes, indeed, victory shall be ours in 2027. Can we say a loud amen! And we will also pray for Mr. President that his second term is assured. Can we shout a loud amen,” he said

Daily Sun’s findings revealed that political leaders in some of the key states in the North, are already marching words with actions by commencing early campaign activities. Some of these states are: Kaduna, Kebbi, and Kwara.

Recently, the party held a major rally in Kebbi State, with the primary objective to promote President Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, ahead of the 2027 elections.

At the rally, held at the Birnin Kebbi Township Stadium, prominent figures in the state and beyond like the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Governor Nasir Idris; House of Representatives member and Tinubu ally, James Abiodun Faleke; and Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, were in attendance.

The Kaduna State’s situation was somewhat dramatic. Apart from the endorsement President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani got from the APC stakeholders who met to a vote of confidence on the President and Governor Sani, praising their leadership and policies, the governor has gone ahead to attract into the APC, critical political juggernauts from the Southern, Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of the state. These political gladiators almost made it impossible for the APC to retain the state in the 2023 governorship poll.

In Southern Kaduna alone, the governor received about 22 political heavyweights and their ers from the opposition parties at the APC zonal rally, held in Kafanchan.

Second term na sure banker for BAT.

AdesegunSanni89:
Second term na sure banker for BAT.

It is sure with heavy rigging

AdesegunSanni89:
Second term na sure banker for BAT.

Sure thing na because he intends to steal it, grab it and finally run away with it.

Aleister:


Sure thing na because he intends to steal it, grab it and finally run away with it.

No cry, no cry, no cry

2027 election should be like a walk in the park for president Tinubu

helinues:
2027 election should be like a walk in the park for president Tinubu

Funny people everywhere

stassyeloka:
It is sure with heavy rigging

It’s statistically impossible to win a presidential election on the premise of rigging—check all presidential elections since 1999; the most popular candidate always wins, unless you’ve or know something that’s not in the public domain. Elections are a popularity contest, not a rigging contest; how do you want to rig if you’re not popular in the first place?