*Anxiety As Osifo, Other Aspirants Fear Being Shut Out
THE member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
The forms were formally presented to Faleke, who is also the Founder of the Tinubu Support Groups, by APC’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The forms, which cost N100million, were paid for on behalf of the President, signalling the official kick-off of Tinubu’s bid for a second term in next year’s presidential election, fixed for Saturday, January 16, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Campaigns for the election begins on August 19.
In the same vein, Faleke, picked the governorship forms on behalf of current Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat.
The N50million forms were also presented to him by Argungu at the same venue, after he had made payment for them.
By INEC timetable, the governorship election campaigns commences on September 9, this year, while the election holds on Saturday, February 6, next year.
Meanwhile, there is mounting anxiety in the party as aspirants for various elective positions complain of their inability to purchase the forms, despite assurances by party leadership.
One of them, Osifo Stanley, a presidential aspirant, declared in Abuja on Monday, April 27, that he had been unable to reach party officials and secure the necessary payment details to enable him obtain the forms after making repeated efforts since last weekend.
He stated: “I made calls between Saturday and yesterday to officials of the party. The account number required to pay for the form is yet to be made available to me as we speak.”
The asirant, however, insisted: “There is no part of our party constitution that says when people endorse the President, he automatically becomes the candidate or remains the only pathway.
“The constitution and INEC regulations empower me to run. I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutional rights.”
Stanley, who recalled that he contested in 2023 and supported Tinubu’s victory, dismissed claims of political sponsorship, saying he has financed his political activities independently.
