By Jude Opara
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday became the first aspirant to pick his nomination forms for the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, Osifo Stanley and international entrepreneur made good his resolve to purchase the nomination form to challenge President Tinubu at the party primaries slated to hold on May 23.
However, there was a slight delay as Osifo had to wait for about two hours before he was presented with the form by the party officials who had to make series of phone consultations.
Founder of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Hon. James Faleke collected the forms on behalf of the President at exactly 1:20 pm.
Faleke who represents Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and a long standing ally of the president said picking the form means that President Tinubu is ready to continue with his transformation agenda for the country.
He equally picked his own form for the Ikeja Federal Constituency, and also for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos state governorship election, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hazmat, as well as the the Lagos West senatorial seat, Senator Idiat Adebule.
It could be recalled that several groups had since paid the sum of N100m for Tinubu’s form, including a youth group from Kogi state who paid the sum of N200m into the account of the APC.
“My first concern has to do with the President. Before today, there have been too many support groups who have already made payments for the President’s nomination forms.
“So I am here for all the 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, 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 president, 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.
“At the same time, I am also privileged, with my friend here, Honorable Ajala, to pick the form for the incoming governor of Lagos state, 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”.
According to Faleke, despite the fact that many people contributed for the purchase of the form, it’s not possible for all of them to come and pick the document, hence the selection of a few of them.
“And 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.
“So I am lucky, and I am also waiting behind to get the receipt of our incumbent senator, Senator Idiat Adebule, that I will pick the form for her from my West Senatorial district. This is just to let you know that everything is intact and God is in charge”.
When asked to react to meeting of some coalition of political parties who met in Ibadan last week, with the resolve to defeat President Tinubu, the federal lawmaker said the work of the President will speak for him.
“First, let me tell you that political parties can come together, that is part of democracy. When we do our work, they will do their work and the work of the President will definitely speak for him”, he stated.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen after collecting the form, Osifo said he is upbeat of victory, even as he debunked insinuations that he was being sponsored by some people.
He said he has been a foundation member of the APC who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the party not just in Edo state but Nigeria in general.
On why he wants to challenge for the topmost job in the country, the 50 year old business man said despite the fact that President may have done his best for the country.
“I was not sponsored by anybody, nobody can sponsor me, I have always known what I want to do at every point on time. As an old member of the APC, I have contributed to its growth since inception.
“While I can say that the President has done his best, there are huge gaps in the area of power generation and it’s an area I have a special interest. Another area of interest is technology, which is cardinal to the development and growth of any society “.
When asked the type of primary he would prefer, the aspirant said he is ready to abide by any type of primary the party would settle for, adding that as a loyal party man, he is not afraid of any mode of primary.
Indeed , the venue was a beehive as many aspirants and their agents had waited for a long time before the event eventually began with a press conference by the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon. Suleiman Argungu.
Earlier in his remarks, Argungu said the party was ready for the exercise which he promised will be hitch free. He also assured all the aspirants and party faithful that the APC will be open to tender the service without any manipulation.
As at press time, about fifty governorship aspirants and over 120 National Assembly and House of Assembly aspirants have purchased their nomination forms.
