By Dan Ladden-Hall

It seems it’s not just Democrats who are hoping that Donald Trump will be dealt a devastating defeat in November.

Several notable Republican figures also want the former president to lose to Kamala Harris but aren’t saying so publicly, according to Politico. Some GOP lawmakers see the possibility of a new Trump term as bad news for the party, the outlet reports.

Among those concerned are proponents of free market economic policies who are concerned by Trump’s proposed import tariffs, while abortion rights opponents are also skeptical of his inconsistent messaging on that issue, according to Politico.

They’re also reportedly concerned that Trump winning in 2024 could hurt the GOP’s electoral chances in the future.

“There’s a lot of anxiety about what Trump does to Republican ability to win in 2028—and what he also may do to the party in terms of policy long term,” one anonymous conservative leader told Politico. “There is just this concern that like, ‘OK, if the party just goes in that direction, then what kind of party is it going forward? And can conservatives, then, have a home going forward?’”

The outlet also claims concerned Republicans hope Trump’s loss is by a wide margin in order to help stifle any attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his hypothetical defeat.

In a separate column, Politico’s columnist Jonathan Martin claimed the best outcome for the future of the Republican Party is for Trump to “lose soundly” in November.

“For most Republicans who’ve not converted to the Church of MAGA, this scenario is barely even provocative,” Martin writes. “In fact, asking around with Republicans last week, the most fervent private debate I came across in the party was how best to accelerate Trump’s exit to the 19th Hole.”

In a statement, Trump spokesperson Brian Hughes told the outlet that Trump has “unified the GOP like never before” and “expanded his coalition of support across partisan lines to Democrats and Independents.”

“Our campaign and down-ballot Republicans are poised for a great result in November, despite a few hand-wringing, anonymous sources who are not bold enough to attach their names to this drivel,” Hughes added.

* Reuters

As part of efforts to bring the seeming intractable crisis that has bedeviled the Party since the 2023 elections, the Labour Party on Wednesday announced the composition of a 29-man caretaker committee to be chaired by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

Similarly, the Immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, was appointed to serve as Secretary to the committee which will midwife an election of a new leadership of the party within the next 90 days.

This development effectively ended the tenure of the party’s erstwhile National Chairman, Julius Abure and members of his executive Committee.

The party reached the resolution at the end of the Party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held at Government House Umuahia, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Abia State, Ukoha Njoku,

He said that the Terms of Reference of the Committee include, ensuring the conduct of Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and National Convention as soon as possible and in accordance with the Constitution of the Labour Party.

READ ALSO: More Moles Will Be Exposed, Fumigated Out — Labour Party

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At the end of the NEC/Extended Stakeholders Meeting held in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital, a roll call was conducted and the meeting was confirmed to be duly convened that a 29-member Caretaker Committee was constituted immediately to ensure that there is no vacuum in the Leadership of the Party.

Other members representing various interest groups including NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election.

The meeting equally commended Governor Alex Otti for his leadership in hosting the meeting and enjoined members of the party to support the Caretaker Committee to achieve its mandates.

The resolution named other members of the Committee to include 3 Senators, 4 members of House of Representatives, 3 members from States House of Assembly, 3 members from the Nigeria Labour Congress, 3 members from the Trade Union Congress, 3 members from the Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election among others.

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The Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, said that the meeting was convened to deal with the existential problems confronting the party and chart a way forward for the Party.

He noted that the tenure of the National working Committee of the Party headed by Bar. Julius Abure had elapsed since 10th of June 2024 and called on all stakeholders of the party to join forces together to resolve every internal problems of the party.

Governor Otti said that the overall interest of all Labour Party Stakeholders is the survival of the party and not necessarily the composition of the NWC as far as it is constitutionally composed.

Also Speaking, the National Leader of the party and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said that all they are doing is to follow the guidelines established by law to save the party from total collapse.

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He noted that Labour Party being the third largest party in Nigeria has the potential of being the brightest if things are put in the right perspective and urged members of the party to give the caretaker Committee the needed support to enable it succeed in its assignments.

Responding on behalf of members of the caretaker Committee, the Chairman, Senator Usman thanked the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders for finding them fit for the task and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.

Highlights of the meeting was the reaffirmation of the solid confidence in the leadership of the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and the resolution that all members with legal case against the party should withdraw same for the overall interest of the party.

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said former President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted President Bola Tinubu to succeed him.

Lamido also said Buhari never trusted his former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to succeed him, adding that the former President wanted ex-Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

Lamido further noted that Tinubu owed his emergence as President to nobody because he was a very daring and self-made man.

Speaking with Tribune, Lamido said: “Prior to the convention, he (Tinubu) was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching. He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted.

“He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor (Yemi) Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. You have done eight years for the North and you wanted another Northerner for another eight years?! No. Maybe later but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today.

“The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice. He was there at the convention and Tinubu that he never liked, he never believed in emerged. Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing.”

Prior to the 2015 presidential election, there were insinuations that Buhari was against Tinubu’s emergence as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Some top officials of Buhari’s administration had come up with the redesign of the naira and caused artificial fuel scarcity in a bid to stop Nigerians from voting for Tinubu.

Aggrieved by the move, Tinubu had during one of his campaigns declared “Emi Lokan,” meaning its my turn.

(Tribune)