Is Europe the New Political Playground for Nigerian Politicians?
Nigerian professionals in international relations have expressed concern about foreign interference in the choice of who becomes Nigeria's president in 2023, following the trend of Nigerian politicians travelling abroad to hold political meetings - with London and Paris destinations of choice.
There are reports of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, meeting former vice president Atiku Abubakar in London to mend the cracks that emerged from the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There are also reports that the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, also met Wike and his entourage in London to form a possible alliance ahead of the elections. Although details of the meeting have not been made public, it is not unrelated to the proposed reconciliation between the two and the resolution of the crisis in the opposition party.
These meetings have drawn the ire of Nigerian experts in diplomacy and international affairs, who denounced the meetings outside Nigeria as "irresponsibility" as they expose the nation more to western interference and manipulation.
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Nigeria:
What Does Obasanjo Want As Wike Drags Tinubu, Atiku, Obi to London?
Premium Times, 28 August 2022
Nyesom Wike and his allies in the PDP held a series of meetings with three presidential candidates in London last week but what's the full picture? Read more »
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Nigeria:
What Next Now That Atiku, Wike Have Met?
Premium Times, 29 August 2022
Governor Nyesim Wike is at the centre of a crisis in the PDP and horsetrading among presidential candidates Read more »
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Nigeria:
London Meetings - Europe New Political Playground As Governors Weigh Fresh Options
Leadership, 26 August 2022
London and Paris have for the past five days become a political arena of presidential candidates and top stakeholders ahead of the much-anticipated 2023 general election. Read more »
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Nigeria:
2023 - Atiku, Wike Finally Meet in London
Premium Times, 26 August 2022
Messrs Atiku and Wike have been feuding since the former picked Governor Ifeany Okowa of Delta State, as his running mate ahead of the Rivers governor. Read more »
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Nigeria:
In Bid to Resolve Their Differences, Atiku, Wike Meet in London
This Day, 25 August 2022
Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, met in London on Thursday in a bid to resolve their differences. Read more »
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Nigeria:
Obasanjo, Wike, Peter Obi, Others Meet in London
Premium Times, 25 August 2022
The meeting was held barely 24 hours after Mr Wike met with the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, in the UK. Read more »
InFocus
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The build-up and politicking ahead of the 2023 general elections are already gathering momentum. One of the topics most debated is the state and fate of the ... Read more »
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Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Tinubu made the announcement on Sunday ... Read more »
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After months of intense horse-trading among various power blocs within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, has been ... Read more »
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Nigeria's main opposition, the People's Democratic Party, has selected former vice president Atiku Abubakar as its standard bearer for the 2023 presidential elections. By ... Read more »
London (file photo).