CHAOS IN NDC AS AISHA YESUFU WITHDRAWS FROM SENATORIAL RACE? CITES PRESSURE FROM ABOVE

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:13]the presidential primaries of the national the Nigerian Democratic Congress ADC should be underway as we speak. But today we'll examine recent developments in Nigerian politics starting with the just concluded primaries of major political parties talking about the APC, ADC, the PR, part of the PDP and all of that and the reaction of Nigerians and the hope the exercise put forward for Nigerians.

[00:00:37]Well, good evening and welcome to political lens. I am Chukur. Good to have you join us. Let's bring in our guest. We've been joined in the studio here by Dr. Peter Anosik. Peter is a philosopher, journalist, business consultant and author of Dangote's Ten Commandments of Money. Good evening, Peter and thanks for joining us on political lens. We do appreciate your presence as always.

[00:00:59]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:01:00]>> Now, quickly, let's run into it.

[00:01:05]The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, which adjusted its timetable for the 2027 nationwide primaries due to the airb celebration finally held the exercise today. It is underway as we speak to confirm the sole candidacy of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate and other level primaries. Talking about the governors, the National Assembly, the Senate, House of Representatives, and the House of Assembly. Well, according to reports from the NDC Secretary, only the NDC's National Working Committee is authorized to announce results. Meanwhile, the party's national leader Saraki Dixon, Senator Saraki Dixon, announced that due to time constraints, all expirants who bought expression of interest forms can participate in the primaries, but only successful candidates will proceed to pay for nomination forms afterward.

[00:01:53]Well, he added that those primaries uh will be the last to be conducted manually with future NDC primaries set to adopt electronic voting system. Quite interesting, Dr. Peter. NDC Hers's primaries in Abuja today like I I said as we speak it is under way they are doing collection and all of that. What are your observations and the difference you have noticed from other major party primaries? We have had the APC, we have had the ADC, we have had the PR that upu as a candidate of the APC Aubaka though disputed as a presidential candidate of the ADC. We have Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the P and all of that. So from what you has observed this primaries and that of the NDC do you have you observed any difference or is it just the same thing about everywhere?

[00:02:48]>> Well um for me I was trying to see how NDC and PI primaries was going on but I didn't see anything on the social media.

[00:03:02]What I didn't want to hear is the kind of counting of members understand because we saw what happened there during the APC own in several um um parts of the country. So I had wanted that to see whether such a thing will repeat itself in in NDC but uh but I've not seen any because NDC we are mostly talking about consensus and when there's no consensus then then um then election goes on. So but I don't I've not really seen much.

[00:03:40]>> Okay. So no snippets of them conducting the primaries and all of that. They started arriving at Abuja yesterday. You know, as as a matter of fact, it was supposed to be on the 27th and 28th, but because of the holidays, they had to extend it and said, well, people you use 28th, that is yesterday to arrive and then on 29 the exercise proper will start. Looks like their own primary seems to be different from others. Like everybody's converging in Abuja, you know, for the exercise. Is that what it is? Um for me um um one or they are being sensitive because because uh they don't want to deprive the their members of the of the celebration and 27 20 26 27 we are >> public holidays. Uh so the so they wanted their members to enjoy understand before before a business start. So to me I see it as being sensitive.

[00:04:46]>> Okay. No public holidays were 27 28 >> 28 >> which is day before yesterday and yesterday >> and so today the primaries is underway and so you have not seen snippets of you know votes being counted like 1 2 3 950.

[00:05:02]No, no, no.

[00:05:04]I've not really seen.

[00:05:05]>> Okay. But there's something about the AP NDC primaries that is >> Peter Obi seems to be the as a matter of fact, he's the only person that bought the presidential form.

[00:05:16]>> Does that so candidate?

[00:05:18]>> The sole candidate. So does it confirm the myth? Is it a my or a reality or the speculation that well Peter is not interested in competing at the primary level >> or is it or I'm sorry does it mean that no other person was able or must the courage to go and compete with Peter one you should check your your popularity your your acceptance before going to compete with with uh somebody >> okay >> understand Because as we speak today, P2B is the most popular um politician in the country. Not not not just presidential candidate, okay?

[00:06:03]>> But the most popular politician in the country. So before you go and use your money that to buy form, you have to ask yourself, can I compete with this man who is already accepted in all the geopolitical zones? So you see, you know that it's a waste of money just like um Stanley wasted he said 100 million because he knew that there's no way he can beat Tinubu in APC.

[00:06:38]>> Okay. So people after all they they made their their all their tickets open and even extended the the the deadline for those who are interested to go and buy >> and yet nobody bought the president >> and nobody when you talk about >> parties want as more people let people come and buy because that's one of the ways they raise money for the running of their secretaries.

[00:07:07]>> Okay. Now talking about raising money, we are going to talk about raising money in a bit. But when you talk about the popularity of Peter Obi and the fact that well people might have been afraid to compete with him. On the flip side, people like Bulaji Abulah Dino Malaya have said that well Peter Obi is run away from the ADC because he didn't want to compete with artaka. So where is that popularity coming from? And recall that people also accused him of running away from the PDP in 2023 because he didn't want to confront article Baka at the primaries. That was why he went to the Labor party and picked the presidential ticket. As a matter of fact, people say that Peter is looking for a soft ground to just pick ticket that he's afraid to compete. So if he is that popular, why is he afraid to compete?

[00:07:51]>> Um money means different things to to different people. Pete's money mean different thing to him to most of the people that we call billionaires without enterprise understand which is what most of our politicians are understand billionaires without enterprise so P2B is not that kind of person that will go and buy diggates understand P2B is not that kind of a person that want to go and buy um diggates he want to spend spend his money on charity, building organizations, building institutions. So that's why he is not always um keen on this primary thing um spending in 2023.

[00:08:44]Many people that went for APC primary some came some return with $80,000 some 50,000 because because came and shared his own tunu came and shared his so it was um under so for me >> doctor did you observe the primaries >> in of APC?

[00:09:09]>> Yes. I have people who went and they come and reported to me >> on record.

[00:09:15]>> They reported to you on record.

[00:09:16]>> They came and reported to me what happened at the primaries.

[00:09:19]>> Can you quote them? Are you quoting them now? Can you call their names? Can you mention >> I say I have people who who were there and they told me what happened.

[00:09:27]>> Okay. And you believe them >> when somebody is showing you uh some some return with $50,000 some with 80.

[00:09:39]Understand? primaries >> during the primaries >> during the primaries which um Tunu won >> okay so apparently the primaries or the APC presidential primary dollar >> was dollar rise >> yes >> and so that is a process of emergence practically saying that the person that bought it >> might okay bought it and might not be the most popular candidate >> no is for the highest for the highest bidder >> now how much of that affects the conduct of government business. When the person gets into government, >> well, it becomes like somebody who sto a medical certificate and you now put him in a theater to conduct operation.

[00:10:23]He he's going to kill that patient and that's and that's why our economy, our security, everything is been murdered there in the country.

[00:10:34]This is huge. Now, now talking about the monetization of the primaries and all of that and the electoral process leading up to the emergence of candidates, the NDC exempted aspirants from paying nomination fees saying well only those that bought expression of interest from that is the expiring the primaries. You don't pay us for the nomination fee. It is when you have emerged that the candidates. So apparently if we have three of us you know that want to be senators in our particular senatorial zone and three of us bought expression of interest form we don't pay for the nomination form up until after the primaries. Now the person that won the election, >> he's now the candidate.

[00:11:14]>> The candidate will now pay.

[00:11:16]>> Yes.

[00:11:17]>> That's more like a novel practice.

[00:11:19]>> Yes. For me, um NDC is is is coming up as as an organized and forwardlooking political party. You heard the what said about that their next congresses is going to be through >> electronic >> electronic.

[00:11:40]So it seems it's like the most forwardl looking political party that in the country.

[00:11:48]>> So does that give hope?

[00:11:50]It gives a lot of hope >> especially at the backdrop of your statement that well selling of nomination forms and all of that is one avenue through which political parties raise money because they are no longer funded by government. At some point they were being funded by government.

[00:12:05]>> Used to pay them every year every year quarterly and all of that but it was stopped. So they now use that avenue to raise money.

[00:12:13]>> And so NDC is not doing that. Where would they get their money from?

[00:12:16]>> Well, it is a new party. It is a new party >> and they need structures.

[00:12:20]>> And they need structures which are human beings.

[00:12:24]>> Okay.

[00:12:24]>> Which are human beings. But party officials also need to be paid.

[00:12:30]>> Exactly. Uh so which mean and I feel that right now they have some people in the national assembly who I feel will also be contributing uh um to the running of their secretarates.

[00:12:46]>> Okay. Now still talking about the NDC primaries and the monetization of our politics. We also discovered that their presidential nomination form was pegged at 60 million naira. That's a lot.

[00:12:57]That's huge. How many people you know of good means can afford 60 million naira to buy the farm? Not good means Randy understand that's that's hard working people bringing out that money which you are not even sure you will win understand so that that's why our youth are being scared away from hardworking Nigerians are being scared away from going into into into politics mind you APC is 100 million BDP is 90 million.

[00:13:37]>> ADC >> ADC is 90 million.

[00:13:40]>> Okay.

[00:13:40]>> I think you bought 90 million >> 90 million make you higher today 90 million.

[00:13:44]>> So but then APC is 100 million. So they are even more more more considerate compared um um to the other political parties.

[00:13:57]>> Okay. So in all of these I I go back to that question of offering hope. Does it look like NDC will turn out you know to be the hope that Nigerians are are looking for right from the organization of their primary elections and all of that. We have not heard you know while this person is as a matter of fact they even giving people I understand that Omu you know that left the APC was given a >> was given a waiver for the senatorial election after having been denied that ticket in the APC >> with all these people you know congregating in the NDC now don't what do you see coming >> one it has made them very competitive >> okay >> using um can as an example understand Because in Cano now the deputy governor to Yu is now the NDC governorship candidate. Understand? And the former governorship candidate of APC in 2023 is now their their senatorial candidate for Cano Central.

[00:15:06]And you know that uh APC put a lot of weight in 2023 election even it went into into um second ballot. So when you so when you when you um compare that you know that APC NDC is going to be competitive in Cano and in many other states of the federation.

[00:15:31]>> There was a news that we saw yesterday.

[00:15:34]I saw yesterday I don't know if you came across that news that Lameidu apa you know has decided to join the NDC have you confirmed >> from APC >> from yes papa >> mind you this same guy went to ADC >> okay from Labor party >> from Labor party to ADC so he's chasing people to be um every everywhere >> exactly the point >> well so for me I don't know if they have accepted No, they don't need to accept him. What he needs to do is to go to his word and register.

[00:16:08]>> Will they stop him from registering?

[00:16:10]>> Still, but they can still say we don't want this person.

[00:16:14]>> I've not heard that before.

[00:16:15]>> We can they can still say we don't want this person >> in the party. In the party, >> the party that is looking for members, >> not every member, not every storm they can har if you see somebody who is going to cause um trouble in your organization, you stop him.

[00:16:35]>> Okay. So, do do you think somebody like Lamidia Papa has the capacity to cause problem in the NDC if eventually he gets into that uh party? Well, if he has if he is a member now, they should try everything possible to seny him from the executive.

[00:16:52]>> Okay.

[00:16:52]>> They should try to do everything possible to sen him from the executive.

[00:16:57]So he will not have capacity for anything.

[00:17:00]>> What if he creates a parallel executive himself? I mean and try to get problem.

[00:17:05]>> You must be somewhere before you create a par. You you must have something to tell the media >> and then the media is that well we dissolve they could just get one person from the word executive you know ask him to instigate problem fire the chairman and the secretary and say I am now the chairman and we another person in the secretary and trouble has started and escalated up to the local government level state level and national level do you see that coming >> I don't see that coming >> okay >> I don't see that coming not in NDC >> not in NDC.

[00:17:38]>> Not in NDC.

[00:17:39]>> Okay. So, they have gatekeepers or what?

[00:17:42]What do you think?

[00:17:43]>> No. One, they have known he's a he's a notorious person.

[00:17:48]>> Okay.

[00:17:49]>> I'm sure that everybody that will be on the lookout for him.

[00:17:54]>> Okay. Now, still talking about the NDC, the activist turn politician talking about Asha Isuu has announced that the NDC has decided not to hold direct primaries for the FCT senatorial seat.

[00:18:06]effectively positioning party chieftain Amanda Pal as a consensus candidate.

[00:18:11]Well, the decision follows this was speculation and online rumors suggesting Yufu had lost a primary that ultimately did not take place. Reacting to the development, Aisha withdrew from the race, saying the party's decision ended her 2027 senatorial ambition after defecting from the ADC. She urged supporters to remain calm and focused on 2027 presidential election while pledging to continue engaging residents across the six area councils in pursuit of a better FCT. Now let's interrogate the exit of Aisha Yu from the FCT senatorial race. How do you react to that development? You and I were somewhere the other day and the news made that well Aisha Isu had been depicted or beaten by Pamela Palam and we did some facteing and it turned out that NDC was not even conducting their primary but now officially formerally she has withdrawn >> but we know that that woman that that that news is fake >> okay >> because NDC started their their primaries today >> today. Okay. So it just tell fake news and this woman palm is from is from FCT.

[00:19:24]Understand?

[00:19:25]>> What what do you mean when you say she's from FC? She has lived there for a while or what?

[00:19:29]>> She's from she she she's from she's a native >> a native.

[00:19:37]>> Yes. She's a native. That's number one.

[00:19:40]Number two, she is one of the early people that entered the NDC even before P2 B and and and Aisha, >> okay, >> enter there. So, she has started mobiliz mobizing for the party making the party reant before these people um um joined. Maybe they decided to um compensate her. Okay.

[00:20:08]>> Maybe they decided to to to to to >> now Aisha has apparently become the sacrificial lamb because when you say that pal had been in the NDC >> she's one of the >> I mean NDC is just about 3 months old or that >> but she's one of the and she was there before Pu joined then before before >> now with this development some people are saying that even NDC does not have internal democracy. I mean, if Palm is very popular that she should have gone to the polls with Aisha to test that popularity and if she claims that she's from the M FCT like you have said, people are saying why you have do you have to ask Aisha Isufu who has been an obedient since 2022 to step down because of pal. Why don't you allow two of them to go and test their popularity? People are asking that question.

[00:21:00]Two options are given to every of the parties when there's no concern s okay >> conduct primary >> okay >> understand me so I share you has even accepted that in good faith >> okay >> she's not saying I'm I'm defecting she said let us work for the party which mean she has accepted her fate she's looking towards 2027 and she is conscious of the fact that if NDC wins in 20 2027 she will get something.

[00:21:35]>> Okay, >> understand me?

[00:21:37]>> And so you think that because of this development she might not work against the party >> because of what?

[00:21:44]>> This development I think she's been asked to step down for pal.

[00:21:48]>> Is she angry?

[00:21:49]>> That's what I'm asking.

[00:21:50]>> Is she complaining?

[00:21:51]>> Well, she has not complained but I'm I'm asking you know as an anarchy >> she has accepted her fate.

[00:21:57]>> Okay. She has accepted her fate and told his her supporters to remain um calm and focused on the presidential election.

[00:22:08]>> Okay, >> understand and people care mostly and for the presidency because direction come from the top. Now when you say that she has accepted you know to work for I mean to step down for Pamela Pal and all of that some people are saying well it's just for the optics that Aisha is dissatisfied and might work against Peter Obi in 2027.

[00:22:32]>> The the the issue is she had not complained to anybody at least to the best of my >> knowledge. Okay, >> understand. She had not expressed dissatisfaction. He told his members remain calm and let us focus on 2027 presidential election.

[00:22:55]>> All right, let's leave uh the NDC and and get into the ADC. Let's talk about the ADC because a lot is also happening in the ADC. Now, former vice president Atu Abubaka visited former minister of transportation romi in Abuja amid escalating tensions over the presidential tickets of the African Democratic Congress ADC ahead of the 2027 elections. Article said the meeting involved frank discussions on Nigeria's economic and security challenges as well as informal exchanges including birthday felicitations though has not publicly commented. The visit comes after article was declared winner of the ADC presidential primaries a result rejected by Amichi and another aspirant Muhammad Haydin who alleged manipulation. Hayetin even pulled out you know in the way of the pro during the process. Sources say that Mitch remained non-committal and would consult his supporters before deciding his next steps as party insiders see the meeting as part of broader efforts to prevent further division within the ADC as it positions to challenge President Bolatinu and the ruling APC in 2027. Now Dr. Anik article has cleaned the ADC ticket a record seven times since 2027.

[00:24:08]Will he win this time? Let's talk about article before we >> to um >> that question will be answered by Nigerians.

[00:24:18]>> Okay.

[00:24:19]>> Because power belongs to the people. It is the people that give power. So I cannot sit here and say yes he will win.

[00:24:27]>> Mhm.

[00:24:28]>> Understand? But going by by or the way things stands now he he has a very good chance.

[00:24:38]How when you say the way things stand, how how are things standing?

[00:24:43]>> Why I say he has a very good chance is because um politics is a game of numbers.

[00:24:51]>> Okay.

[00:24:52]>> As we speak it is article is the only northern that has emerged presidential candidates.

[00:25:00]>> Okay. But in the south we are having that's about five people even though some of them are not heavy weights.

[00:25:09]>> Okay. Who are the five people? Talk about the president.

[00:25:13]>> Bonu.

[00:25:14]>> Okay.

[00:25:16]>> Okay.

[00:25:16]>> Don Duke.

[00:25:17]>> Okay.

[00:25:20]>> Share.

[00:25:21]>> Okay.

[00:25:22]>> And um Mind.

[00:25:25]>> Okay.

[00:25:26]>> Understand me?

[00:25:27]>> Okay. You did okay. You didn't mention Janet.

[00:25:29]>> No. No. No.

[00:25:30]>> Okay. So, you didn't mention Sandy Or you know of the PDP.

[00:25:36]>> Has he officially been confirmed as >> he's officially been confirmed as the presidential candidate of the PDP from the wink faction.

[00:25:42]>> And where is she from?

[00:25:44]>> He's from Cross River State.

[00:25:45]>> Okay. Well, >> just like Donald Duke from Cross River State as well.

[00:25:48]>> At least they are if he he or she has children who are of age.

[00:25:55]>> Okay.

[00:25:56]>> They can vote him or her.

[00:25:58]>> They can vote him.

[00:25:58]>> You understand me? So >> okay now let's interrogate this presidential >> politics.

[00:26:03]One vote is important.

[00:26:04]>> One vote is important. Okay. Now I I I threw this same question to a guest on the morning show and he said as a matter of fact that in the south there only two presidential candidates. When I raised the issue of Donuk he said that one is not running >> and he's not running.

[00:26:18]>> Yes.

[00:26:19]>> But it's a presidential candidate.

[00:26:20]>> It's a presidential candidate. He says Donaduk wants to be I also ran. And when I raised the issue of Shore, he said in the last election, Shore scored about 14,000 votes. When I talked about Machinde, he asked me which political party is Mckind. Is it PDP or APM?

[00:26:36]>> PDP, APM.

[00:26:38]>> PDP, APM. And you and I know that there's no political party like that.

[00:26:42]And so effectively his position is that there are only two presidential candidates from the south.

[00:26:47]>> Top political presidential candidate >> from the south >> which is Peter Obi and >> and In the event that it becomes a three-h horse race, >> what do you see coming?

[00:27:00]>> Well, what I see what I see coming is that Tunibu will come third at the end of the day.

[00:27:09]>> How so?

[00:27:11]>> One one like I said Artikun is the only northern candidate.

[00:27:18]>> Okay. And as we speak he's the most influential northern politician after Bhari.

[00:27:27]>> No other no other person is is more influential is more popular in the north than Artu.

[00:27:32]>> Okay.

[00:27:33]>> Funed by Juanasu.

[00:27:34]>> I Yes. I wanted to ask you between Artiku and Pop who do you think is more influential politically?

[00:27:39]>> At Abuaka.

[00:27:40]>> Artu Abuaka.

[00:27:41]>> He has been there for donkey years.

[00:27:44]>> And he's been there for donkey years.

[00:27:45]What has he done >> in 2023? He pulled weight.

[00:27:50]>> Okay.

[00:27:51]>> About 6.9 million, 6.8 million.

[00:27:54]>> Between then and now, between 2023 and now, his governor left him to the APC.

[00:28:01]>> We are not counting on the governors.

[00:28:04]What Pet did not even have a house of assembly member in 2023.

[00:28:10]>> Okay, >> understand. No masses.

[00:28:13]>> It's the masses that votes.

[00:28:15]>> The masses that vote.

[00:28:16]>> So, so, so why I said that Tinubu will come third in 2027 if he becomes a three horse race >> is because Artiku is going to get most of the votes in the north followed by P2B.

[00:28:33]>> Okay. What? Okay. All right.

[00:28:35]>> Understand me? Then then then in the south P2 and the Tunu is going to battle for the votes and PB will get far more votes in the south than Tunu. Mind in 2013 Tunu get only 25% from his own southwest.

[00:28:55]>> Okay, >> understand me. And he failed in the south south in the south south and southeast. P2B is going to um get all the vote in the south southeast and they do compete very very well in the south south.

[00:29:12]>> P2B will get all the votes in the south is with the kind of with with the kind of counting that we saw in a state during the primary elections excuse me when it comes to to to presidency PB was not in the band when those counting will have been done.

[00:29:29]>> Okay. and you cannot do it in a presidential election.

[00:29:32]>> Let's take them regionally. Let's go to the north. Now, what gives you the impression that artaka will outsmart in the north? In 2023 in Cano, the sitting governor was APC Ganduj. Ganduj lost Cano to NP byanso.

[00:29:53]So now the governor of Ko state is APC and a lot of people have moved from the APC to the ADC to the NDC.

[00:30:02]>> So between the APC and the NDC, which one of them do you think will take Cano State?

[00:30:09]>> Oneaso is on the ballot in Cano.

[00:30:12]>> Okay.

[00:30:13]>> So will take Jagua >> which is Jagua. Um >> Jagua was carved out of the old Cano.

[00:30:22]>> Okay. So >> his influence extend >> his influence extend there.

[00:30:26]>> Okay.

[00:30:26]>> So they will do very very well there.

[00:30:29]>> KB >> in these two states understand in these two states is a battle between NDC NDC and and APC.

[00:30:39]>> Okay.

[00:30:40]>> I mean in Jagawa state >> NDC and ADC or APC.

[00:30:44]>> NDC and APC.

[00:30:46]>> APC. Why so? Why APC? one um the the budget or the minister of um budget >> and planning >> and planning is from Jigawa state.

[00:30:59]>> He's from Jigawa >> and he is very very influential right from the Abbacha days.

[00:31:04]>> Okay. So let let's talk about KB state.

[00:31:06]Malami is >> Malami is in ADC.

[00:31:09]>> He's in ADC. So he's going to pull it for artaka. he's going to um do well and also what is going to work for him and is the same party that he is getting from what he's going through now.

[00:31:23]>> Okay. Now, Sooto state >> well um Sooto um >> Tamba there and and he's currently in ADC >> even though he's not contesting for any position.

[00:31:35]>> Okay. Now let's go to the northeast.

[00:31:38]Adamawa apparently for Abubak. Then Boronu the sitting vice president is from Boronu state.

[00:31:43]>> Yes. So for now has not picked his vice presidential candidate.

[00:31:50]>> You think he's not going to choose Shettima.

[00:31:52]>> He he may not choose >> he may not choose >> and if he doesn't um choose >> people will vote another candidate.

[00:32:04]>> Okay. Exactly the point. Now where will be the battleground in the co entire elections?

[00:32:11]Middle belt is the national chairman of the of the APC is from state ent but he he is not um influential.

[00:32:21]>> He's not influential.

[00:32:22]>> Have you heard that name up to when he he he was um made a minister and and appointed?

[00:32:30]>> At least he's there now. He has a position but he has >> Okay. ADC David Menway state >> Benway >> okay >> so the battleground is going to be north central >> north central >> understand and and with what is happening with with the killings north central are not likely going to vote for for >> okay so what will happen in the south south let's river state apparently might go for the president >> um >> because of weaker influence >> um but but fra senior is also there.

[00:33:04]>> Fubarino is also >> and he's going to attract a lot of sympathy.

[00:33:08]>> A lot of sympathy vote.

[00:33:09]>> Okay. Now, Edo state has promised the president 2.5 million votes.

[00:33:14]>> And he got 120,000 during the >> election.

[00:33:18]>> During the primaries? Yes. Primaries.

[00:33:21]So, where would the 2 something come?

[00:33:26]Why didn't they come at the primary? So P2B is going to be very very competitive in Edo state. P2B will be very very competitive in Delta state.

[00:33:41]>> Edo and Delta state.

[00:33:43]>> P2B will be very very competitive in this >> is there in APC.

[00:33:49]>> Yes. In APC.

[00:33:51]>> Okay. The governor is APC as well.

[00:33:53]>> PP2 being one one delta when EA was the vice presidential candidate >> for PDP. for PDP. Understand?

[00:34:02]>> Okay.

[00:34:03]>> Now he's he's not on the band that's for the vice presidency.

[00:34:08]>> Okay.

[00:34:09]>> Understand? And and and a is now in in NDC. Mind you, we we don't know where Ned W is as we speak >> at the moment.

[00:34:20]>> Understand me? But whatever happens, NDC will be very very competitive in Delta >> in Delta State. In any case, all these are permutations. We'll see how all of this pan out in the course of the elections. Let's move on. The Social Democratic Party's presidential candidate Adabayo has alleged that President Bola Ament Tinubu wants to dominate the 2027 elections by being the presidential candidate not only of the APC but also of the PDP, Labor Party and SDP. That's interesting. We live in very interesting times in Nigeria. Well, the claim was made in a statement issued through his spokesperson Alabi Allayande Ado. uh well ado warned that such interference in opposition parties affairs threatens Nigeria's democracy and urged Nigerians to resist what he described as anti-democratic tendencies through the ballot in 2027. He also criticized the grid for power among political leaders despite widespread hardship, reaffirming that the SDP will contest the 2027 presidential election with him as his flag bearer following his emergence at the party's May 9th primaries in Bai is again accusing of interfering in SDP has accused him of interfering ing. As a matter of fact, they yesterday said that there are plots, you know, to the register, the plots are underway to the register the ADC and prevent him from being in the ballot.

[00:35:51]>> But but the but AJ but Fabi has withdrawn that suit.

[00:36:00]>> No, didn't withdraw the suit.

[00:36:02]>> It was withdrawn.

[00:36:03]>> No, it was not withdrawn. Ink only said that there are no grounds for went to court to say to plea that there were no grounds for the registration that's go withdrew that that suit >> but this is article speaking >> after be um join NDC >> article is still kicking article is I saw it I saw where it was warning the judiciary and I neck >> yes >> understand that any attempt will be resisted >> will be resisted so what gives you that what do you why is article coming out in this fashion do you think that he knows something you and I don't know >> when artu has been there for for for a long time understand so he has people talking to to him so and if you in this situation you don't fold your hand knowing who you are up against that is a that's a is a treacherous understand. So, so you have to to keep on shouting, shouting, shouting until the end of the day.

[00:37:12]>> But ADC still has court cases.

[00:37:15]>> Yes. Um but court cases does not mean the listing the the party.

[00:37:21]>> Okay.

[00:37:21]>> The court cases who is the authentic leader of the party.

[00:37:24]>> Exactly the point. So do you think that article might be raising alarm more like early warning because well the court might just say nephew Balah Gome is the national chairman of the ADC throwing everything that the article camp has done into the dust to the dust bin >> well >> could that be one of his fears I know you don't speak for artaka but as an analyst you know conjectures hereations >> but it could be soon the only The best thing is what he's doing now. Keep on shouting. Keep on shouting. But if they do anything of such is going to backfire against the ruling party.

[00:38:06]>> How would that be?

[00:38:07]>> One article I'm talking about his influence in the north.

[00:38:12]>> Okay.

[00:38:12]>> Understand?

[00:38:14]There's going to to be a protest vote against the ruling party.

[00:38:18]>> Okay.

[00:38:19]>> Understand me? Which will favor NDC.

[00:38:23]Understand me? Because once once I think is not there the next person is understand once is not there the next person is one. So they should think through whatever they want to do. But for me democracy is the right to choose between two or more candidates.

[00:38:51]That is what makes democracy. Democracy is about competition, not imposition.

[00:38:58]So every party, every presidential candidate should be allowed to to contest. So if the president is being accused of trying to, you know, create entry barriers, you know, for other political parties to contest in the elections. I mean in the papers today it's everywhere you know renewed hope promises met and all of that. Why is he scared? Why is he afraid?

[00:39:24]>> Well it was met on those papers and not on the street.

[00:39:29]It was met on those papers and not because each of those adverts cost about 10 million naira because they were on the front page of all the national newspapers. Understand? Each of those adverts cost more than 10,ou 10 million naira. And it is on those papers that those renewed hope manifesto was met not on the streets. As we speak, 46 children are still in the forest somewhere in Obamosa.

[00:40:01]46 children. This these children were in the forest and the president and APC was holding their primaries.

[00:40:12]These children were in the forest and these people were holding primaries that they don't even care.

[00:40:21]No empathy at all from these people. Is this what you as a human being want from N Judia? 46 people, children, kids. Your future is in the forest. We don't bother about them. You are holding you. you are presidential primaries.

[00:40:42]So for me it is that they have gotten to their posttop.

[00:40:47]>> Okay. Now uh before we talk about uh other promises that the president uh say they have made through the ministry of information.

[00:40:55]>> Which one? Which one?

[00:40:57]>> We'll talk about that. I I want us to finish with the kidnapped kids in in O state. My by the way there are also kids that were kidnapped about 42 of them in somewhere in Boronu state. 100 kids are in the forest as we speak. School children, >> okay?

[00:41:13]>> 100 46 in about in our with your six teachers, you know, one of them was beheaded. Then the other 50 something in in in in Boranu state >> in Boranu state. Yes.

[00:41:28]>> Government had not even issued a statement about it. Now in the midst of all of this we we saw the government celebrate children's day. Beyond the 100 kids you know that are in captivity we also have over 80 million out of school children. So which children are you celebrating? Is it the children of the rich or is it the children that are in captivity or is it the children that don't even have access to good education and all of that? And so people are saying that apparently that the government should have stopped the celebration. Do you share that sentiment? For me, assuming we have a government that has empathy, they should have known that there's nothing to celebrate.

[00:42:07]Understand? They should have known you cannot be celebrating while 46 children are in the forest with a 2year-old baby.

[00:42:17]2year-old baby and and her mother in the forest.

[00:42:23]Just take an example of in the Bible where a a shepherd had 100 100 sheep.

[00:42:33]One is missing. He kept the 99 begin to look for that one that is missing.

[00:42:40]What does that tell you in Nigerian um um um um context? One is one is missing.

[00:42:48]he kept that 99 to to go in search of that one that is missing. So if you have a government that has empathy, they will have not they will have cancelled that um children's day and cancelled the their primaries. Tunibu would have said no primaries until these children are rescued.

[00:43:12]Understand? That's what Tunu would have said. No prime I I I will not conduct any primary until these children are rescued. Okay.

[00:43:23]>> But to him it doesn't matter.

[00:43:24]>> To him it doesn't matter. Anyway, let's see how because he has he made promises yesterday on the 27 where that hey pupils parents and all of that people of Hondo and Boro state you have not been abandoned. We are working tirelessly to ensure that these children are rescued alive. Let us see how the president will >> let me ask you um this question. So do you think that if those children are eventually rescued that they want to go back to school?

[00:43:54]Do you think that any of them with what they have gone through in in the forest for about 3 weeks now will still want to go back to to school.

[00:44:07]>> Anyway, the government will have a way of trying to reint society and all of that. Let the important thing is for them to rescue >> packs of rice and all of that >> and that solve it.

[00:44:18]>> Well, I would the mental torture that they are going through where they are.

[00:44:25]>> Let's just hope and pray that these kids will be rescued. The president the other day during the Salah festival said that we should pray you know that bandits will not uh will allow Nigeria to move on. I I'm sure you heard the president say that >> his exact word was let us pray so that so that bandits and and terrorists will abandon their evil ways >> their evil ways.

[00:44:47]>> So which mean prayer will now make them to abandon their evil ways. But in 2014 November 4 he was saying that Jonathan should resign.

[00:44:59]Understand? in in in November 4 2014 he was saying that Jonathan should resign.

[00:45:08]So now that is his own time we should now pray >> for bands and terrorists to abandon their evil ways.

[00:45:14]>> Different strokes for different folks.

[00:45:16]Dr. Marik let's talk about women participation in politics because Mrs. Abisari Akinad the Jew a 2027 presidential aspirant of the DA that's the democratic leadership alliance has resigned from the party citing its failure to conduct a free and fair primary in a resation letter addressed to the party's national chairman and obtained by the media she condemned the adoption of a consensus candidate and demanded a refund of her presidential nomination fee aka DJU said she will continue pursuing her presidential ambition on a more credible platform insisting her commitment to the Nigeria agenda remains strong. While a native of Akumba Akoko in Ono State, she warned that a party unable to run fair internal processes cannot credibly promise good governance to Nigerians.

[00:46:05]How do you rate this woman, a female presidential aspirant who has withdrawn from the race because of election irregularities? Well um for me once you have opened the um created an avenue for firms to be sold you cannot now come back and say we are doing consensus understand it is fraudulent.

[00:46:29]So since he has already bought her presidential expression of interest form and you now say you are doing consensus you have to return her money to her.

[00:46:41]Okay.

[00:46:42]>> Because it is fraudent it is fraudent that you are sending forms means that you want competition.

[00:46:51]Let the best emerge.

[00:46:52]>> Okay.

[00:46:53]>> Understand? So now saying after after she had bought from me say you are doing consensus. It is a deception.

[00:47:00]>> So he has every right to ask for his money um um to be to be returned. No.

[00:47:06]>> Are you impressed that this woman you know ventured to get into the presidential race? I mean we have been talking about women participation in politics and all of a sudden she has been church changed.

[00:47:17]>> Well um for me Nigeria Nigeria Nigerians don't really value women >> in politics.

[00:47:28]>> Nigerians don't really value women value women. You heard the what? I'm sorry.

[00:47:34]Don't value women participation in politics or they don't value women at all.

[00:47:38]>> Even not just participating in politics, they don't value women at all.

[00:47:43]>> Really? Tell me more.

[00:47:45]>> Okay. when Bhari went to went to Bending >> and that that was when Aisha talked that's Aisha Bukhari >> talked about um cab hijacking her husband's government they asked her they asked Buhari what did Bhari say that Aisha belong to the other room >> okay >> understand me that Aisha belong which means Aisha shouldn't put out in quality.

[00:48:16]>> Well, I think that's Bhari and it's not representative of the elites of the Nigerian.

[00:48:21]>> So, what happened to to to um >> No, I think it's a sweeping statement if you say that Nigerian elites don't value women. We see Nigerian men who respect value and respect women a lot. Anyway, Dr. Noik, we out of time. Let's move away from that. There's a very interesting topic that I want us to talk about. The federal capital territory minister has warned owners of hotels, event centers and other public facilities in Abuja to host only events organized by political parties leadership recognized by INC. The directive issued through his media aid Leroya is aimed at strengthening security in the nation's capital. where the SC administration cautioned that land allocated in Abuja is strictly for lawful activities, stressing that any facility used by illegal organizations risk having its land title revoked.

[00:49:16]Facility owners were advised to verify the legal status of organizations seeking to use their premises and to keep proper transaction records to avoid sanctions. How do you react to this development?

[00:49:27]>> That is canness on his part.

[00:49:30]That is cannot one Nigerian constitution recognize freedom of association.

[00:49:37]Understand? And the political party is a political organization.

[00:49:42]>> Okay?

[00:49:42]>> And the hotel is a public place.

[00:49:46]>> Mhm.

[00:49:47]>> Understand me? He can say that government will not give their facilities not a private owned businesses.

[00:49:55]Understand? So what he's saying is not anywhere in the constitution.

[00:50:02]There's freedom of association understand and hotel is a is a public place. So which means everybody that is going to to a hotel the hotel there should go and ask DSS understand before we indulge this person is he credible or not.

[00:50:24]>> Okay. So for me it doesn't it doesn't make a >> Okay. So what what we is trying to do is it executive lawlessness or is it trying to protect or is it trying to protect the law?

[00:50:38]>> Is it trying to protect the law or is it >> protect which >> I mean a political party that is not recognized by doesn't that sound like an illegality if you are going to conduct meetings >> this our conition says freedom of association.

[00:50:52]>> Okay. So we don't necessarily need to be registered or recognized by anybody.

[00:50:55]>> Freedom of association is when they begin to do something that is unlawful. That's where they will attract um security. So when people when you and I you and I can just go into that a hotel and have our meeting, understand me?

[00:51:14]>> Okay. without somebody having to fact check our registration status whether we are Nigerians or whether our association is legally registered. So now now which means should be bothering should be seeking permission from neck >> okay >> before before they could accept people in their >> well that's some w for you Dr. I'll take that as a concluding thought and and well this is where we have to end this conversation because we are out of time I must say a very big thank you to you Dr. for Peter Anosik who joined me on political lens in the fast past 50 minutes. Peter is a philosopher, journalist, business consultant and the author of Dangot's ten commandments of money. Thank you Peter and I hope that we can do this some other time.

[00:51:58]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:51:59]>> On behalf of the backroom staff, I am Chuku Makur. Up next is issues with enjoy the rest of your weekend.