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UNTIL the metamorphosis of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month, the latter never saw anything good and reassuring in his almost two years in office. The governor, his former party, PDP, and the APC were at daggers drawn practically over any policy or action the Oborevwori government took.
The APC took joy in pounding him from all corners.
Bombardment
The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, expressed disappointment over what his party described as the deteriorating state of infrastructure, governance, and social welfare in the state in a statement early this year.
The party noted that the state, under Oborevwori’s leadership, had witnessed a dramatic stalling of key projects, failure to deliver on crucial promises, and a general lack of the expected vision for sustainable progress despite receiving a mind-boggling federal allocation.
The statement read in part, “Deltans have been left in despair as their hopes for a better future continue to fade and now look like a distant mirage.
“The Delta APC notes that one of the key areas of concern includes infrastructure decay. “Presently, the state’s roads, especially in rural areas, are in deplorable condition as promises of road reconstruction and maintenance remain unfulfilled, leaving residents to contend with the daily struggle of impassable roads that hinder economic activities and the mobility of citizens.
“Furthermore, the education sector is in crisis as the educational institutions in the state are grappling with outdated facilities and a lack of support.
“The failure of the administration of Governor Oborevwori to invest adequately in schools and teachers is pushing the education sector into further decline, robbing our children of the quality education they rightly deserve.
“The health sector suffers from abject neglect; despite numerous promises to improve healthcare, our hospitals and clinics continue to suffer from inadequate staffing, poor facilities, and a lack of essential drugs and equipment.
“The lives of ordinary Deltans are now at risk, yet the Oborevwori administration has shown little or no interest in prioritizing this fundamental area.
“It is becoming clear to the people of Delta State that grand promises made by Governor Oborevwori during the campaigns are now gone with the wind, as so far, there has been little to show for them.
“From job creation to improving security, the current administration has failed to live up to its commitments, leaving many wondering if there was nothing more than empty rhetoric.
April 30, also said, “We wish to categorically state that with his entry into the APC, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori assumes the position of the leader of the party in Delta State. This position is not subject to debate or contention.”
Referencing the Vice President Kashim Shettima’s remarks at the defection ceremony as affirmation of the governor’s new status, which, it said, was “authoritative, binding and final,” he said, “Delta APC finds it strange, arrogant and reprehensible for any individual to continue to arrogate or to parade himself as the leader of the Party in Delta State in clear opposition to the present reality.
“Anyone who seeks to undermine this position… will face severe sanctions from the party”.
‘It was all propaganda’
Speaking to Sunday Vanguard, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Delta State, Chief Sunday Apah, said the development showed “all that they (APC) were doing was propaganda to score popularity.
Apah went on: “They were aware that the scorecard of Governor Oborevwori is huge; it is something that nobody can contend with.
“You see, since the defection, they have all been singing a new tune, which is that Governor Oborevwori is a good man, he is the best governor. We knew that what they were doing was just propaganda.”
Criticisms made Oborevwori do more –Ahon, CPS
Chief Press Secretary to Oborevwori, Sir Festus Ahon, however, noted, “There is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy in politics. What is permanent is interest.
“Today, we are one in one political family under the platform of the APC, led by His Excellency, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State.
“We are united because we want to build enduring legacies for our people. We want our people to feel the impact of democracy.
”Our decision to align with the government at the centre under the platform of the APC was for the collective interest of our people.
”While they criticized us in the past, we did not take offence. “We saw such criticism as a call for us to look inwards and improve on what we were doing for Deltans.
“We were not dissuaded by the criticisms, rather, we were strengthened by the criticisms because we are determined to govern and bring the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of every Deltan.
”So, today, we are in one political family, devoid of tendencies or faction, and we expect that more dividends will come to our people. We will build enduring legacy projects for our people”.
[Vanguard]
Instead of dissipating energy on how to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, politicians have been told to focus attention on arresting the worsening poverty among Nigerians.
They were also advised to put their energy into containing the security challenges and other problems confronting the country.
These admonitions came from senior lawyers and political scholars who weighed in on the concern about Nigeria becoming a one-party state, noting that as much as it’s not illegal, such a scenario was not feasible.
They argued that the peculiarities and nature of our political class will make a one-party system untenable, adding that the Constitution guarantees freedom of association.
In exclusive interviews with LEADERSHIP Sunday, they, however, expressed concern about the quality of politics in Nigeria, adding that idealism, which ought to drive the political system, is dead.
They blamed the leadership of the National Assembly for condoning the level of defections witnessed at the legislature.
Leaders of opposition parties in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) had accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of causing rifts within their folds in order to make Nigeria a one-party state.
This accusation followed mass defections from opposition parties into the ruling APC, largely on the grounds of internal rifts in their previous platforms.
Some media reports indicate that no fewer than 300 opposition figures had dumped the PDP and other platforms for the APC since 2023.
While most of the political migrations have taken place in the federal and state legislature, the collapse of PDP structures into APC in Delta State, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is the highest profile defection yet.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno is expected to join the APC soon, and speculations of more high-profile defections to the ruling party are rife.
However, the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje’s recent favourable disposition to a one-party state arrangement has earned him some criticism.
President Bola Tinubu, at a recent party event, said one party system was not suitable for a democracy; but in another breath he said more defectors were welcome to the ruling party, arguing that the freedom of association was guaranteed in the constitution.
Nigeria currently runs a multi-party system with 18 registered political parties.
One-Party State Legal But Difficult To Achieve – SANs, Others
Prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dr. Ahmed Raji, has said the possibility of Nigeria becoming a one-party state is not illegal but may be difficult to achieve.
Raji and other lawyers, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday, said freedom of association for every citizen is guaranteed in the Constitution.
According to them, it is highly welcome if a one-party state brings development to the country.
Raji explained that if someone does not find anything attractive at a party, he is free to move to another one.
He said, “The freedom of association is a key fundamental right recognised under the 1999 constitution. If it is the desire of all Nigerians to be in one party in exercise of their right to associate, so be it.
“It is legal, and in cases where there is only one candidate contesting for a position, the constitution has prescribed a required threshold. Therefore, the scenario is legal and within the contemplation of the Constitution. But is it feasible in our circumstances?
“It may be a bit difficult to achieve in a country like ours having regards to her peculiarities and nature of our political class.
“People have the freedom of association. They can move to another party, if they don’t have anything attractive in other parties.
“The 1999 Constitution already anticipated it. Where you have one candidate, there is a number of votes you must get to be declared winner. It is within the right of the people to associate with any political party of their choice.”
Another senior advocate, Abdul Balogun, who agreed with Raji that Nigeria’s becoming a one-party state may be difficult to achieve, said the political elite should focus on addressing the abject poverty in the land.
“We can’t be talking about the country becoming a one-party state because there is no strong and credible opposition in place.
“Nigerians are crying and dying of hunger, the politicians are not bothered because all they care about is the country becoming a one-party state.”
Similarly, another lawyer, Barrister Oghenovo Otemu, said a one-party state is welcome if it brings about development in the country.
While he noted that defections by politicians do not make the country a one-party state, he said, “Nigeria is not practising a one-party state and even if we are practising a one-party state, it’s not a big deal. China is a one-party state.
“There are people who are in APC who are defecting to other parties. There are people who are in PDP who are also defecting to other parties, so the country is not being turned into a one-party state.”
He blamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas and the leaderships of state assemblies for allowing defected lawmakers to remain in the National Assembly.
He said it was the duty of the leadership of federal and state assemblies to declare the seats of defected lawmakers vacant to fast-track the cases against the defectors in court.
“The way the law is couched, when a lawmaker defects, it is the duty of the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, State House of Assembly to declare the seats of such lawmakers vacant.
“Most of the defections are being made to the political party of the presiding officers responsible for declaring the seats vacant.
“If I’m defecting to your side in the National Assembly, for example, I don’t expect you to declare my seat vacant. It will not be politically correct to do so for the presiding officers.”
One-party State Would Require Legislation – Saliu
Meanwhile, the president of the Nigeria Political Scientists Association (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, has allayed the fear of Nigerians about the country drifting into a one-party state.
He said that a one-party state is a legal attainment, noting that there is no law in place yet to say every Nigerian should belong to the APC.
“If you recall in the past, when we had one-party state in Tanzania and all these places, they came through the legal process. And now there is no law before the National Assembly to say everybody must be in APC. But rather, we are seeing a tendency where one party is increasingly becoming dominant,” Saliu added.
Saliu said the politicians were defecting mainly for personal gains.
“The idealism behind politics, which is for development, is no longer fashionable in Nigeria. Every politician you see looks at his pocket. So, and since every business you put your money into, you expect some profits, therefore politicians keep on dancing around in order to satisfy their personal gain. There is no ideology propelling political activity in Nigeria.
Is there any difference between APC and PDP, or any difference between Labour Party and SDP? In terms of ideology, they seem to look alike.
“I was just reading a post where a member was saying that under the Second Republic, people knew what UPN stood for: free education and free health. NPN stood for housing for all and stuff like that. But now we don’t seem to have any of such tendencies. What you see is that a man can become a PDP man in the evening but tomorrow morning he’s in APC. There is no conversion process,” he said.
Nigeria too sophisticated for one-party rule – Pearse
Former lecturer at the University of Lagos and renowned public affairs analyst Dr Adetokunbo Pearse has described Nigeria’s political system as too sophisticated and dynamic for a one-party system.
The political scientist told LEADERSHIP Sunday that, ‘’All the pronouncements and the shenanigans and the tricks being played by President Bola Tinubu is intended to lead to one-party state; that is what he wants. However, the PDP is a formidable political party[L1] ; that it is not equal to APC does not mean the party is not strong.
‘’If you look at the National Assembly spread, the party has about 40 per cent and APC has about 58 per cent. In the House of Reps where APC has about 198 members, PDP has 108 members; unfortunately, Labour party has only 28 members and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has one or two members, that is why people think APC is so dominant.”
He said while APC is a strong political party right now, PDP is a very close second and Labour Party a distant third.
Pearse added that while PDP governors and elected members are joining APC, its members are not.
He cited a recent video where former Delta State governor, Senator Patrick Okowa, was booed by his people for joining the APC.
‘’They told Okowa they were not going with him, and they are going to stay in the PDP, and told him if he wants to join APC he should go alone. Some governors and individuals are going to APC, it does not mean members of the PDP are going into APC, let’s get that straight.”
He further said the coalition will also cause defections into their fold when they evolve into a political party.
‘’We can never have a one-party system; this is a very dynamic country, with a lot of people, a lot of contacts, nationally, internationally, a lot of intelligentsia. 2027 is a different ball game.”
He noted that a one-party system will lead to outright dictatorship and “a monopoly, where you don’t have a voice to voice your opinion.”
‘’In every direction it kills the country, that is why we don’t want it. Don’t forget this is a multi-ethnic, multi religious, multi-cultural nation of people. For us to have one party, it is going to lead to disaster,” he said.
One-party system fear not real – Dr Tavershima
Weighing in on the subject, a lecturer in the department of political science, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Dr Terna Vincent Tavershima, has stated that the fear of one-party rule is not real.
He said it’s a creation of people who are not comfortable with the movement of political stalwarts from their parties to the major parties.
“We practise a multi-party system in this country and the constitution guarantees everybody the freedom of association and freedom of expression. To that extent, people are allowed to pitch tents with political parties that they feel will guarantee their interests at a material time. The fear of a one-party state is not tenable in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, for a one-party rule to manifest, it has to be the only registered party like in China, where only one party was formally registered and recognised by the law of a country.
“What people are doing now is defecting to the APC to secure a second term in office, in the case of the governors, senators and House of Representatives members, who feel threatened that they might not get the ticket of their political parties that are housing them for now.”
Ruling party should brace for challenges – Dr Okeke
A political science lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Dr Christian Okeke, also agreed that a one-party state is not feasible in such a complex and heterogeneous entity as Nigeria.
He, however, said there is nothing extraordinary in the present polity that the country has not passed through before.
“My belief is that the next general election will be shaped ultimately and remarkably by several factors that will give the ruling party some sleepless nights regardless of any mass exodus into it.
“To that extent, the goodwill it seems to be enjoying at the moment is something that it should not rejoice over but reflect upon.”
He nonetheless said the most important factor needed in deciding who wins or loses in 2027 is the electoral commission’s neutrality.
“The National Assembly must step in with stringent laws that criminalise electoral offences and guarantee the desired future for our elections. The commission must be forced to become a credible umpire,” Okeke said.
2027 politics has killed governance – Dr Garuba
Political scientist, Dr Dauda Garuba, considers the mass defections as the beginning of some of the dynamics towards the 2027 general election.
Garuba, who is also the director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, West Africa), however said he was concerned that the politics of 2027 started too early and had relegated governance to the background.
“For me, this is the very earliest time since the return of democracy that people started talking of a second term just after one year. Even as I talk, it’s not up to two years of the present administration. I am worried about it due to the fact that governance is not on the table anymore, let alone the citizens in whose interest governance should work,” he said.
Saraki’s reconciliation team races to halt PDP’s bleeding
Meanwhile, the reconciliation committee led by former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki is racing against time to stop the haemorrhaging of PDP members. This comes as the party prepares for the much anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday.
Saraki team met with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah on Friday.
The Saraki committee was set up at an expanded meeting of PDP governors, their predecessors, and the party leadership to reconcile clashing interests over the national secretary position so that the party’s much-elusive National Executive Committee (NEC) could hold next Tuesday.
The deputy national secretary, Setonji was asked to act as national secretary, pending the resolution of the matter.
The South East zone had threatened to dump the party if its nominee for the contentious national secretary position was not accepted by the party.
The threat followed insinuations that the Saraki committee had backed the return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP national secretary, while he was rejected by the PDP leaders in the South East.
Last week, the PDP South East caucus resubmitted Hon Sunday Ude-Okoye’s name for the position, which was zoned to the region.
It was learnt that Saraki’s visit to Governor Mbah was to assuage the concern of South East leaders that the committee had already taken a position which favours Anyanwu’s return.
However, a party source confided in LEADERSHIP Sunday that the intervention of Saraki’s team “might be instrumental to the holding of NEC but not ultimately resolving the large crisis of confidence within the party which revolves around zoning, the next leadership of party, and the expulsion of anti-party elements within its fold.”
Meanwhile, Anyanwu, who enjoys the backing of a bloc loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has insisted he remains the PDP national secretary.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that some of his supporters are gearing up to storm the NEC meeting venue, Wadata Plaza, to protest for Anyanwu to be recognised as national secretary.
I’m Not APC Proxy – Damagum
Meanwhile, the acting national chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, has dismissed allegations that he is an APC stooge.
Earlier in the year, critics alleged that Damagum secretly met with President Tinubu in London, framing a spin that he failed to address the internal crisis within PDP, which led to its weakened state as a leading opposition ahead of 2027.
But in an interview with BBC Hausa Service aired on Saturday and monitored by our correspondent in Bauchi, Damagum said, “I will never forgive those accusing me of working for APC. I never held a meeting with President Tinubu.”
He emphasised his unflinching loyalty and commitment to the PDP.
“I joined PDP in 1999. I have never defected to any political party since then. If I want to join the APC, I would have done that during Buhari’s tenure but I didn’t,” he insisted.
Commenting on the allegation that his close cordial relationship with FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, reflects his incompetence to lead the party, Damagum said, “They know and have interacted with Wike before I do.”
“My only crime is that I refused to allow his opponents within the party to antagonise him.”
The acting national chairman expressed concern over the rate of defection from the PDP, insisting that the party leadership is working to mend the divisions within its ranks and halt more members from dumping the party.
[Leadership]
Three years after the deadly assault on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, bandits have issued a fresh threat to launch another attack on the church.
The anonymous assailants, in a letter addressed to the church, vowed to carry out a strike “soon”, with no specific timeline stipulated.
With the threat, tension has gripped the ancient community, which is still reeling from the June 5, 2022, Pentecost Sunday attack, where gunmen stormed the church, killing 41 worshippers and injuring 69 others.
The tragic incident, one of Nigeria’s deadliest acts of violence against a religious institution, left scars on Owo’s residents, many of whom remain fearful amid persistent insecurity in parts of the state and country.
Concerned about the development, the community led by its traditional ruler, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye , convened a security summit to address the rising insecurity in the area.
According to the summit’s publicity secretary, Mr Bosun Oladimeji, the maiden edition of the Owo Security Summit, themed “Securing Owo and its Environs: Strategies for Community Safety and Resilience”, will be held next week.
Oladimeji maintained that the summit will raise awareness about community security, foster cooperation between residents and law enforcement, reduce crime, and propose sustainable security initiatives with the key objective to establish a Security Trust Fund to support long-term efforts.
The South-East caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party has given the former Senate President Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation panel a list of conditions that will stop the defections of its leaders and members from the party.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that this happened during the closed-door meeting between the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and the Saraki panel on Friday at the Enugu State Government House. Mbah is the leader of the party in the zone.
The caucus reportedly insisted that the National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, must be retained as the party’s National Secretary.
The group also said that the party would lose its grip on the South-East if the leadership failed to address the concerns of stakeholders from the zone.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the meeting was part of efforts to stem the tide of defections rocking the party, especially from the South-South and South-East.
Saraki, who addressed journalists after the meeting, had said, “Frankly, we had a very useful discussion. We are going away with some of the suggestions that we have here and hopefully will work on that.”
Insiders at the meeting confided in our correspondents that Mbah lamented that the zone had not been treated fairly in party affairs.
According to a source, the governor complained that the South-East, which had for years been a strong pillar of support for the party, was not respected.
He said, “The governor told the panel that, as a condition to sustain the dominance of the party in the region, the PDP must retain Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary instead of Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
“He lamented that the zone had not been given due recognition in party affairs. The governor reminded the panel that the South-East, led by the then Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, stood firm and brought back PDP on a strong footing when the party had a crisis in 2015. The governor told the panel that the PDP leadership must give the South-East a prominent role in the party.”
Recall that the South-East PDP leaders had on May 14 issued a communique in which they threatened to exit the party if Udeh-Okoye was not retained as National Secretary.
Signed by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, the communique partly read, “The South-East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In its near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party.
“Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South-East PDP regarding the office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves.
“However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the party, the South-East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward.”
Party crisis
The PDP has been embroiled in a protracted leadership crisis centred on the position of National Secretary, involving Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye.
The crisis began when Anyanwu, who was elected as the PDP National Secretary in 2021, contested the Imo State gubernatorial election under the party in 2023.
His participation in the election led to internal disputes within the party, with some members arguing that his candidacy effectively vacated his position as the party’s scribe.
Following the controversy, the National Executive Committee of the party asked the South-East, where Anyanwu hails from, to name his replacement.
The South-East subsequently nominated Udeh-Okoye as the new PDP scribe, a development that resulted in a legal battle.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, tensions persist within the PDP, as the party’s governors nominated the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, as the acting National Secretary.
NEC meeting
Meanwhile, Sunday PUNCH has exclusively gathered that the disputed position of National Secretary, zonal congresses, and the upcoming elective national convention will top the agenda at the PDP’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
A reliable source within the PDP National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that various committees were also expected to present progress reports.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed that the NEC meeting would address and resolve all outstanding issues.
The reliable source within the NWC confirmed that the party leadership was making significant efforts to ensure the meeting takes place on Tuesday.
He said, “The more the NEC meeting is postponed, the deeper the crisis within the party becomes. That’s why the current National Working Committee, led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, is making every effort to ensure the meeting holds as scheduled on May 27.
“A lot of work is going on behind the scenes, though it may not be visible to the public. But this time, the NEC meeting will definitely take place.”
The source acknowledged that the meeting was expected to be tense due to the number of critical issues on the agenda.
However, there is optimism that it will end well and mark a turning point for the PDP.
“We will consider the Governors’ Forum’s recommendation for an early convention in August. The NEC will also receive reports from several committees, including the Disciplinary Panel and the Reconciliation Committee.
“In addition, discussions will cover the zonal congresses and the long-disputed position of National Secretary, which we expect the NEC to finally resolve. All pending matters affecting the party will be deliberated on, and appropriate resolutions will be made.”
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that the NEC meeting will hold on May 27 as planned, with all arrangements in place to address the National Secretary dispute and other pending issues.
He said, “NEC is going to hold as scheduled on May 27. We are moving ahead with our NEC.
“Politics is all about interest. But the PDP has internal mechanisms with the capacity to reconcile all these issues. And that is why all issues about the National Secretary are going to NEC. The NEC will sort it out.
“Also, there will be several meetings before the NEC. The National Working Committee will meet with the Board of Trustees, Governors Forum, and there will be a National Caucus meeting, among others. There will be a caucus on May 26.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.
Obi, who confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform, hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.
He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that went viral on the party’s WhatsApp platform during an informal address to young Nigerians.
The former Anambra State governor noted that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.
“I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65. If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything,” he said.
Despite suggesting that he may not return to the ballot beyond 2027, Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.
“Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.
Although Sunday PUNCH could not verify when the video was recorded, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed it was recent.
“It’s a recent video, around last week, yes. But I can’t remember the exact day that it held,” Ibrahim said.
Addressing internal crises in opposition parties, Obi blamed the ruling government for fuelling the turmoil in both the LP and Peoples Democratic Party.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he declared, adding that interference in party affairs was a calculated effort to weaken the opposition.
He recalled how former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once intervened in a similar situation to ensure internal stability within political parties.
Obi said, “Back then, I went to President Yar’Adua. He called the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and said he didn’t want any issues in any political party. The problems were fixed. But today, every party is facing one crisis or another — and it is deliberate.”
He stated Nigeria’s democracy couldn’t thrive without strong opposition parties, expressing his determination to fix such structural challenges if elected.
The former Anambra governor also urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for defending the integrity of their votes, warning that any meaningful reform would be met with resistance from those benefitting from the current system.
A former House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa South Federal Constituency in Osun State, Gideon Aloba, has called for a strategic alliance and genuine power-sharing arrangement between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, Aloba said only a united front between the opposition leaders could unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“To defeat Tinubu in 2027, there must be a handshake between Atiku and Obi. One of them must be ready to shelve personal ambition and offer strategic support,” he said.
Aloba called for a coalition modelled after the 2010 UK Conservative–Liberal Democrat government, where clear roles and responsibilities were outlined in a formal agreement.
He warned that without a binding framework, any merger could collapse under political pressure.
The LP chieftain said, “To effectively manage the merger and protect the interests of both parties, a bipartisan coalition agreement must be signed. This document should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms for each side.
“The coalition should not be a mere president-and-spare-tyre arrangement. It must reflect true power-sharing where, for instance, one leader manages the economy and the other handles security and anti-corruption.
“The merger is not only inevitable; it is necessary. Though such alliances are always delicate, especially in Nigeria’s political space, a well-negotiated, clearly documented, and mutually respected agreement remains the best possible safeguard for the success of both parties, and more importantly, for the future of Nigeria.”
He stressed that managing ticket dynamics would be crucial in maintaining the support base of both parties, urging a display of political maturity and national interest above personal ambition.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the immediate-past Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, as director-general of the National Institute for Sports (NIS).
Naija News reports that the NIS, which was established in 1974, is a research and training Institute and a parastatal under the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The Institute is responsible for producing top-rated coaches, sports managers, and sports scientists, conducting sports research and aiming to improve Nigeria’s performance in international sporting competitions.
According to Leadership, Shaibu is expected to initiate reforms in the Institute to reposition it.
Meanwhile, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a ₦50 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, against ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki and four others.
Naija News gathered that the case was struck out on Monday after Shaibu’s legal team applied to withdraw the suit, citing an amicable settlement of the dispute.
Shaibu’s counsel, Anita Oteh, told the court that the matter had been resolved among the parties, thus prompting the decision to discontinue the proceedings.
However, Aliyu Abdulkadir, representing the Attorney General of the Federation (the fourth defendant), expressed surprise at the claim of settlement, saying his client had not been informed. While he raised no objection to the withdrawal, Abdulkadir asked the court to dismiss the case outright.
Oteh opposed the request for dismissal, urging the court to grant a simple withdrawal instead.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that since pleadings had already been joined in the case, a dismissal was the appropriate order.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has poured cold water on the emerging coalition of opposition political parties, declaring on Saturday that he will run for president again in the 2027 general elections under the Labour Party.
He made the declaration while speaking to a group of young supporters in a video that is in circulation.
Obi, in the 7-minute, 16-second video, addressed concerns about the perceived internal crises within both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing these issues to external influences from the current government.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government; quote me anywhere.
“We had a problem at our party before, in the past. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman and told him he didn’t want any problems in any party. We were forced to fix it,” he explained.
“Today, all parties are experiencing issues that are deliberately created by the system. These are some of the matters I aim to address if given the opportunity.”
When asked which party he intended to contest in the 2027 elections, Obi stated that “I will continue to run in the Labour Party, as I am still a member.”
Obi urged Nigerians to take ownership of their electoral power, stressing that while political parties may hire agents to safeguard their interests, it is ultimately the voters who hold the key to ensuring their votes are counted.
He encouraged the youth and the electorate to remain hopeful, reminding them that resistance to positive change often comes from those benefiting from the status quo.
The Anambra State former governor expressed his views on political longevity, suggesting that there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office, noting that by the time the 2027 elections occur, he will be 65 years old, indicating he does not wish to be campaigning in his 70s.
Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has settled all outstanding debts owed to examination bodies by previous administrations in the State, a development that has led to the release of withheld results of students who sat for SSCE spanning five years.
The previous Zamfara State governments failed to pay exam fees to the National Examinations Council (NECO) from 2014 to 2018 and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) from 2018 to 2022.
However, a statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, on Saturday, revealed that the incumbent Governor Lawal has settled the debts and consequently the examination bodies have released all results withheld by them from 2018 to 2022.
The statement added that the present government’s effort to settle the outstanding debts was part of a broader strategy in line with Governor Lawal’s declaration of a state of emergency on education.
The statement read in part: “In his commitment to overhauling the educational sector of Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has settled all backlog of payments owed by previous administrations in the state.
“The nonpayment of fees for WAEC and NECO has caused a significant setback for public schools throughout Zamfara State, continually placing Zamfara at the bottom of educational indices across Nigeria.
“Recognising the issues within the education system, Governor Lawal declared a state of emergency in education in November 2023, a decision producing positive results for the educational sector in Zamfara State.
“More than 500 schools have been renovated and equipped since the emergency declaration. Public teachers have been trained and are undergoing retraining.
“The swift payment of the outstanding debt to WAEC and NECO has relieved the stranded Zamfara students, who completed their final exams but could not proceed due to the examination bodies withholding their results.
“For the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Governor Dauda Lawal has paid the outstanding of one billion four hundred million naira that the previous administrations owed from 2018 to 2022.
“The immediate past government could not pay for the 2023 WAEC; therefore, no public school in Zamfara State participated in the examination. However, payment was made for 2024, and students took the exams.
“On the part of the National Examination Council (NECO), Governor Lawal has paid N320, 699, 850.00 to settle a debt owed the council from 2020 to 2021.
“The previous administrations from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 failed to pay the National Examination Council (NECO) the sum of one billion and twenty-two million naira, a reason why the council decided to withhold the results of Zamfara students who sat during that period.
“Governor Dauda Lawal has also approved the payment of the withheld results from 2014 to 2018, and an agreement has been reached with NECO to release the results immediately after receiving the first batch of the payment.”
Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his appointment of individuals from the three geopolitical zones in the North to key federal government parastatals and agencies.
The announcement made on Friday revealed that approximately 12 individuals from the North have been appointed to strategic national positions.
The list includes Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP); Alhaji Abubakar Umar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director of Operations at NAIC; Barrister Sama’ila Audu (Katsina) as Executive Director of Administration at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Professor Musa Garba Mai Tafsiri (Kebbi) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, and Comrade Isa Aremu (Kwara) as Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), among others.
In a statement he personally signed and issued to the press on Saturday, the ranking lawmaker described the appointments as a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.
It is worth noting that Senator Ndume had previously expressed concerns about what he called imbalances in the appointments made by Tinubu, which he deemed a violation of the Federal Character principle enshrined in the Constitution.
Citing Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, he argued that such imbalances could deepen political discontent and fuel opposition coalitions against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, in his latest statement, the vocal Senator expressed satisfaction with the President’s actions, noting that they demonstrated Tinubu’s willingness to listen to constructive criticism.
He remarked, “President Tinubu is someone who is open to constructive feedback. I recognise him as a fair-minded and cosmopolitan individual. While we are all prone to errors, no one is infallible.”
He continued, “I recall that leaders in the North, including myself, were genuinely concerned about the recent appointments to key federal positions, voicing our discontent over the perceived imbalances. The hallmark of a good leader and statesman is the ability to adjust when decisions or policies are met with widespread disapproval.”
Senator Ndume asserted, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently shown himself to be a responsive leader. This recent appointment of Northerners into significant positions within federal parastatals and agencies was intended to rectify the imbalances created by prior appointments that left the North feeling neglected.”
He emphasised that he holds no personal grudges against President Tinubu and his administration, reaffirming his confidence in Tinubu’s ability to fulfil the expectations of Nigerians in delivering the dividends of democracy.
While congratulating the appointees, Senator Ndume urged them to not disappoint the nation, but to justify the trust placed in them through their respective assignments. He also reassured President Tinubu of his loyalty, affirming his commitment to fulfilling his duties as a lawmaker by highlighting any perceived excesses of the Executive arm of government.
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The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) national central bureau in Abuja has extradited one Abubakar Aboki Muhammed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the country over alleged multi-million dollar fraud.
Muhammed, a Nigerian, was arrested in Dubai, UAE, following an investigation over alleged fraud perpetrated against an Abuja-based businessman.
The case was reported to the police in July 2023.
A statement by Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said Muhammed allegedly defrauded the businessman after posing as a shipping agent.
Adejobi said the suspect allegedly secured a “contract to facilitate payments and freight of ten high-end vehicles, valued at $307,500.00, from the UAE to Nigeria via designated registered shipping companies”.
“After establishing trust, Muhammed fraudulently received the full payment through a third-party account at FCMB belonging to Anas Usaini, a Kano resident, which was subsequently used for money laundering activities in Dubai,” the force spokesperson said.
“Upon receipt of the payment, Muhammed provided the complainant with a forged bill of lading for the vehicles and subsequently became uncontactable.
“He was apprehended in Dubai on April 15, 2025, and has been extradited to Nigeria to face prosecution at the Federal High Court, marking a significant success in the ongoing fight against transnational financial crime.”
Adejobi said Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, commended the Dubai Police, INTERPOL NCB Abu Dhabi, and the Nigerian Consulate General in Dubai for facilitating the suspect’s extradition.
Peter Okoye, the popular Nigerian singer, who is also known as Mr P of the P-Square duo, has spoken about his split from his twin brother, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy.
According to him, there is a joy that comes with a solo career.
Speaking in a recent interview with Cool FM, Lagos, Mr P urged fans to respect their decisions, stressing that they tried to remain as a duo, but it wasn’t working.
“There’s a joy that comes with going solo. Please respect our decisions. We’ve tried it, it’s not working,” he said.
Recall that Paul confirmed in August last year that P-Square had broken up again. The group first split in 2016 but reunited in 2021.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has assured his supporters that he will run again in the 2027 general election under the party’s banner.
He gave the assurance while speaking to a group of young supporters in a 7-minute, 16-second video circulating on the party’s WhatsApp platform on Saturday.
Obi explained to his audience that what appears to be an internal crisis in the two dominant opposition political parties – the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – has the government’s imprint written all over them.
In response to a question on which platform he intended to contest the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
While answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the LP’s crisis, the former Anambra State Governor said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.
“We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.
“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.
“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
He charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count because, even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.
The LP standard bearer appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.
He equally noted that, left to him, there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.
Obi said that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s
Omoyele Sowore, the Nigerian activist politician, has claimed that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election has already been determined by those in authority.
Sowore, who made the allegations in an interview with Vanguard, empathetically declared that the “2027 results are already written”.
The activist, however, said he would be in the presidential race, stating that he “never stopped running”.
According to Sowore, “whether it’s a campaign, a protest, a court battle—I’m always running for something.
“But if you’re asking about elections, I don’t believe in the current ballot system. The 2027 results are already written”.
He stated that only rebellion against the system can change the country and not the ballot.
On the current state of the nation, Sowore claimed that “Nigerians made a grave mistake voting Bola Tinubu into office”.
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: when Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era.
“He has done irreparable damage—economically, socially, politically. He has crippled institutions, education, and democracy. Buhari killed Nigeria in eight years; Tinubu came, in two years he is burying it” he added.