The Weekend Wrap: 7 political stories you missed (24–25 Oct)
Tinubu flagged off his campaign and blamed opponents for hunger; Atiku hit back; Kano's governor got the APC flag; a comedian was attacked in Benin; INEC's omitted-candidates deadline passed; and Ekiti's SDP candidate defected.
1. Tinubu flags off in Kaduna: at the Ranchers Bees Stadium on Saturday he inaugurated an 81km section of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano road and said of his opponents: “They created the hunger, they created the poverty.”
2. Atiku hits back: his ADC campaign called the claim “either delusion or a staggering case of political amnesia”, adding that “a road cannot be completed with a speech or a ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
3. Kano governor gets the APC flag: Abba Kabir Yusuf, who moved from the NNPP to the APC, received the party's governorship flag on the Kaduna stage and pledged Kano's votes to Tinubu.
4. ‘Fake-news plot’ claim: the APC campaign (Dele Alake) accused Atiku and the ADC of using deepfakes and doctored documents, and called a viral ₦2.3trn rally letter fake. The ADC denied any link and said the APC offered no evidence.
5. Comedian Porkupyne attacked: Osagie Daniel Idedia was attacked in Benin City and is being treated at UBTH, police said. Atiku blamed Governor Okpebholo, Tinubu and the APC; police say they are investigating and have not confirmed a political motive.
6. INEC deadline passes: the window to flag omitted candidates closed on Saturday. The PDP's Isa Pantami (Gombe) and Ladi Adebutu (Ogun), and the NDC's Kano governorship candidate, still don't know if they will be on the 6 February ballot. Daily Trust reports INEC will consider the petitions on Thursday 29 October.
7. Ekiti defection: Isaac Alade, the SDP's candidate in the 20 June governorship election, joined the APC and endorsed Tinubu for a second term.
Sources
- AP via ABC News: Tinubu launches re-election bid
- Leadership: Atiku replies Tinubu
- P.M. News: Yusuf receives APC flag
- P.M. News: APC accuses ADC of plot
- Tribune: Atiku's camp denies link to letter
- ThisDay: Atiku on attack on Porkupyne
- Daily Trust: INEC to decide on omitted candidates
- Naija News: Ekiti SDP candidate joins APC
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