Iyiola Omisore, immediate-past national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he worked for President Bola Tinubu to become the party’s presidential candidate.

In the build-up to the party’s presidential primary in June 2022, Abdullahi Adamu, former APC national chairman, supported Ahmad Lawan, a former president of the senate.

However, Lawan lost out to Tinubu at the primary election.

Speaking during a programme on Channels Television, Omisore said he outsmarted all those who were trying to have a presidential candidate from their zones.

“In politics, everybody has their mindsets. We came from different (geopolitical) zones to the NWC that time, representing different interests,” Omisore said.

“I was the most senior member of the party in the south-west and my mandate was to deliver the south-west for the presidency.

“Somebody from south-south too, his own mandate was to deliver south for the presidency. I want to assume so.

“So, my own way was to get to my destination which I have gotten to today. The way and manner I did my journey is between me and God.

“I can’t castigate anybody who tried to be smart but if you want to be smart and I outsmarted you, to God be the glory. But the point is that my mission was to deliver the south-west presidency which we are today.”

Omisore said though different people in the national working committee (NWC) had candidates they wanted to become flag bearer, they were still able to present a democratic convention.

“We voted. Everybody had a choice and it was transparent,” he said.

“The moment there is a transparent primary, there won’t be noise; it is only when people feel cheated that they go to court.”

Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, says Peter Obi is “unfit” to lead Nigeria.

Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election and polled third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with Noble Eyisi, a digital creator, Soyinka said he hopes that the former Anambra governor does not vie for the presidency in the 2027 election.

Soyinka alleged that Obi has encouraged the vitriol aimed his way from his supporters — who are called ‘Obidients’.

“I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader, if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers,” Soyinka said.

“I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces.”

The novelist added that dishonest political leaders are encouraging the “divisive actions of the group”.

He said “one of these days, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson”.

“It has to do with education. I didn’t read all these insults from Obidients but of course, some links were sent to me, especially when facts were being manufactured,” Soyinka said.

“I know that there is a relay mechanism, which is triggered into action by those who control what we call the trolls of the internet, and so my disgust and contempt.

“I just went about my business, you know, because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks they can stop me telling the truth as I see it needs to have his or her head examined. It’s as elementary as that.

“But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, that kind of attitude in the youth.

“And my mind went to the expression: ‘They don’t know what they’re doing’. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.

“One of these days, they would be astonished, they would turn on them and teach them a lesson.

“And so, my attitude was very blasé but it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-textured (society) — different religions, different ethnic groups, different worldviews — who actually want to preside over such a group as one.

“It means that they have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such an entity.”

 Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, says he will “keep contesting” for the Nigerian presidency as long as he is hale and hearty. 

Atiku said this during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.

The 77-years-old was the standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election.

The politician will be 81 by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.

“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Abubakar said.

Abubakar has run for the number one office six times but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

Abubakar said he is consoled by the fact that former United States President Abraham Lincoln did not win the presidential vote on the first time of asking.

He also spoke about the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party needs to be united and forge alliances with other political groups to win the presidential election in 2027.

“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning,” he said.

“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required.”

Last week, Abubakar said he was engaging Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, on the possibility of a merger.

“This is to anybody that thinks there is going to be a misunderstanding between me and Obi, let me assure you that not even a small issue is going to happen between us,” Abubakar said.

“Also, we are going to be behind anybody that will be chosen to represent us in the forthcoming elections.

“I have made it clear in my previous speeches that if our parties are going to merge to agree on a candidate from the south-east, as long as he is qualified, we will allow it.”