The 12 Elders

IMO STATE: OUR CONVERSATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE CONTINUE Our conversations and engagement with the people continued yesterday, 31st October 2026, as we journeyed from Yenagoa to Owerri, Imo State, for another edition of our ongoing town hall meeting series. Upon arrival, I began with a visit to one of the markets in Owerri, where I interacted with traders, buyers and other residents. Their stories and experiences offered yet another sobering reminder of how difficult life has become for ordinary Nigerians under the harsh economic policies of this administration. In my remarks at the town hall meeting, I reminded the good people of Imo State that, after more than three years in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not considered it necessary to spend even one night in Imo State, despite spending over 260 days abroad. Meanwhile, his administration has accumulated enormous debts without delivering commensurate improvements in the lives of Nigerians. Our country is now ranked among the hungriest nations in the world, with over 140 million people living in multidimensional poverty. To compound this crisis, Nigeria remains one of the most terrorised countries in the world, while approximately 18 million children are out of school. I reassured the people of Imo State that all hope is not lost. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and I are committed to securing and uniting our country, making massive investments in critical sectors such as health and education, and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Among the leading contenders, we believe we possess the experience, competence, capacity, commitment and readiness required to undertake the difficult but necessary task of turning Nigeria around. During the interactive session, questions were also raised about the protection of our votes. I encouraged our people to come out in their numbers, exercise their democratic rights and, more importantly, remain vigilant and stay with their votes until the final results are declared. I sincerely thank our teeming supporters, party candidates, party members, organisers and, most importantly, the good people of Imo State for their warmth, enthusiasm and overwhelming support. The journey to a new Nigeria is a collective responsibility. Together, we can build a country that works for everyone. A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK! -PO

CIVILITY IS NOT WEAKNESS. ENOUGH OF THE HARASSMENT OF MY SUPPORTERS. RELEASE RILWAN OLAWALE NOW. The continued intimidation and harassment of my supporters across the country, the latest being the case of Rilwan Olawale, is disturbing and unacceptable. President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence. Our campaign is peaceful and issue-driven, focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, accountability, justice, and compassion. We have chosen the path of peace, not violence; persuasion, not intimidation. However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve. We will not be intimidated into silence, nor will we abandon Nigerians who believe in a New Nigeria that is possible and will be OK. I therefore demand transparency regarding Rilwan Olawale’s arrest, his release, respect for his rights, and an end to politically motivated harassment. No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice. We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights. A New Nigeria is POssible and will be OK. -PO