Speaking in a telephone interview last night,Ribadu said: “Originally the party wrote a letter seeking the Ribadu Square for our presidential rally on the 18th January and it was approved by the state government.

“The government went further to commence renovation of the square to enable us use it for the reception of President Muhammadu Buhari and our presidential candidate on the 18th January.

“But with the sudden change in date, we wrote the government that the President would be coming on Monday the 9th. This afternoon (Friday) they granted the request and formal approval was given. The contractor was asked to stop work if the venue will be conducive for us to host the President. We have a formal approval for the new date.”

He, however, said that the campaign organisation of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, said it would prefer a new site it has been working on to host the presidential rally.

The state organising secretary said security agencies have been keeping surveillance on the new venue.

He refused to blame the state government for the change of venue.

He said:”We are set to host President Buhari and our presidential candidate on Monday in Adamawa State at the new venue being prepared by the gubernatorial candidate team.”

Adamawa is ruled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is also the home state of the PDP Presidential candidate,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Buhari to lead Tinubu/Shettima campaign in 10 States – Keyamo

Keyamo,in the updated campaign timetable of the APC said Buhari ,in fulfillment of his promise ,would join the campaign train in a minimum of 10 states.

Keyamo who is also the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity said the President’s move was to ensure the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in next month’s election.

He said: “Recall that the President, out of his very busy schedule, had earlier attended the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Jos on the 15th of November, 2022. This was also after graciously accepting to be the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling party.

“In the latest campaign timetable released yesterday (5th January 2023) the President is billed to join the Campaign Train in at least ten States.

“The states are Adamawa State on the 9th of January; Yobe State on the 10th of January; Sokoto State on the 16th of January; Kwara State on the 17th of January; Ogun State on the 25th of January; Cross Rivers State on the 30th of January; Nassarawa State on the 4th of February; Katsina State on the 6th of February; Imo State on the 14th of February and the Grand Finale in Lagos State on the 18th of February.

“The PCC expresses its profound gratitude to President Buhari, the leader of our great party for his sterling and inspirational leadership at this time and for galvanising our teeming members and supporters across the country.

“We urge our party and supporters to turn out en masse, as usual, in the forthcoming campaign rallies. The zero hours is nigh; our spirits must be high; we must not relent in this collective march to our victory that is divinely ordained.”

The Ondo State government has pledged adequate security at today’s campaign of the APC presidential candidate in Akure,the state capital, ahead of next month’s general election.

The rally is scheduled for the Moshood Kasimawo Abiola Democracy Park .

Chairman, Media and Publicity, Sub- committee, of the presidential campaign council in the state, Kunle Adebayo, urged members of the public, supporters, admirers of our party to troop out to “endorse competence, vision, character, hope and track record as epitomised by Tinubu.”

He added:”As the state witnesses an unprecedented surge of crowd tomorrow (today), we wish to assure the people of Ondo State and our visitors that adequate security measures have been put in place across the state to ensure smooth, peaceful and eventful rally.”

It’s Uyo’s turn on Thursday

On Thursday,January 12,Tinubu and Shettima will take their campaign to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Expected on the campaign train are the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu ;Niger Delta Affairs Minister Umana Okon Umana; former governor of Akwa Ibom State and PCC Vice Chairman South, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Director General of the PCC and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong; Silas Agara;Chairman Progressive Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; APC National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Victor Giadom: other Party Leaders and APC Stakeholders.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign rally, Senator Nelson Efiong and secretary, Hon. Uwem Udoma said in a joint statement in Uyo that the rally would take place at the Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo starting from 10am.

They urged ” all APC candidates, their Campaign Council, supporters and party members across the 31 local government areas in the state to come out en masse to support and show solidarity to the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running-mate, Senator Kashim Shettima who are coming with a message of ‘renewed hope’ to Akwa Ibom State. (The Nation)