‘Not Good Enough’, Chieftain Bank-Anthony Reviews The Lows in The Just Concluded Lagos APC Primaries

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:07]So we did tell you that yesterday the All Progressives Congress concluded its own primaries especially with the nomination of President Bulame Tinubu as its flag bearer presidential flag bearer for the 2027 general elections. Uh but at the state level there have been all manner of primaries conducted for governorship seats for uh state assembly seats for senatorial and legit all legislative seats so to speak uh and they haven't been without their fallout.

[00:00:37]But this morning we're focusing on that of Lagos and Mr. Tundi Bankony joins us now. He is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress. Good morning Mr. Bankant. It's good to see you this morning. Um, how have you been receiving the conclusion of primaries within your party particularly in Lagos state?

[00:00:57]>> Hello, good morning my good morning the lady my first time with you is your vice morning here as well and let me first say a big congratulations to Mr. president for his overwhelming acceptance by the APC party and for his fantastic nomination to run again on behalf of our party. Well, to your question now interesting Legos has been peaceful. One thing I give credit to the members of the party who behave themselves in a way beyond expectation.

[00:01:33]No violence security was good but party could have done better. We see a lot of people stepping down for one another for the party for the sake of the party.

[00:01:43]Anyway, things turn out very well in Lagos. There are one or two misguided understanding regarding ladies representation. I think now we only have one lady in the midst of our reps and which is not good enough. But like you said, like you know about us, we always always make a kind of adjustment to make that happen. But beyond that, we're all good. But the processes should is something we should work on. I would say that to you, we need to improve on this process now. And like we said the last time I was in the studio, you said this direct primaries wouldn't be fair, won't be tidy. And to an extent it wasn't but we managed it.

[00:02:33]But if you want to continue doing this we have to do a lot better much more better than what we had in the last uh few days uh for these direct primaries.

[00:02:45]It is not fair enough to the members of the party to the people who contested right and the party has to come a lot more better with solution to this problem. We have to >> so speak to us about some of the imperfections that you noticed as a party member.

[00:03:06]>> Well, you see something right few weeks ago we had party registration. You understand me? I expect there should be a data in the body sentence. People just don't come and line up without prospecting anything. That is where I called the general secretary instead of attacking Dr. F. I mean these are things he should do. These are things that should be done there. I mean what is doing there? What has cross check?

[00:03:34]People are on the queue. We have our papers in our hand. There's no paper for them to cross check. Anybody could have lied up and say okay we want to vote we IPC members doesn't happen like that we spend so much resources on building a database for party registration we should test that data now that our own internet election that's not good enough to be sincere we don't do all that kind of you know fulfilling or righteousness putting some kind of images out and when we need it more we cannot not use them. So what is the point? Anybody could qu up and say I want to vote. How how do you cross check the people on the queue? How do you cross check that? Do you understand me?

[00:04:21]I mean that part of it was for me not good enough. And that is where the party secretary should put more of his effort. We have a database in the party. Each members register in the world.

[00:04:36]Everybody has a word that they registered.

[00:04:40]Voting we have done by the word. I voted in my word. I key in my word. There are no ballot papers. Nothing. All they do just stand there and they count to you.

[00:04:50]So we need to improve on that for for crying out loud. We need to improve on that. They need to understand that very clearly that what we are trying to do.

[00:04:59]You want to get everybody involved.

[00:05:02]members have registered then let us know how well we are done. We have done our own part and our own bit. Let the party show us all those exercises are not in futility.

[00:05:15]That is my my own take on that. My very honest take on that. Very honest take a very fine take on that. And they cannot wiggle that because I was there and there was no database to cross check anywhere and that is the truth. M one of the things that you know we we saw in the primaries was people holding up these papers. Uh I I imagine that it's some form of identification.

[00:05:40]Why was it important for them to be holding those identifications that they had if there was nothing to cross check them against?

[00:05:49]>> Well, very interesting question you just asked me now. Of course, that was the registration we did when they say party registration is on is on is on course and we should have gotten the the card from the party. But that is a proof of registration. So that is that is a paper that every member took to the to the voting h center to your word to vote. But was that cross check by every means? It wasn't. It wasn't cross check. That is where the party should be more upstanding, right? Should be more upstanding that these are members who are here to vote for candidates, not just anyone just queue up with the nobody even checking the paper. They're just counting. You could see you could see all over the the the the camera. It's full everywhere. It's obvious. You queue up, you roll the white paper up and and that was what happened. you could do better.

[00:06:51]>> But even the counting process, I'm sure that you have seen videos. Now, I don't know whether this happened in Lagos, but you can tell us. You've seen videos where there was counting that certainly wasn't proper. It looked rather fraudulent. Uh where people are jumping numbers and it seemed like manufacturing numbers. Maybe they were counting ghosts. Maybe we just couldn't see them.

[00:07:13]It was possible that they were on the queue, but we weren't seeing them. But to the ordinary eye, what we were seeing in terms of the people that were physically on the ground, they were certainly jumping numbers, you know, manufacturing going from things like 100 to 1,000 more or less or 1,000 to 1,5 and all in in the space of one or two people. uh as a party member, did those kinds of situations come to you and how will a party or how will your party correct instances like that?

[00:07:48]Should they come up as things that people are unhappy about?

[00:07:52]>> Okay. Now, like I said, we party did a registration exercise clearly. So if there's a proof with the party the database is there they will check you understand me and you will go I mean I saw some of those videos on social media to be honest with you but the fact is that it happened in cases where the opponent have about 10 about 10 people behind their their own line and the the the other opponent has a long line. So that shows you an overwhelming victory anyway. So that is just what it is. But it could be it could be done in a more same manner to be sincere but that was a clear picture of overwhelming defeat to the other aspirants. So I I honestly don't tell you is good but to save time and everything you understand me I mean some of those things will happen but where we have a database being cross check that will not happen. that will not happen. So there is a gap that we can't just leave the back door open and thinking because the front door is shut we are okay.

[00:09:08]>> That is my position on that.

[00:09:11]>> Mr. Bank Anthony um let's uh well there is some breaking news from your party right now at the Lagos state chapter of course they've released the names of the candidates who emerge victorious uh in in the House of Representatives and state house of Assembly primaries ahead of the elections. So we're seeing this list that is signed by the APC chairman.

[00:09:31]His name is Cornelius Ojabi and then according to that document 24 candidates secured the party's ticket uh for the House of Representatives and then 40 candidates emerged for the Lagos State House of Assembly and you know I wanted you to speak on one of those uh situations and it has to do with a constituency. We saw that issue coming up uh where they said look I was clearly in the lead. two people who say they were clearly uh in the lead and then they were accusing uh Mr. Abasa of influencing uh the outcome of those elections since he is also going he's actually returned. I'm seeing that he's the one that has been uh returned for the Age federal constituency. So we saw that situation in Lagos and we did hear about things like that in other parts of the country where it does feel like someone who's a member of the All Progressives Congress will be in the lead in the accounting process and then all of a sudden silence and then someone else is announced. What did you make of that situation and how do you think the party could have handled that and on this matter? How what kind of reconciliation is going to happen now that the list has been released? You see to be sincere with you we have two sides to a story is in charge of a APC 100%.

[00:10:48]He's a leader there, you understand me?

[00:10:50]He's very prominent. He has brought a lot of development there like very did and people will say that that is influencing. You see politics is about influence. You understand me? And people who claim they in the lead and and the result got changed. You see the point is that this these primaries were done in the manner that you we it was from different worlds not it was not a central thing >> right if if you let's say now you are in k I mean you are in kubua you are in you are in that is it so you might be living in gustape and people are roasting you in in in k so people don't This does not come from a particular word alone. They result from different words in each local government. So if you're leading in a particular world does not mean you have taken the lead of all the local government words. No, it doesn't happen like that. And don't forget that the the the aspirant cannot be in more than one position. His own word. It's very difficult to make a judgment of people trying to throw the names of who they think is relevant. You could hear people saying that even the president told me to step down. Oh, somebody calaba, somebody in you, everybody talking about the president telling them to to do this. I mean that just standing to be sincere. The decision are not is not perfect and like I said but people accusing people of influencing positions >> results are very secondary matter >> you know just a thought on my part and I've been thinking about this for a few days really uh a lot of the people who who were working for the Timbu administration who resigned as the president asked uh to go and get tickets from their party some of them were not very successful uh case in points the minister of foreign affairs. Uh what's the party how what happens next just so you could give us an idea what happens to these people who were who resigned their positions in the TU administration to get the tickets of their party the APC of which you're a chieftain of and didn't get those tickets what happens next >> excuse me your answers is as good as mine you see in politics the most important respectable position is to to be elected and they to attain that height.

[00:13:26]But you know what? They didn't make it.

[00:13:29]I mean, the president or the governors in their magnity could could give them a second chance by reappointing them or probably they go and start something different or be in politics. Do you understand me? So, it's not it's not about what happened next to them. If they want to go back to government, they might probably seek reress.

[00:13:51]it can happen or you understand me they keep an active political influence building it for the next election that's the bottom line so it was a choice they made on their own don't let anybody tell you the president or the governor tell me to go and resign and I'm to support me no way it was a it was their choice so they should know I mean you cannot take the the you cannot take the benefit and leave the burden despite of I mean if if you were president Mr. Bank Anthony >> Yeah.

[00:14:26]>> what would you do?

[00:14:29]>> No I mean you've left my governor that that I appointed you to serve and work with me but I mean you have not been able to be successful by leaving the government. I mean it's a two it's a two sides of of same coin you know I might if I find it very very important right and probably bring you back but no one is indispensable >> let's let me get your thoughts on on the president's uh emergence as of course it was expected wasn't it was very interesting when we saw that there was someone who was contesting against him it was expected that he was going to be consensus candidate of your party in the coming months there are things that we want to hear about his who his running mate is going to be. Uh and then of course uh what is he going to be promising the Nigerian people this time for many people who have been looking at the elections. Uh they said 2027 2023 was APC versus the Nigerian. Uh but 2027 will be Tinubu versus the Nigerian because what has happened since he came into office is that the quality of life of me millions of Nigerians have been diminished and they blame the president for it. Yes, they can explain. Your party has explained, his government has explained, but as much as you explain, there's nothing in my pocket. So there you're you're basically not making any any moves in my in my view, you know. So for the Nigerian people who are very dissatisfied with the president, what what do you think this election is going to be like? Because if someone is coming up on the ballot and promising that look, I have a better idea, he may have to, you know, deal with that as president. But you know just to so you can speak to the dissatisfaction the Nigerian people have uh with your principle >> like someone said right you know something it's very difficult to to please everybody the government in Nigeria today is in a very difficult situation to be sincere and one of the problem we are having now not only as government as Nigeria the insecurity of these careless killers, these mindless people that making things extremely difficult. See, some people are thinking of there's no money in my pocket. Some people are thinking how sl how safe will I sleep tonight?

[00:16:53]What happened to my children in school?

[00:16:55]You understand me? What happened to me being on the bus? So, you see the point is and everybody talks to the government about it. Fair enough. But the point is that we need to dig deeper for a solution. Right? Politicians all over the world have about promises. Right now in the UK see what is going on here. But to be sincere scammer came into to be prime with an overwhelming majority.

[00:17:19]Everything is almost out of his hand. in Nigeria today if APC as like you said we have reelected as our candidates overwhelmingly there's a lot of expectation on him right within the party then the Nigerian people someone like you I mean I've seen your faces telling regularly I mean you've always you are growing so it's growing so when you talk for the millions of Nigerians definitely are you excluded? Am I excluded? No. But you know something, there's a belief in the system. There's a belief in the country. There's a belief that things will get better and we too are not being laid back from that aspect. But I know my party could do better. And she said last election was against APC is now against Balati. No, it's not against Balatinu. We are still is APC, P, ADC, NDC, what have you. We are still going to speak to Nigerians and seek their h their consent, their support is very important. And let me say something here about what our general secretary said to Dr. Fi in interview with Abilo. I honestly believe he did not watch that interview to the fullest. No way he did not. So I mean that kind of arrogancy is not what we need from a segment of the party. No, no, no, no, no, no. If Bashid said that, I may be disappointed in him. No, no, no, no. Talking about a two-time governor, a former minister, somebody who was key to the struggle, which I was part of. So you tell him to leave our party. I I mean you just make careless statement.

[00:19:13]Stop grand standing. This is not the time to grand stand as a s of our party.

[00:19:18]We need people on board right we need people on board. We need credible people on board. Dr. fire me a credible member of the party and I don't expect you the general secretary to talk about a two-time governor minister a key member of the struggle against the military like that because of the party you need I will tell you I believe you did not listen to that I want you to go back to your billow and listen very carefully the capital does not make justice to that interview at at all that I can tell you when I read your comment if it's true from the general secretary Basher I'm disappointed disappointed if it's pass something against me you have to solidize yourself but not a comment from your office as general secret of the party that's my take on that >> well some people say it's indicative of perhaps what is to follow because apparently it doesn't appear that the party leadership is brooking any criticism and for Kayla's question not to come to pass. uh that opposition that the president could be facing even from within his own party will be dependent on how the fallout of the primaries that have now been conducted are managed because some people will say uh what exactly I was watching the uh the minister of health the coordinating minister of health I in Bulchi and he was saying something to the effect that they intend to visit every dissatisfied aspirant and see how they and bring them into the fold and if they do not win today, you know, they can always win tomorrow, etc., etc. But that will be in places where free and fair primaries were conducted, in the places where people were cheated out of their positions, where the process was not transparent, was not fair. What do you think should happen in the APC's reconciliation process?

[00:21:21]You see to be sincere with you right the issue of cheated cheating and the internal whatever to I don't expect any kind of unnecessary utterances from party chieftain then to party elders so to say I recall me an elder to Bashu in all standard is the truth right and the the internal thing people will feel is going to about some things right between the party within the primaries kind of spoke out of being sincere I mean states I mean had a beautiful primaries the governorship election is is next month he's not talking he's not contesting any election so he's not talking from his own personal experience of what he feels that is not normal about but he spoke about we getting it right and for The minister going around for reconiliation talking to aspirant is beyond aspirant. Asant is just one but the followers you know some people cry more than be ber. So we need to appeal to our members across board. If you feel if you have the conscience that someone feel cheated then you appeal to them across board not to the because the law cannot win an election. It's a it's a cross it's a crossboard scenario that we need to go to different world to talk to people to appeal to them directly and indirectly we should all come together and work together because politics is always local at the end of the day and politician does not want to jump ship just like that it takes a lot for people to leave I know in people say we don't have an ideology but the followers they have strong ideology maybe the leaders don't have It's like a manual support going to man city is I mean that will be difficult extremely difficult the but the players can move from you to man city >> do you see your party going through any litigations ahead of the polls >> well you know what it's not impossible I will not tell you it's not going to happen well I will not say that it's not going to happen it might happen but we will manage it you understand me we have lawyers who will go to court and take those kind of things on and we hope that not probably cause us any kind of serious damage. Nothing is perfect.

[00:23:47]>> Well, fingers crossed as we look ahead to the 2027 elections. But in the meantime, Nigerians are appealing to your party and the government of your party uh to look at the reasons why they were elected in the first instance for the first four years and go back to governance even while they're managing all of this fallout. We have to thank you for joining us, Mr. Tundi Bank Anthony, the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress. Thank you for speaking with us this morning.

[00:24:14]>> Thank you very much. And we not our eyes on the ball. Governory continues. Thank you very much.

[00:24:20]>> All right, let's take a break now. When we come back, we'll still stay with the party primaries, but this time the taking a perspective from the National Democratic Congress in just a moment.

[00:24:30]Please stay with us.