The leadership tussle between the Julius Abure-led  National Working Committee and the Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee, backed by Governor Alex Otti and LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday, following the return of factional leader Lamidi Apapa.

Apapa, who had disappeared from the political circles in the past year, announced on Wednesday that he had taken over the leadership of the Labour Party following the release of the Certified True Copy of last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment.

In its recent judgment, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had recognised Abure as the party’s national chairman.

On Wednesday, Apapa claimed that the apex court verdict puts him in pole position to replace Abure being the most senior National Deputy Chairman of the party.

He made the assertion in a statement signed by factional National Publicity Secretary, Dr Abayomi Arabambi.

In the statement, Apapa also announced that his National Working Committee, as of 2022, will officially meet next Monday (April 14, 2025) to discuss zoning arrangements.

The statement read, “Following the dismissal of the cross-appeal filed by the ousted former National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure, also by the Supreme Court on 4th April 2025, what this means is that all actions and decisions taken by Julius Abure since 4th April 2023 are null and void.

“Following the decision of the Supreme Court to set aside all judgments that recognise the leadership of Julius Abure as the National Chairman, I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the most senior deputy national, and in consonance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, in an acting capacity, and Alh Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary.

“My leadership hereby calls on all members of the Labour Party that the National Working Committee of our party as of 2022 will meet next week, Monday, 14th April 2025, to announce our plans, which will include zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South.”

Otti, Obi visit INEC

On Wednesday,  jubilation erupted among Obi and Otti supporters when the latter announced that they had received the official Certified True Copy of last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.

While presenting the 48-page CTC before the Labour Party Stakeholders Engagement in Abuja, Otti reiterated that the document had put an end to the debate of misinterpretation of the verdict.

He said, “I want to say that we welcome the Supreme Court judgment of last Friday, which Certified True Copy just arrived a few minutes again. The 48-page document was very clear in saying that it is all of you seated here that constitute the leadership of the party. I also want to make a point that we are law-abiding people.

“We sat on the 4th of September 2024 in Umuahia, where we unanimously elected a 29-man caretaker committee. Shortly after that exercise, our brothers, on the other side, went to court and got a judgment that pronounced them the party’s leaders.

“If we are not law-abiding, we would have started dragging the office. But we all said since there was a court judgment, let us follow the process, which ended last Friday. We expected that everybody who wants the survival of democracy and progress of this country would have accepted that judgment. So you may not like the judgment, but you must obey it.”

In attendance were the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi; the lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh; Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, Prof Theophilus Ndubuaku; and the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.

Others include former LP chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo, members of the National Assembly, Abia State Assembly and chieftains of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, among others.

As Otti read out the excerpts of the document, another frenzy of applause rents the air.

“The same issue submitted for determination is hereby jointly in the favour of the appellants. The appellants are distinguished Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha. In summary, both the trial courts and the one below have no jurisdiction to entertain the first respondent, Julius Abure.

“Consequent upon the foregoing, the decisions of both trial courts and the one below in recognising Julius Abure as the national chairman of the party is hereby set aside and struck out for want of jurisdiction. In the vein, the first respondent cross-appeal being an offshoot of the same judgment of the courts below is hereby dismissed,” he stated.

When he finished reading the CTC, the governor recalled how he tried to pacify Abure to step down from his position as national chairman and accept a new role as the chairman of the LP Board of Trustees.

Abure, however, allegedly turned down the prospect, saying he wanted nothing.

“But I gave Abure some piece of advice, saying if I were you, I wouldn’t want to lead people who don’t want me as a leader. So, we are still extending the olive branch to him and his former National Working Committee. The leadership of every party should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of their tenure.

“Before I am done, may I appeal to political parties and their members to endeavour to always allow their constitutions, regulations and rules to guide them in choosing their officers and candidates.

“That way, the incessant internal wrangling that always finds its way to court will be reduced. The leadership of every party should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of their tenure,” he said.

On his part, Obi applauded his supporters and Nigerians for being patient and standing solidly behind them.

The former Anambra governor announced that they would move straight to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission to update them about the presence of the CTC and have them replace Abure’s NWC.

He said, “As leaders and elected members of this great party, we are going to leave from here to INEC to submit this document (CTC) so that we can start the process.

“We will go there now and say here are the documents from the court. This is our resolution. So can we now start the process of rebuilding with your cooperation.”

Shortly after leaving Transcorp Hotel, the venue of the NEC meeting, Otti led a high-level delegation to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja to discuss recent developments within the party.

The governor also presented the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment to INEC’s acting Chairman, Sam Olumekun, and other National Commissioners.

Their discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between the LP and INEC, as well as reinforcing democratic principles.

Olumekun emphasised the commission’s commitment to maintaining neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law in fulfilling its constitutional duties.

Abure kicks

Reacting, Abure’s camp dismissed the claim of legitimacy by the caretaker committee, saying their supporters were ‘jubilating for nothing.’

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in a phone chat with The PUNCH.

When contacted, the LP spokesman mocked the gathering, saying there was nowhere in the CTC that the court mentioned that Abure must step aside.

“They are just jubilating for nothing. The Supreme Court judgment is clear about the position of the party leadership,” he said.

In a follow-up statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Ifoh warned Usman and her hordes of supporters to take a back seat and study the document properly.

He said, “As promised earlier, we warned that Senator Nenadi Usman and her cohorts have been on the voyage of misleading Nigerians with the wrong interpretation of the judgment of the apex court. (Attached is a copy of the CTC). There is nowhere it stated that the leadership of the Abure-led executive has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her National Caretaker Committee have been directed to take over the party leadership.

“The Supreme Court emphatically stated that issues within the political party are internal affairs of the party and that party supremacy must be observed. It is pertinent for us to state clearly that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The highest organ of the party, the national convention, has in March 2024 elected its leaders in line with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act, and their tenure subsists.

“Consequent upon that, any meeting convened in disregard to the constitution of the party is illegal and the outcome null and void. We are, therefore, warning all those involved in the illegal meeting held in Abuja to refrain from further factionalising the party and respect the constitution of the party, as we will not fail to activate the provision of the party on disciplinary actions.

Ifoh also described the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress to invade its offices nationwide as a subtle blackmail to make the Julius Abure-led leadership look like a villain before the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies in the country.

He was reacting to Tuesday’s directive by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, for union leaders to begin the process of mobilising their members in readiness to take over the 36 offices and the national secretariat of the Labour Party.

Ajaero said they could not continue to fold their hands and watch the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee defy the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.

But Ifoh warned that hooliganism and rascality, as the NLC leader is allegedly exhibiting, should not be seen as traits of a good unionist.

He said, “Ordinarily, we would have ignored that threat, but there is a need to assure the teeming members of our commitment to keep the faith and resist all forms of rascality and intimidation from persons who think themselves to be above the laws of the land.

“We therefore see NLC’s latest threat as pure blackmail on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies to do the wrong thing.”

Ifoh recalled that the move was reminiscent of the March 21, 2024 invasion, where aggrieved unionists broke into LP headquarters and other offices, an act that the NWC described as a deliberate action to steal their sensitive documents and money.

He said, “Threats to attack offices and organisations have become the hallmark of the NLC under Ajaero. In 2024, NLC forcefully broke into our national headquarters, carting away valuables. That matter was reported to the police. The recent threat to invade our office was leaked to us by some members of the NLC; hence, we alerted the nation.

“Ajaero should by now learn that attacking law-abiding citizens, hooliganism and rascality is not a trait of a good unionist. He should be concerned more about the workers’ welfare. He has since politicized the Labour Union in Nigeria, and he is no longer fit to occupy that exalted office. We have once advised him to quit unionism and join politics, but he will not listen.

“We must state categorically that NLC has no right to attack any Labour Party office because there is no trade dispute. Based on the Trade Dispute Act, you can not picket or declare a strike without a trade dispute. In any case, we do not have any staff of the NLC in our employment. There is no Union in our offices. Their action is purely an illegality.”

The LP spokesman also charged Ajaero to seek legal counsel if he cannot comprehend the judgment.

“The Supreme Court stated that courts cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a political party. The courts didn’t sack the NWC nor held the tenure to have lapsed. We advise Joe Ajaero and his ilk to seek legal advice if they cannot comprehend a simple court pronouncement.

“Let it be known that we will take every legal means to deal with Ajero and his gangsters should they attempt to resort to self-help. We will not hesitate to write to the Registrar of Trade Union to discipline them if they resort to taking laws into their own hands.

“Finally, we will seek the protection of the security agencies, but where they defy the security agencies, we will have no option but to mobilise our members across the nation to resist them.”

In a separate statement, the factional National Secretary of LP, Alhaji Umar Farouk, has slammed Obi, Otti and the Usman-led caretaker committee, describing their action as an act of desperation.

While calling their National Executive Committee meeting and visit to INEC headquarters illegal, Farouk asserted that the mission had shown the high level of desperation by Obi and Otti to hijack the structure of the party.

“If really the Supreme Court decision is in their favour, why are they rushing to INEC to be putting undue influence on the Commission to do the wrong thing? Also, in their meeting today, they boasted of wanting to give the National Chairman, Barrister Abure, a soft landing by offering him the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

“Unfortunately for them, Abure didn’t make himself the National Chairman. Therefore, it is not about Abure but about what the structures have said. It is about the supremacy of the organs of the party and the need to do things right.

“It is not about offering the BoT to the National chairman that matters because it is not within anybody’s prerogative to allocate positions; needless to say, it is all these arbitral behaviours by some leaders that have led this country into the near-mess it has found itself.”

The Chairman of the Senate Inter-parliamentary Committee, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, has cautioned that any government’s inability to tackle poverty will inevitably lead to worsening insecurity.

Speaking during the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting in Uzbekistan, Ibrahim stressed the need for a more collaborative approach among global parliamentarians to support national defence budgets as a means of curbing insecurity worldwide.

A statement released by his media team in Abuja on Wednesday quoted him as saying, “The central question for governments and security agencies should be: security for whom, when, and how? Addressing power and insecurity issues alongside their ecosystems is key to the security of the geocentric system. The government’s failure to address poverty effectively will further exacerbate insecurity.”

Ibrahim explained that the government’s handling of security fluctuates between fear and courage, warning that this inconsistency signals systemic failure.

He said, “Life is increasingly tricky amid this struggle, yet we still maintain a defence structure. It is only a matter of time before one of these emotions—fear or courage—prevails. I saw fear within government leadership, leading to unprecedented crises and heightened insecurity.”

Responding to questions from international media in Uzbekistan, the senator urged parliaments to adopt a more supportive and constructive stance toward defence appropriations instead of merely exercising oversight functions.

He pointed out a critical connection between poverty reduction and government efficiency, noting that insecurity often stems from failures in governance. He also warned that when parliaments focus solely on scrutinizing security expenditures, they might “inadvertently foster insecurity.”

The former Ondo governorship aspirant emphasized that enhancing system and process efficiency is crucial in combating fraud within security spending, a key issue for legislative bodies worldwide

former Governor of Rivers State, Rufus Ada George, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of being behind the current political turmoil in the state.

This includes the declaration of a state of emergency and the contentious appointment of sole administrators across all 23 local government areas.

Naija News reports that George, who held the governorship from 1992 to 1993 and now leads the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, made these statements during a press conference addressing the recent political events in the state.

Despite the prevailing unrest, George said the forum remains optimistic that the FCT Minister will engage with relevant stakeholders to ease tensions and promote dialogue.

He also mentioned that the Rivers Elders Forum had reached out to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike at the beginning of the crisis but did not receive any replies.

George said, “The FCT Minister is the architect of all these things,” accusing him of fanning the flames of instability after failing to impose his political agenda on the state’s leadership.

“He could set ablaze states where the governors did not share his views.

“And that is exactly what I think he is trying to do in Rivers State. Enough is enough. We will not allow him to set Rivers State ablaze anymore.”

Naija News reports that the elder statesman said the minister was in the state days before the appointments were announced.

“He was reported to have been here on the 7th, Monday evening, traversing the whole place, visiting the military administrator. Then following that, this announcement came through,” George said.

He strongly condemned the appointments, describing them as unconstitutional and an assault on democratic governance.

“The appointment of sole administrators is unconstitutional,” George said.

“There are laid down legal processes for constituting local government leadership. This action undermines those principles.”

While insisting that the forum will continue to seek peaceful solutions, Ada George warned that the Rivers people would not fold their arms in the face of provocation.

“We cannot go physical… but we will resist in any form that will attempt to disrupt or disorganize this state.

“We hoped he would consult with stakeholders for peacebuilding, to calm tensions, and to resolve the issues between the two parties—not escalate them,” he said.

Quoting Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ada George appealed for calm: “Surulere, Surulere”— be patient, be silent. And I am going to borrow the words of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to say Surulere, Surulere to all those who are involved in these activities.

“We did communicate in writing to both the warring parties… but unfortunately, we didn’t have the courtesy of receiving a reply from any of them.”

George reiterated the forum’s commitment to a lawful resolution.

“We will go to court where necessary. We have cases in court at the moment, and we will continue,” he affirmed

The United States government has declared that it will consider social media posts of applicants as part of the considerations in granting or denying applications for visas or residence permits.

The US immigration authorities disclosed that applications by people who post content considered anti-Semitic by President Donald Trump’s administration would be denied.

Naija News understands such anti-semitic posts include social media activity in support of or promoting militant groups classified by the United States as terrorists, including Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Huthi insurgents.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism — think again. You are not welcome here,” department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services “will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting or supporting anti-Semitic terrorism, anti-Semitic terrorist organizations or other anti-Semitic activity as a negative factor” in determining benefits, the statement added.

The policy will take effect immediately and apply to student visas and requests for permanent resident “green cards” to stay in the United States.

Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that he has stripped visas for some 300 people and was doing so on a daily basis

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo has kick-started the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

The governor disclosed this when he received another member of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), who had defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

The defector and member House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi represents Uhunmwonde State Constituency.

The lawmaker had earlier been received into the party by the Chairman of APC Edo State chapter, Jarrett Tenebe, who consequently presented him to the Governor at the Government House, Benin City.

Okpebholo commended Hon. Osamwonyi and his colleagues who decided to join the APC. He assured them that his administration would create a conducive atmosphere for all of them to operate and collaborate to develop the State.

Speaking via a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor noted that his administration has embarked on developmental strides to develop all sectors of the Edo economy and will make life better for Edo people.

“We congratulate you for returning home. Your coming is a plus for the party as we have five of you who have joined, and you have made our party stronger.

“A lot of people from other political parties are ready to join our party, and soon there will be a carnival. I seek your help to drive development, and together, we will develop the State and make life better for our people.

“Uhunmwonde Local Government is very special to me, and together we can develop the area and open it for growth and development.

“The next election, especially 2027 presidential election, we are ready in Edo State. We have kick-started our own campaigns for the President in 2027. We have to mobilize the youths in our State, and you are part of the youth. I promise you that you will enjoy our party as you have chosen to join us,” he said.

Tenebe, who presented Hon. Osamwonyi to the Governor, noted that the party is now in full control of the State Assembly as it now has the majority of the members in the house.

“Hon. Osamwonyi joined the party following the developmental strides your administration has achieved in the few months you have led the State,” he said.

Hon. Osamwonyi, on his part, said his decision to join the party was a result of the disunity in his former party, the PDP, from the national to unit level, as well as the achievements of Governor Okpebholo in a very short time in office.

“The division in my party, the PDP, made me join the APC. For me, it is homecoming as I was once in APC. Your developmental strides attracted me back home as I want the best for my people.

“The several projects captured in the budget for Uhunmwonde people is impressive. I had no choice but to join the party for the development of my people,” he said

Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said the party would ensure that the right people emerge as its candidates during the 2027 general elections.

Peter Obi spoke on Wednesday during LP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

According to the former Governor of Anambra State, the LP would correct past mistakes in 2027 and ensure fairness.

He said, “Let’s do the right thing, let’s go from ward to local government to state, to zone and nationally, everybody is free to contest.

“We will ensure fairness and we want to build a party that will be fair, just, and a party people can look at and say ‘this is how this party is.’

“We want to go into the next election knowing fully well that we are offering Nigeria’s the best of people for House of Assembly, House of Reps, Senate, governors, and every form of election.

“We want to correct the mistake we made in the past, we are going to be sure that whoever wants to contest must be a Labour Party member and not on transit.

“It’s going to be a party of ideology and not a party where you just elect people and they b come whatever goes on.

“We must have senators who agree with us, even if we fail, we fail but it’s better to fail doing right than be on the side of wrong. We are going to do that for Nigeria.”

Bashiru Lamidi Apapa on Wednesday announced that he has assumed the leadership of the Labour Party following the Supreme Court ruling that removed Julius Abure as the national chairman of the opposition party.

Apapa made this declaration during a press conference on Wednesday, citing the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court judgement that nullified Abure’s leadership as the reason for his decision.

“I, ALH BASHIRU LAMIDI APAPA, the most senior deputy national chairman, in accordance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, Wednesday, the 9th day of April 2025, in an acting capacity, with Alh. Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary,” he stated.

He further clarified that, following the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the ousted former National Chairman, Julius Abure, all actions and decisions made by Abure since April 4, 2023, are now null and void.

“My leadership calls on all members of the Labour Party to note that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party, as of 2022, will meet next week, Monday, 14th April 2025. During this meeting, we will announce our plans, including zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South,” Apapa said.

He also announced plans to revive the moribund Board of Trustees, making it functional once more.

“The National Working Committee members listed below are hereby put on notice about the NWC meeting coming up on Monday next week, where we will immediately set in motion the conduct of Ward Congresses, Local Government Congresses, State Congresses, and National Convention, where every member of our party shall have the right to participate, provided you are a financial member,” he added.

The National Working Committee members named by Apapa include:

Deputy National Chairman NLC, Mr. Ladi Iliya
Deputy National Chairman TUC, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi
National Secretary, Alh. Umar Farouq Ibrahim
National Legal Adviser, Bar. Oyelekan Akingbade
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi
National Treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Opara

A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has advised the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to ask his predecessor, Nyesom Wike for forgiveness.

He opined that the incompetence caused the crisis in the state and asked the governor to stop etnicising the impasse.

Speaking via a statement, Eradiri claimed that those who are advising Fubara to fight against Wike go cap in hand to beg the FCT Minister in private.

He said: “As for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, he is incompetent and that is what has brought all this negative energy. He should not involve ijaw in his political issues and affairs. Let him tell us how he has supported the ijaws or ijaw activities?

“How many ijaws of Rivers State did he empower that he is demanding Ijaw support now? How many of the IYC comrades in Eastern zone were LGA chairmen, commissioners and appointees in his government?

“Or are all the ijaw youths of Eastern Zone only good at supporting political fights but not good enough for appointment and empowerment? When Chief Wike visited Abalama, how much did Fubara mobilise his people? Wike is a fighter and i like his style.

“I advise Fubara to go and kneel before Wike and beg for forgiveness. Those, who are deceiving him have no balls. They go cap in hand kneeling and begging same Wike when they get it they come in the open to claim ijaw lions.

“Now, Fubara is the one outside they are there ranting. Mr. President used the state of emergency to save Fubara and the ijaw nation the embarrassment of impeachment. He should go thank and appreciate President Bola Tinubu.”

Eradiri recalled that when Wike singlehandedly made Fubara Rivers governor, no ijaw gathered or even went to thank him.

“Fubara did not buy form or even spoke a word during campaigns. Why should he now be disobeying and reneging on agreement? Men are those who keep their words and abide by agreements.”

Operations have been reportedly put to a halt at the 28,000-barrels-per-day oil production refinery in Ogidigben, Warri, Delta State, as Itsekiri natives shut down the facility on Wednesday.

In a video clip released today by TVC, hundreds of Ogidigben natives were seen protesting at the entrance of the facility.

Naija News understands that a large number of locals gathered at the oil production facility that was formerly managed by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The protest which happened at the facility, which has recently been taken over by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings, involved women, youth, and men.

The Itsekiri natives protested against the recommendations made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency.

The demonstrators stated that their protest would extend to other significant national assets and facilities within Itsekiri land if prompt action is not undertaken.

This protest occurred just a week after INEC suggested the delineation of wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency, following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

A significant revelation has emerged from the former Governor of Plateau State and member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fidelis Tapgun.

He has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been working to ensure the downfall of the PDP after losing the vice-presidential ticket on two separate occasions.

In an interview with The Sun at his Jos country home, Tapgun claimed that Wike was determined to destroy the party because he was denied the vice-presidential ticket in both the 2019 and 2023 elections.

He said, “Because of the failure to secure the vice presidential ticket, Wike is doing everything in his power to bring down the PDP.”

Tapgun further accused the FCT minister of using his influence and resources to manipulate key members of the PDP, including powerful figures within the party.

According to Tapgun, Wike’s actions are part of a broader strategy to destabilize and ultimately collapse the party.

The former governor also highlighted what he termed as unconstitutional actions within the party, notably the extended tenures of acting Chairman, Umar Damagum, and former National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.

Naija News reports that Tapgun contended that both individuals were well aware that their terms had expired but continued to hold on to their positions, playing a key role in the party’s internal chaos.

He pointed out that this internal strife is being exploited to weaken the PDP, as the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu were contributing to the destabilization of the party’s structure.

Tapgun, a former minister and Nigeria’s ambassador to Kenya, expressed grave concern over the PDP’s future, claiming that the party’s inability to unite and resolve internal conflicts would make it nearly impossible for the party to challenge the ruling administration in the 2027 elections.

He said, “I don’t see the PDP surviving or being able to participate in the 2027 election due to the insincerity within the party.”

He added that the party should shift its focus beyond the 2027 elections and begin preparing for 2031, noting that the party lacked the necessary cohesion to effectively contest against President Bola Tinubu’s government, whose reforms were beginning to show positive effects on the Nigerian economy.

A Call For Reflection And Reform

Tapgun also took issue with the party’s internal elections and the ongoing power struggle over key positions. “The tussle over the chairmanship and the secretaryship of the party is part of the ploy to ensure that PDP dies a natural death,” he argued, criticizing the actions of Damagum and Anyanwu.

According to Tapgun, the party’s constitution clearly mandates that the position of the chairman belongs to the North-Central region after Iyorchia Ayu’s departure.

Similarly, Anyanwu, who had resigned to contest the Imo State governorship election, no longer had the legal or moral grounds to remain as secretary.

In his conclusion, Tapgun expressed doubt about the party’s ability to reinvent itself in time to mount a serious challenge to the ruling government in the upcoming elections.

“People organizing now should just forget it because I don’t see the party coming together to confront the present administration in the election,” he said, adding that the actions of some members had taken advantage of the party’s popularity to destroy it. However, he expressed hope that the PDP might look to 2031 for a more structured and unified attempt at governance.