From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday officially cleared any doubt regarding his intention to re-contest next year’s presidential election after picking up the All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms, boasting that he will contest and win.
The nomination forms to contest the 2027 presidential election were, however, purchased on his behalf by the House of Representatives member for the Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Faleke claimed that Nigerians and various support groups pooled funds together to raise the N100 million used in purchasing the nomination forms, emphasising that the gesture was made on behalf of the Nigerian people.
The national leadership of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Buka Dalori, and the National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile Idele, among others, presented the forms to Faleke at the Abuja Continental Hotel, the venue for the sale of the forms, at 1.15 pm.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after taking delivery of the forms, Faleke dismissed insinuations that a single individual had purchased the forms, reiterating that the contribution was a collective effort by Nigerians.
“I represent Ikeja Federal constituency. And by the grace of God, I am the representative of Mr. President in the House of Reps. For all support groups who have made efforts, who have contributed money to purchase the form, I have done so on their behalf, on behalf of Nigerians.
“There is no one particular person that has done this. It is on behalf of all Nigerians. Just as we did pre-2023 election, when I was also privileged, with some leaders, to buy the form, here again, I am privileged to buy the form on behalf of all Nigerians, for our performing president. And by the grace of God, 2027 will be a reality. By the grace of God, he will contest and he will win the election,” he said.
Dismissing any threat from the coalition of parties planning to field a united candidate for next year’s presidential election, Faleke added: “First, let me say that political parties can come together as part of democracy. When we do our work, they will do their work.”
He also announced that he had picked the nomination forms for other contestants, including Kadiri Obafemi Hamza for the Lagos State governorship election, the incumbent Senator, Idiat Adebule, and himself for re-election to the House of Representatives.
According to him: “At the same time, I am also privileged, with my friend here, Honorable Ajala, to pick the form for the incoming governor of Lagos, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamza. And let me also say that those of us who contributed money to buy this form are like more than 1,000 in Lagos. It is not just one person. All of us cannot come here and pick the form. Only representatives are sent.
“I am also lucky to be one of those who have been sent to pick the form. At the same time, I picked my own form to come back to the House of Reps. And you can see the form with me. I am lucky. And I also picked the forms for our incumbent senator, Senator Idiat Adebule. This is just to let you know that everything is intact and God is in charge,” he said.
Meanwhile, the venue for the purchase of the nomination forms was chaotic following the failure of the ruling party’s national leadership to decentralise the point of sale, crowding the sales for presidential, National and State Assembly, and governorship aspirants together inside the same hall.
Various security agencies battled tenaciously to keep the surging crowd of aspirants in check, resulting in a near stampede and pickpockets operating freely. While some daring pickpockets were caught and handed over to the security agencies, many stakeholders lost personal belongings at the venue.
