Very disturbing and disheartening that Justice Helen Ogunwumiju who’s in the Supreme Court Panel handling the Presidential Election Petitions is the mother of Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, who is one of APC's lawyers at the tribunal. She is also the mother of an Ondo State legislator on the platform of APC. This is the Justices can’t be trusted seeing that all of them are partisan and belong to the APC. How do we expect justice to be delivered when all the Appeal court justices and that of supreme courts justices are in bed with the Nigerian politicians and political parties? Nigeria has become a society characterized by the lack of adherence to legal principles and an effective judicial system, making it difficult for citizens to trust their justice system

God's Nation

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Speech!

Worth Reading

Mr. Netanyahu said:
Only 70 years ago! The Jews were taken to slaughter like sheep.
🔵 60 years ago!
🔵 no country. No Army.

Seven Arab countries declared war on the small Jewish state, only a few hours after its creation!
🔵 we were 650,000 Jews against the many millions in the Arab world!

There was no strong IDF(Israel Defense Forces).

No powerful air force to save us but only brave Jewish people with nowhere else to go.
🔵Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia all attacked at the same time.
🔵the country that the United Nations gave us was a 65 % desert.

🔵 35 years ago! We fought the three most Powerful armies in the middle east, and we swept them in six days.

We fought against various coalitions of Arab countries, which had modern armies and many Soviet weapons, and we have always beaten them!

Today we have:

🔵 a State (Country)
🔵 an Army,
🔵 a Powerful Air Force,
🔵 A State-of-the-Art Economy with exports worth billions of dollars.
🔵 Intel - Microsoft - ibm & many high-tech companies develop cutting edge products in Israel
🔵 our doctors receive awards for medical research.
🔵 we make the desert bloom, and sell oranges, flowers and vegetables all over the world.

🔵 Israel has sent its own satellites into space!

🔵 three satellites at the same time!
🔵 We are proud to be at the same rank as:
🔵 The United States, which has 250 million inhabitants,
🔵 Russia, which has 200 million inhabitants,
🔵 China, which has 1.3 billion inhabitants;
🔵 Europeans - France, Great Britain, Germany - with 350 million inhabitants.
🔵 the only countries in the world to send objects into space!

🔵 and say that only 60 years ago,
🔵 we were led, ashamed and hopeless, to slaughter!
🔵 we have experienced the smoking ruins of Europe,
🔵 we have won our wars here in Israel with less than nothing

🔵 we built our little "Empire" from nothing.

Who's Hamas to scare me?
🔴 to terrify me?
🔴 you make me laugh!
🔴 Passover was celebrated;

Let's not forget what Passover is:
🔴 we survived Pharaoh,
🔴 we survived the Greeks,
🔴 we survived the Romans,
🔴 we survived the inquisition in Spain,
🔴 we have the pogroms in Russia,
🔴 we survived Hitler,
🔴 we survived the Germans,
🔴 we survived the Holocaust,
🔴 we survived the armies of seven Arab countries,
🔴 we survived Saddam.
🔴 we will survive the enemies present

Think of any time in human history ⚠

Think about it, for us, the Jewish people,
🔷 the situation has never been better!
🔷 then let's face the world,

Let us remember:
🔶 all nations, empires or cultures
🔶 who once tried to destroy us,
🔶 no longer exist today - while we still live!
🔶 Egypt?
🔶 Babylon?
🔶 the Greeks?
🔶 Alexander of Macedonia?
🔶 The Romans? (does anyone still speak Latin these days? )
🔶 The Third Reich?

And look at us

🔵 The slaves of Egypt,
🔵 The People of Moses
🔵 The Nation of the Bible,
🔵 We are still here,

And Hebrew is still the official language of the State of Israel today:

🚩 from the time of the Bible and now!
🚩 Arabs don't know yet,
🚩 but they will learn that there is a God.
🚩 as long as we keep our identity, we are forever

So forgive us for not worrying,
🔶 not to cry,
🔶 not to be afraid
🔶 things are fine here
🔶 they could certainly get better,

However:
🔴 Don't believe the media,
🔴 they don't tell you alot of good things about Israel
🔴 celebrations continue to take place in Israel,
🔴 people continue to live,
🔴 people keep coming out,
🔴 people continue to see friends

Some claim our morale is low
🔵 so what?

Only because we mourn our deaths while our enemies rejoice in the blood shed & war

🔵 that is why we will win, in the end

The God of Israel created the Heaven's and the Earth
The Guardian of Israel never slumbers or sleep! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Forward this speech to the whole community, 💙 and to people around the world
💜 they are part of our strength

President Bola Tinubu is meeting with a delegation led by the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the meeting, which started at about 3 pm, is also being attended by security chiefs.

Although there has yet to be any briefing on the agenda of the meeting, it is gathered that the delegation would be presenting a document proffering solutions to the farmer-herder crisis.

https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-tinubu-meets-ganduje-security-chiefs-at-the-villa/

I believe in PETER OBI

Very good

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POLITICSSERAP urges NBC to ignore Tinubu, reverse N5m fine against Channels or face lawsuitPublished 5 mins ago on April 1, 2023By Ripples Nigeria
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to reject the petition filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) against Channels TV following its interview with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction Channels Television for allegedly breaching the Nigerian Broadcasting Code during an interview with the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed.

Baba-Ahmed had during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, March 22, claimed that Nigeria had no president-elect given the irregularities and breach of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Constitution of Nigeria in Tinubu’s declaration as the winner of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He alleged that the Certificate of Return issued to Tinubu was a dead certificate as it was against the provisions of Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that anybody that would be declared president-elect must win 25 per cent of votes cast in at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NBC had, however, in a letter obtained on Friday, slammed a fine of N5 million on the broadcasting company for breach of code.

SERAP in a tweet asked NBC to reject the saction request or face legal action.

“The NBC must reject the purported request by APC Presidential Campaign Council to sanction Channels TV over alleged interview of the Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate. We’ll see in court if the NBC ever acts on the request”, SERAP wrote.
https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/serap-urges-nbc-to-ignore-tinubu-reverse-n5m-fine-against-channels-or-face-lawsuit/

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Arteta wins fourth Manager of the Month of 2022/23
Jonathon Rogers
31 Mar 2023
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Mikel Arteta with his Manager of the Month award for March
Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for the fourth time this season, after being awarded March’s award.

The boss once again came out on top of the voting after guiding us to four wins from four during the month, collecting the maximum 12 points from our matches against Everton, Bournemouth, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

That saw him edge out fellow Spaniards Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery, as well as Roberto De Zerbi to see him add to his triumphs in August, November/December and January
It is his fourth win from five nominations this campaign, and takes his overall tally to six during his time in charge of us - moving him to joint-ninth in the all-time standings.

He is now just one behind Jurgen Klopp’s record of five successes during a single season, which occurred during Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning season of 2019/20.

He most return the stolen mandate

The same set of people

Let LP agents follow up the results till the end. GRV is winning this Lagos state

Voters Rights Association of Nigeria (VRAN) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) to recount the ballots cast on the February 25, 2023 presidential election. The group threatened to drag the commission to court, if it fails to recount the votes.

The warning is contained in a letter signed by a human rights lawyer and president of the group, Dr Jezie Ekejiuba and made available to LEADERSHIP in Owerri, yesterday. It called on INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to avoid further legal battles.

The statement reads in part: “Mr. INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, please do not put the electoral agency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in which you are privileged to head in the legal harm’s way by avoiding unnecessary litigations and legal expenses of tax payers in defending suits filed by aggrieved Nigerians whose votes did not count during the last Presidential election on Saturday, February 25, 2023 under your watch.”

He said this warning letter became necessary because of the suspicious manner and method the INEC chairman adopted for the collation and declaration of the presidential election result in which it said Yakubu had turned all the prescribed laws guiding the collation and declaration of result under the Nigerian Electoral Act and Constitution upside down, adding that this can only happen in a banana republic where rule of law is not respected.

He further said, “Let me inform you that based on the polling units results nationwide, Peter Obi of Labour Party won the presidential election with landslide victory but it was rigged by INEC in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC who was illegally declared President-elect.

“So, every accusation of rigging of the said Presidential election result deserves to be heaped at the doorstep of INEC, and not Tinubu or his party, APC.

“It is an inalienable right of every Nigerian voter, including myself, that his or her vote must count in every election on the principle of One Man, One Vote. The corrupt manner and method you adopted to conduct the presidential and National Assembly polls by disenfranchising millions of registered voters and the brazen violation of all known electoral laws, guidelines and constitutional provisions on how to collate and declare results, especially, the Presidential result, is shameful and embarrassing to the citizens of this country at home and in the diaspora. What a shame!”

Ekejiuba stressed that the conduct of the commission has resulted in his vote on February 25 presidential election for Peter Obi of Labour Party not being counted.

He added that the only way his anger can be assuaged is to embark on the total recount of votes cast in the presidential ballot of February 25, so as to ensure that his vote and the votes of millions of other Nigerian voters who elected Peter Obi as Nigeria’s new president were duly counted and made public.

“You are demanded to do so within 14 days of becoming aware of this warning letter. This letter is to enable you to follow the peaceful path as no law requires me to warn you before suing the commission.

“Should the commission fail or neglect to heed the demand of this letter, I shall have no other alternative than to sue you in the Federal High Court of Justice and seek for exemplary and general damages for depriving me of my cherished vote and causing me untold emotional distress, shame, trauma, mental harassment, embarrassment, hypertension and sickness.

“By your illegal action itemized above, it seems that the commission has lost sight of my Enugu Court of Appeal decision in Barr. Jezie Ekejiuba vs INEC & Anor which struck down all the provisions of the Electoral Act under which your commission were carrying out illegalities of deregistration of political parties before you ran from the Supreme Court where you lodged frivolous appeal against me to the National Assembly that helped you to restore the struck down provisions back into the amended 1999 Constitution. NASS may not help your commission in this your current rape of democracy and the Rule of law,” Ekejiuba submitted.
https://leadership.ng/voters-demand-recount-of-february-25-presidential-election-within-14-days/

Emefiele Debunks Fake News, Denies Alleged Plot against Tinubu
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described as fake news a report that he had launched a fresh plot against the president-elect, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Emefiele, in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isa Abdulmumin, titled: “Re- Emefiele launches fresh plot against President-elect Tinubu,” made available to THISDAY, also denied the allegation in the report that he made certain amount of money available to the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

The statement explained: “The attention of the CBN has been drawn to a story published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, March 13, 2023 edition, alleging that the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele has launched a “fresh plot against President-elect”.

“The aforementioned story went further to allege that the Governor has made certain amount of money available to a political aspirant ahead of March 18, 2023 gubernatorial poll.

“We wish to inform members of the public that this story is completely false and malicious as the Governor does not know and has never met or even spoke with Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour either in person or through proxy.

“We wish to reiterate that the CBN Governor does not take part in politics and therefore urge anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong should provide such facts.

“As such the Governor and team at the CBN should be allowed to focus on their assigned job with a view to achieving statutory mandates of the Bank.”

https://www.arise.tv/emefiele-debunks-fake-news-denies-alleged-plot-against-tinubu/

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Tribune Online
APC suspends Northeast national vice chairman over alleged anti-party activities
by Tribune Online February 20, 2023

APC national chairman activities,
The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Mustapha Salihu has been suspended for six months by Rumde Ward Working Committee of the party in Yola North Local Government Area over alleged anti-party activities.

Also suspended was the ward chairman of the party, Abdulkadir Abdullahi.

The suspension of the duo was disclosed in a separate notice on Sunday and signed by the Vice Chairman of APC in Rumde Ward, Abdulhadi Ahmed, the Secretary, Garba Mohammed and 16 other executives.

Meanwhile, the suspension of the two leaders at the ward level was said to have been conveyed to the Acting Chairman of APC in Adamawa State and the chairman of the party in Yola North LGA.

Salihu’s suspension letter reads: “The All Progressives Congress, Rumde Ward Working Committee, Yola North Local Government Area(LGA) held an emergency meeting on Sunday 19” February, 2023 and considered among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the North-East Vice Chairman of the APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu over glaring and proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating crisis within the ranks of the party at all levels which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections.


“Therefore, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution of our great party, the members of the working committee have adopted and approved the suspension of Comrade. Mustapha Salihu for the period of six months with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to others in the future

This committee is very much aware of the responsibilities vested on it by the party and will always ensure the supremacy of the party above any personal interest of any person or group of persons especially when that poses danger to the chances of the party at the polls.

“While appreciating the state Working Committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment.”

However, the Oshiomole-led National Working Committee of the APC in 2018, overruled the suspension of Mustapha Saliu, saying “we state categorically that the purported suspension is a nullity as the North-east zonal office does not have such powers to suspend a national officer.”

In a similar letter, the ward also suspended the Chairman of APC in the ward, Abdulkadir Abdullahi.

The party said: “We the undersigned All Progressives Congress, Rumde Ward Working Committee, Yola North LGA held an emergency meeting on Sunday 19” February, 2023 and reviewed among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the Ward Chairman Abdulkadir Abdullahi over proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating crisis within the ranks of the party at the ward level, which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections.

“While appreciating the state Working Committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment

POLITICS2023 Presidential election: It’s a two-horse race in PlateauPublished on February 19, 2023By Agabus Pwanagba

The current political configuration in Plateau State ahead of the February 25, 2023, presidential election is a sharp departure from what obtained since the return of democratic structures in 1999.

Since 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the presidential elections in the State.

Even though the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took over in 2015, the PDP has come out tops in both the 2015 and 2019 polls, with Atiku Abubakar getting over 80, 000 votes against President Muhammadu Buhari in the last election.

However, the upcoming presidential election presents a different scenario in the State, with the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labour Party candidate.

As widely believed that the next president should come from Southern extraction and should be a Christian, that view is not different among Plateau people.

While the ruling APC is presenting a Muslim Southerner, with a Muslim northerner as running mate, the Plateau people are not at home with such an arrangement, and have vehemently kicked against it, and that has made the Tinubu-Shettima ticket unpopular in the State.

Despite the APC having the Governor of the State, Simon Lalong as the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council, whose acceptance of the position was greeted with anger and despair in the the state, it will be a difficult task for that ticket to be sold to the people who believe that Tinubu should have picked a Christian as running mate.

Even though the party is informing the citizens that voting a Tinubu-Shettima ticket will enhance their chances of retaining the governorship of the state, an average Plateau person is never comfortable with a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

For the PDP’s Atiku-Okowa ticket, the scenario is far from the APC ticket, as citizens believe that outgoing President Buhari is a Muslim (Fulani North). Their question is: why bring another?

However, the Atiku-Okowa ticket is not as unpopular as that of the Tinubu-Shettima, being that Okowa is a Christian and from the south.

The PDP has been seriously canvassing for votes for their candidate, portraying him as an experienced personality and a detribalised Nigerian.

The Party has also urged the citizenry to vote for the Atiku-Okowa ticket, saying that doing so will further brighten the chances of their gubernatorial candidate, and will give the state better opportunities at the federal level.

Feelers within many communities in Plateau North and Central show that the PDP is making last minute inroad to ensure they deliver the Atiku-Okowa ticket.

For the Obi-Datti ticket, many citizens even from both the APC and the PDP have thrown their weight behind that ticket.

The Obi-Datti ticket is widely believed as a true representation of an ordinary Plateau citizen.

The Obi-Datti movement was behind many youths getting registered to ensure it is delivered in the state.

There were over 300 support groups for the Obi-Datti ticket in Plateau State but have now been trimmed to 10.

The Obi-Datti candidature has enjoyed tremendous support with or without financial backing in the state.

On the whole, it is likely a two horse race between the Atiku-Okowa and the Obi-Datti tickets.

No disrespect to the Tinubu-Shettima candidature, but indications show that it will be a difficult task for them in Plateau State.

Please will Buhari campaign with HIM again

When last did you have sex

THIS ONE HOT!!!!!!

I REMOVED CAP for YOUR prediction.

Justice E.P. Amarachukwu has threatened to drag Reno Omokri back to Nigeria if he mentions the name of the Labour Party presidential candidate again in the next 48 hours.

E.P. Amarachukwu stated this a few minutes ago in a recent tweet on his Twitter account. Sharing the post, he claimed to have Reno's Ethiopian receipt and also asked why he stopped remitting the money he made from LEAH SHARIBU businesses.

He wrote:

Reno if your father born you well, mention Peter Obi's name in the next 48hrs, if you don't return to Nigeria in a week, call me a bastard,I have your Ethiopian Reciept and Interpol has it too, by the way why did you stop remitting the money you made from LEAH SHARIBU businesses? Ole

Reno if your father born you well,mention Peter Obi's name in the next 48hrs,if you don't return to Nigeria in a week,call me a bastard,I have your Ethiopian Reciept and Interpol has it too,by the way why did you stop remitting the money you made from LEAH SHARIBU businesses? Ole

— Hon.Justice E.P Amarachukwu. (@Justice_E_P_A) February 10, 2023
By Your Name

Failure number ONE

The Plateau government on Tuesday handed over 32 missionary schools to their original owners, marking the Plateau and forgiveness days.

Governor Simon Lalong, during the handover of the schools in Rwang Pam Stadium Jos, said the action was taken to fulfil his promise and appreciate faith-based organisations for their critical role in developing the state.

The governor also unveiled the new state anthem, logo and other symbols.

“In marking 47 years of our existence as a State, we want to create a solid identity and sense of pride in our upcoming generation so as to ginger them towards patriotic service,” he said.

He urged schools to comply with its directives of reciting the anthem after the national anthem. Mr Lalong added that the forgiveness and reconciliation day was conceived in 2018 as part of efforts to foster harmonious coexistence among different groups in Plateau.

He acknowledged the support of traditional, religious and community leaders in changing the negative narrative of Plateau, which he noted stunted its development.

“Triggers for violence have also been deflated through dialogue, understanding and tolerance,” he said, noting that age-long mutual distrust among ethno-religious groups had reduced through the establishment of the Plateau Peace Building Agency and the lInter-Religious Council.

“Let us always remember that without peace, there will not even be elections or the positions we seek to occupy,” said the governor.

Mr Lalong also unveiled the gazette on the creation of districts and chiefdoms.

(NAN)

“If we get it wrong, nobody can tell what next will happen. In all I am doing, I will always wish Nigeria the best,” Mr Obi stressed.

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA • FEBRUARY 8

Peter Obi, the presidential flag bearer on the platform of the Labour Party, says he wishes Nigeria well but expresses concern about what will happen next to Nigeria if he loses the February 25 presidential election.

A large turnout of voters at the poll would pave the way for Mr Obi’s victory, said a poll conducted by Nigeria’s data intelligence provider, Stears, describing the Labour Party standard-bearer as “Nigeria’s most popular presidential candidate.”

New Nextier, an Africa-focused consulting firm, also predicted that the ex-Anambra governor would win in February.

According to the Labour Party standard-bearer, the presidential poll is an existential election, and he urged everyone to be involved.

“If we get it wrong, nobody can tell what next will happen. In all I am doing, I will always wish Nigeria the best,” Mr Obi stressed. “I know you will, too and in doing that, I urge you to be part of the new Nigeria Datti, and I are fighting for.”

Mr Obi stated this at a public presentation of the book, ‘Peter Obi: Many Voices, One Perspective’ in Abuja.

He thanked the organisers of the book launch for believing in him and for choosing to be part of his efforts to see that a new Nigeria is possible and appealed to Nigerians to support him in turning Nigeria around by voting for him in the February 25 presidential election.

“We are committed to it; as I told all the supporters, we need people. We need all of you to support us, especially in these final days to reach the end of this phase. Nigeria has suffered a lot. This is a great country that can be turned around,” the former Anambra governor explained.

Mr Obi added, “We cannot succeed without your intervention, so as you launch this book, please be part of what we are doing to change Nigeria.”

(NAN)

Uche Igwe
February 7th, 2023
Youth momentum may propel Peter Obi to the Nigerian presidency
0 comments

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The presidential campaign of Peter Obi is gathering momentum. The Labour Party nominee and former governor of Anambra state is popular among young people and dissatisfied elites across the country, writes Uche Igwe, and that may be enough for victory.
Peter Obi’s promises of wide-ranging reforms, especially in the power sector and his commitment to revamping Africa’s biggest ailing economy are resonating with local citizens and Nigeria’s substantial diaspora. In the last presidential elections in 2019, his party was only able to score 5,074 votes nationwide. Rival politicians insist that he lacks the structure to win the election and dismiss him as a mere spoiler.

Yet the Labour Party candidate appears resolute, energetic, and fired up. He is traversing the country and boldly asking voters to elect him based on a cocktail of his character, competence, and compassion. His message of prudence and accountability has energised voters across ethnic and religious divides, and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed Peter Obi in a widely circulated open letter insisting he has what it takes to resolve Nigeria’s problems.

A tricky path to victory
To win the election, a candidate must gain the highest number of total votes, and 25 per cent of the votes in 24 (two-thirds) of the states across the country. Nigeria’s ruling party the All Progressives Congress (APC) currently holds the governorships of 22 out of 36 states.

Nigeria is a complex and diverse country, one where winning elections often involves a vast financial war chest which can be used to lubricate alliances of loyalty and patronage. Although Peter Obi claims to be richer than the President of the United States, he does not have the campaign resources of the other parties.

Ultimately, to win, the candidate in question needs to command more grassroots popularity, and this is where the ruling party is lacking. Their candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu appears unperturbed about this. He deployed extensive resources to emerge as his party’s preferred candidate, during the primary and is said to have sufficient funds to induce the electorate to favour his party in the coming weeks, so says a whistle-blower, which may make Obi’s route to power all the trickier. With deepening poverty, studies have shown that more than 26 per cent of voters may likely sell their votes in exchange for money.

The Obidient movement
What Obi lacks in financial backing, he makes up for in popular support. Obi’s supporters have coalesed into the “Obidient” movement. The movement is made of young, vibrant, media-savvy volunteers, including many Nigerians in the diaspora. The movement is bubbling with enthusiasm for change and is driven by a shared passion. Volunteers contribute their resources to conduct civic education activities and attend campaign rallies. Participants see the platform as one that can be used to amplify their voices which have been excluded in the past.

The determination of these young people is a credible threat to the status quo. However, many politicians still dismiss the movement as hot air that is not sufficiently grounded in the realities of winning power. While Obi remains the symbol of the movement, the energy propelling it seems to come from the collective feeling of frustration at the ongoing decay and bad governance in the country. Obi has promised to introduce solutions that will help fix issues like unemployment, exchange rate volatility, inflation, insecurity as well as perennial fuel shortages plaguing the country.

The Christian ticket
Religion is a very sensitive issue in Nigeria and remains one of the bases for political mobilisation. Christianity and Islam are equitably represented in the country, with a majority of Christians living in the south and Muslims living in the north. In other to achieve inclusion and balance, the two highest positions of the land usually represent both faiths.

In this election, the ruling APC party are running a single-faith ticket. Its leader and presidential candidate Bola Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima are both Muslim. This sparked stiff opposition even within the party. Many Christian leaders voiced disapproval of the decision, and others quietly started mobilising support for the opposition. As the only Christian among the three top contenders for the presidency, Peter Obi may benefit from block votes of Christians nationwide. Going by available statistics, that could be a huge advantage.

Are we heading for a runoff?
With the elections fast approaching, the outlook remains rather hazy and it is difficult to predict a straight victory for any of the top three candidates in the first round of voting. That means that it is likely that no candidate will win the highest number of votes as well as 25 per cent in 24 out of 26 states. The projection is that despite their unpopularity, the ruling party may gather enough votes to give them the required 25 per cent of votes in at least fifteen states. However, it is unclear if they will have the numbers to win the election.

The Labour Party is expected to win massively in the southeast, south-south and north-central regions including Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory totalling at least eighteen states. Obi is expected to have a good outing in Lagos but may not win and will likely encroach into Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Bauchi, Sokoto, southern Kaduna and southern Bornu. With all these, the probability of a spread across the required 24 states for him to be elected in the first round is possible but uncertain.

At this moment in time, it looks like we are heading for a runoff, where the top two candidates will face each other in a fresh campaign. But it is still all to play for the candidates who want to come out on top at the polls on 25 February.