Contrary to expectations, most of the 18 political parties will not start their presidential campaigns today, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, removes the lid on the exercise.
Apart from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which will inaugurate its campaign council today, the remaining 17 parties are yet to tidy up the composition of their presidential campaign teams.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which last weekend announced a 422-man council, yesterday, postponed the kick-off of its campaign earlier slated for today to enable it adjust and expand the council, following complaints from critical stakeholders.l
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ADC begins campaigns October 6
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, said he would begin his “Rescue Mission” campaign on October 6 with a North-Central grand rally in Kogi.
The next day, he will hold a campaign rally in Nasarawa to be followed by other activities in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi between October 7 and November 17.
Thereafter, he will take his campaigns to Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta between November 21 and December 18
SDP holds reconciliation parley in Lago
On its part, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, will hold a parley in Lagos to reconcile aggrieved tendencies in the party. Before the presidential primaries, the party was factionalised leading to the emergence of two presidential candidates – Prince Adewole Adebayo and Senator Ebenezer Ikeyina. However, the INEC published Adebayo’s name as the candidate of the party.
Party leaders told Vanguard that they were taking their time to reconcile aggrieved leaders and members before announcing a campaign council.
Today’s meeting at Ikeja, Lagos is to forge the much-desired reconciliation, a party source said.
Why APC postponed campaign kick-off indefinitely — Lalong
Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and governor of Plateau State, Mr Simon Lalong, said the adjustment of the time-table and schedule of activities is in order to accommodate growing interest shown by various political tendencies in being part of the campaign council.
He said in a statement that a new date for the kick-off would be announced soon.
The statement read: “Recall that we had earlier earmarked a peace walk and prayers for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, to officially kick-off our campaigns for the 2023 presidential election. We had also announced that the members of the Campaign Council report at the Campaign Headquarters on that day to collect their letters of appointment.
“However, due to the expansion of the list to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the APC family, we have decided to adjust the timetable of these activities in order to ensure everyone is on board before activities officially commence. Consequently, the activities earlier announced for the 28th of September will no longer hold.
“As the ruling and most attractive party in Nigeria, we understand the sacrifices and understanding of our teeming members who are more than willing to volunteer themselves for this great task ahead. It also shows the enormous love that the party members have for our candidates
“A new date and timetable of events will be announced soon.”
PDP to inaugurate campaign council today
However, the PDP will inaugurate its campaign council today, and its National Working Committee, NWC has invited all its former presidents, vice presidents, serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and members of its Board of Trustees to the exercise that will be held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The invitation was signed by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Umar Mohammed Bature.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was the last member of the PDP to occupy the office of President. The party’s unbroken 16 years in power ended with his defeat by the APC in 2015. The party had last week released a 520-man list of members of the council.