….and he is not a threat to this govt

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has dismissed suggestions that the presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi poses a political threat to the Tinubu administration, insisting that the government is focused on delivering its mandate.

Speaking during an interview on Mic On Podcast on Saturday, Dare said the administration was not afraid of Obi, arguing that the government’s performance and policy initiatives had strengthened its position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This government is not afraid of Peter Obi. He is not a nightmare to our government. Maybe before, Peter Obi was a threat, but right now, he is no threat because we stand on the solid ground of performance,” Dare said.

According to him, the administration has carefully examined the country’s challenges and is implementing policies and programmes aimed at addressing them.

“We have been able to interrogate the problems of this country. Decisions are being taken, policies are being unfolded across the country, and we have a scorecard to show,” he added.

Dare also criticised Obi’s public interventions, describing some of his comments and interviews as lacking clarity.

“Peter Obi is not a nightmare. Maybe you replace nightmare with nuisance because if you see some of his reactions, they are very pedantic. Sometimes you wonder. You listen to some of his interviews, ask him a question, and he goes in a roundabout direction that does not make sense,” he said.

Commenting on the 2027 presidential election, Dare maintained that Obi would not be able to repeat his performance in Lagos, where the Labour Party candidate defeated Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.

“Peter Obi defeated President Tinubu in Lagos in 2023. This is 2027; he can’t defeat Tinubu again in Lagos,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has secured a clean sweep in the Gombe State local government elections, winning all 24 chairmanship positions and the 240 councillorship seats contested across the state.

Chairman of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission, GOSIEC, Abdullahi Garba, announced the outcome after the collation of results, declaring the APC victorious in every local government area and ward.

“From the results received across the state, the APC emerged victorious in all the 24 local government chairmanship elections and won all 240 councillorship seats,” Garba said.

He described the exercise as a landmark election, noting that it was the first to be conducted following the expansion of the state’s local government structure from 11 councils to 24 administrative councils.

Garba explained that the increase became possible after Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya approved the establishment of 13 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to enhance grassroots governance and accelerate development.

According to him, the commission studied similar electoral models adopted in other states, including Lagos, before proposing the expansion, which was subsequently backed by the Gombe State House of Assembly through the necessary legislation.

“The previous election in 2023 was conducted in 11 local government areas. Today, we have 24 administrative councils, while the number of councillorship seats has increased from 114 to 240. This represents a significant milestone in the state’s democratic development,” he said.

Garba disclosed that although several political parties participated in the elections, only a handful presented candidates across the newly created councils.

He said the APC fielded candidates in all 24 local government areas, while the African Action Congress (AAC) contested in three councils. The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) participated in six councils, while the Youth Party (YP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and National Rescue Movement (NRM) each contested in three local government areas.

The GOSIEC chairman commended political parties, election observers, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the elections across the state.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has said the party does not need to engage in violence to win the August 15 governorship election, stressing that violence does not secure electoral victory.

Oyintiloye also described claims linking the party and its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to rising political violence in the state as the handiwork of desperate politicians.

Oyintiloye, former lawmaker made the remark while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo.

He said neither the party nor its candidate has any connection with individuals or groups allegedly using APC’s name to perpetrate violence and create unrest in the state.

According to him, the APC is founded on the timeless Omoluabi ethos, which upholds integrity, discipline, humility, honesty, respect, compassion, justice, accountability and selfless service.”

The APC chieftain condemned the killing of innocent residents for political purposes, describing those responsible as people with “dead conscience.”

He further said, “The APC is a party of peace and has nothing to do with the allegations of violence against it.

“We condemn every form of violence, lawlessness and bloodshed, irrespective of the status of those involved. No political ambition or partisan interest is worth the loss of a human life. We urge those perpetrating these acts to desist.”

Oyintiloye added that, as a progressive party, “the APC remains committed to peaceful coexistence, inclusiveness, tolerance, mutual respect, constructive engagement and people-centred leadership that prioritises the welfare, security and prosperity of citizens.

He maintained that the progressive family has never embraced violence or intimidation as a means of political engagement.

He insisted that the APC has dissociated itself completely from any individual or group hiding under its name to perpetrate violence, create unrest, intimidate citizens or disrupt public peace in any part of the state.

Oyintiloye emphasised that the party believes in the democratic process, the rule of law and the sovereign right of the people to freely choose their leaders through peaceful and credible elections.

He warned that “anyone who seeks to cause mayhem, sponsor violence or use the APC’s name to justify criminal acts is acting in personal interest and should not be identified with the party.”

He said such conduct is “inconsistent with the APC’s long-established culture of moderation, civility and responsible political participation.”

Oyintiloye subsequently called on party members, political actors, security agencies and the general public to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, while allowing relevant authorities to investigate all incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.

He reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to democracy, peace, justice and the protection of lives and property, urging all stakeholders to prioritise the unity, stability and development of Osun State above political considerations.

Sympathising with the families of victims of extrajudicial killings and other acts of violence in the state, he prayed that God grants them the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.