The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party is showing no sign of abating. Ahead of the 2027 election, the PDP will have itself to blame if party leaders currently engulfed in a battle of supremacy, fail to give peace a chance. PUNCH reports

Ever since it lost power at the centre in 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party has been struggling to regain the fame that once made it arguably the biggest political party in Africa. Shackled by the chains of its forging, the once-dominant party’s fortunes are at an all-time low, even as some political pundits now see the Labour Party as a more potent opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress than the PDP.

Left with 13 states after the 2023 general election, the PDP in the 2024 off-season election, lost Edo to the APC and failed to wrest Ondo from the APC, despite the crisis occasioned in the party following the death of former Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Earlier in the week, a former PDP member and erstwhile Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, had this to say about the once-dominant political platform which held sway at the centre from 1999 to 2015: “There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party.”

He then called on the opposition, with PDP in the forefront, to bury its differences and forge a common front to ward off the possible return of the military in the political governance of the country.

“We have to put aside our differences and create a broad platform that will do the driving of the military again, because we are almost there again,” he added.

Considering the crisis in the PDP Rivers State chapter featuring Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on the one hand and the chaos in the NWC on the other, it is difficult, if not impossible, to fault the position of El-Rufai.

Only recently, PDP’s biggest financier in recent times, Wike, slammed the Bauchi State Governor, Mr Bala Mohammed, for his opposition to Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee of the party and the four tax bills transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and passage by President Bola Tinubu.

Wike, who remains a critical stakeholder in the PDP despite accepting to serve in the APC-led government, is believed by many as the reason the moves to replace the party’s acting National Chairman, Damagum, have become a mere dream.

The minister’s decision to publicly reprimand Governor Mohammed over the tax bills and ignore the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, was both political and personal. Being members of the same PDP, analysts argue that Wike could have privately engaged with Bala, rather than taking him to the cleaners in a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr Lere Olayinka.

In return, the Bauchi State governor described Wike as “A transactional politician whose habitual betrayal of his past benefactors is well documented,” stressing that “While Wike accuses others of insincerity, he has seamlessly transitioned from being a self-proclaimed PDP stalwart to an ardent supporter of the APC government. He now advocates the re-election of the same APC administration in 2027, all while continuing to claim membership in the PDP. This chameleonic behaviour raises serious questions about Wike’s credibility and moral compass.

“Nigerians are not deceived by Wike’s antics. They see a man willing to undermine his party for personal gain, a man whose loyalty shifts as quickly as his alliances. By contrast, Senator Bala Mohammed’s opposition to the tax reform bills reflects a principled stand aimed at ensuring inclusive governance and accountability. His constructive interventions have already led to significant adjustments in the reform process, underscoring the importance of meaningful dialogue over hollow rhetoric.”

Wike’s attack on Bala Mohammed, if not resolved, will only make the PDP weaker as skeletal preparations for the 2027 election cycle begin next year.

The dust raised by the Wike-Bala rift was yet to settle when, on Wednesday, another ugly incident played out at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja,

the nation’s seat of power.

At the gathering of the party’s Board of Trustees members, two party chieftains, both laying claims to the national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, took their seats, an indication that upheaval was in the offing.

Although, Ude-Okoye, a former National Youth Leader of the party, did not have the privilege of sitting closer to Damagum in the order of ranking of the National Working Committee members; his presence alone fuelled the wrath of Anyanwu’s loyalists who wasted no time to push him out of the NEC hall, venue of the BoT meeting.

Ude-Okoye, who ran out of the secretariat, could be heard instructing young men dressed in black apparel to make their way into the BoT meeting; a wish that failed to materialise, following the quick intervention of security agents who were on hand to maintain law and order.

The trouble with the exalted seat of the PDP National Secretary started when Anyanwu while serving in the office, declared his intention to vie for the Imo State governorship ticket on the platform of the party.

While the declaration was a constitutional entitlement, Anyanwu failed to resign his position, thus triggering litigations from opposing camps within the party.

A lawsuit was subsequently filed, challenging Anyanwu’s continuous claim to the office of the National Secretary, having left to contest the governorship election which he lost to Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The Enugu High Court ruled in favour of this argument, declaring the office vacant and recognising Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary.

Not one to quit without fighting, Anyanwu ran to the Court of Appeal, arguing that holding a PDP governorship ticket was not enough to make him lose his position as a member of the party’s NWC.

In its ruling, Justice Ridwan Abdullahi of the Appellate Court upheld the High Court’s decision affirming Okoye’s position and describing Anyanwu’s appeal as lacking merit.

As argued by Damagum, the crisis threatening the PDP today is perhaps the creation of its members; men and to a lesser extent, women who rode on its wings to power in the good days of yore.

Addressing the BoT members at the meeting, Damagum warned party leaders of the dangers of prioritising individual ambitions against those of the collective interest of the PDP, reminding them not to forget that only the party has what it takes to bail Nigerians out of the economic hardship brought on them by the President Bola Tinubu-led government.

Damagum said, “There is a crisis within the NWC. It is normal. Unfortunately, I want to say this with a high sense of responsibility. Most of these crises that you see today within the NWC are propelled by our leaders who are supposed to unite us.

“It is very unfortunate. I will say it the way it is. We all know the workings of the NWC. Some of you here have been members of the NWC. I’m sitting down here as the chairman only to see my members called by certain leaders to visit certain places without even my knowledge.

“I want to use this opportunity to caution us and our leaders. You may have ambition but you don’t ride on a dead horse to reach your destination. If you create a crisis simply to further your ambition, you may get what you want but your dream will not be realised because you have injured the horse you are going to ride to your destination.”

To drive home his argument, Damagum urged the BoT members to carry out a self-introspection, noting that some of them also share in the blame.

“As the conscience of this party, some of us are also complicit. We should look inward, and search our conscience. This party is dear to all of us. It is the only thing we have.

“The hope of Nigerians today is in this party. So, we should sheathe our swords and work towards uniting ourselves so that they (Nigerians) would have a credible vehicle that can challenge what is bedevilling us,” he added.

Speaking on the National Executive Committee meeting which has not been held in the past few years, Damagum assured the party faithful of his commitment to ensuring that the highest decision-making body of the party is held in February 2025.

“The last meeting we had with the governors, we all agreed that we would have the NEC (meeting). I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to have the NEC this February.

“You are all aware that we have started the process of zonal congresses. Even at that, I enjoin our leaders to also be mindful of doing anything that can mar these congresses. It is very important to sound this note.

“We have had congresses in almost 28 or 29 states. We have problems in a few states. I think we are getting there,” he further said.

On his part, the BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, expressed disappointment at the rift within the NWC, stressing that the meeting of the PDP advisory body came “at a time when the unity, focus, direction and ideals of our great party are being tested in ways that call for reflection and decisive action.”

Speaking shortly after Damugum, Wabara said, “Let me express my profound disappointment over the crises currently rocking the leadership of the NWC. As elder statesmen and women; leaders who hold the trust of the generality of our party members and the public, it is disheartening that these issues have not been resolved.

“The failure to resolve these internal conflicts undermines the strength and credibility of our party. It is, therefore, imperative that the NWC rises above personal interests and places the survival and progress of our great party above all other considerations.”

He advised the NWC to ensure that the NEC meeting is held in February, stressing that “party members across the country are in earnest expectation.”

The former Senate President urged party members not to forget that Nigerians want to see the PDP strengthened ahead of the next election cycle.

“Nigerians are looking to us as a beacon of hope, and we cannot afford to let them down. We must rebuild trust and offer a credible alternative that prioritises the welfare of the people,” he added.

As party faithful await the NEC meeting slated for February, the leadership of the party will do itself a world of good by declaring early enough its position on where its presidential ticket is headed in the 2027 election. Such a declaration would avert the crisis which played a key role in the electoral shellacking the PDP got in 2023 when chieftains like Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Seyi Makinde and Okezie Ikpeazu worked against the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Until the party takes a definite position on whether it is going South or North in its search for a presidential candidate in 2027; the PDP might be on its way to political Golgotha

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, on Thursday defended the continuous stay of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in office, saying it is legal and lawful.

Fagbemi, who is also the Minister of justice, disclosed this in a statement he personally signed.

He said Egbetokun’s appointment which took effect from October 31, 2023 would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on September 4, 2024.

“However, before his retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 60 years.

“This has, therefore, statutorily extended the tenure of office of Egbetokun to and including 31st day of October, 2027 in order to complete the four year tenure granted to him.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Egbetokun’s continuous stay in office is in line with the provisions of the Police Act amended in 2024 which allow the occupant of the office to enjoy a term of four years effective from the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case, 31st day of October 2023.”

The Nigerian Immigration Service has intercepted 21 minors suspected to be victims of human trafficking at Geidam town near the Nigeria-Niger Republic Border in Yobe state.

The Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service in the state, Sani Sule-Jega, while handing over the suspected victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said the children are between the ages of seven to 15 years.

According to him, the minors were being transported from Magama local government area in Niger state to the Niger Republic for studies and do not have any travel documents.

“These are minors between the ages of seven to fifteen who were intercepted at Geidam border Out-Post in Geidam local government area of Yobe state. The purpose of that out-post is to checkmate all illegal entry because our core mandate is border security and migration management,” he said.

“They are coming from Magama local government area of Niger state to Niger Republic. They are traveling without travel documents to back up their journey, that is why we are suspecting them, we have handed them over to the appropriate authority, the NAPTIP for further investigations.”

The prime suspect, Abubakar Sadiq, who is also their guardian told Channels Television that the children are being transported to Niger Republic for studies.

“It was their parents that asked me to look for a school that is cheap, that is why I am taking them to a school in Maine in Niger Republic,” he said.

The guardian, the driver and the suspected victims have been handed over to the NAPTIP for further questioning

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 199,495 litres of smuggled fuel in Adamawa State. 

A statement by the NCS on Thursday said the move is in line with the agency’s resolve to crack down on smuggling.

The Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi said intelligence-driven operations by NCS officers in the Adamawa/Taraba Command led to the interception of 199,495 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

He added that “the operatives of Operation Whirlwind had successfully seized fuel, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦199,495,000, being smuggled across borders using tankers, jerry cans, and drums.”

“These economic saboteurs are determined to inflict hardship on law-abiding Nigerians, but let it be clearly understood that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its mandate to protect our national economy, ” he said.

“Despite the well-articulated economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to stabilise the energy sector, some unpatriotic elements remain determined to undermine these efforts through complex smuggling operations,” the statement quoted Adeniyi as saying.

The Customs’ boss said operatives carried out the interceptions at strategic smuggling routes, including Mova, Dasin, the Galamba-Song axis, and the Mubi-Maiha corridor.

Adeniyi assured Nigerians that the NCS would continue to adapt its strategies, strengthen intelligence gathering, and collaborate with security agencies to close in on smugglers.

“There will be no safe haven for them within our operational areas,” he said.

Nigeria Customs Hits Economic Saboteurs, Seizes 199,495 Litres of Smuggled Fuel

In view of the consequences caused by the economic saboteurs against the citizens, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under the leadership of CGC Adewale Adeniyi, has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, seizing nearly 200,000 litres of petroleum products in Adamawa State under Operation Whirlwind.

Announcing the latest development in Yola, Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi condemned smugglers’ continued sabotage of Nigeria’s energy sector by describing their actions as a direct assault on the economy.

“Despite the well-articulated economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to stabilise the energy sector, some unpatriotic elements remain determined to undermine these efforts through complex smuggling operations.” CGC Adeniyi said.

According to him, intelligence-driven operations by NCS officers in the Adamawa/Taraba Command led to the interception of 199,495 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), adding that “the operatives of Operation Whirlwind had successfully seized fuel, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦199,495,000, being smuggled across borders using tankers, jerry cans, and drums.”

The CGC also detailed the tactics used by smugglers, including night-time river crossings at Dasin Waterways, illegal storage facilities near border towns, and concealment in unauthorised dispensing points.

“These economic saboteurs are determined to inflict hardship on law-abiding Nigerians, but let it be clearly understood that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its mandate to protect our national economy.” He stated.

According to him, Customs operatives carried out targeted interceptions at strategic smuggling routes, including Mova, Dasin, the Galamba-Song axis, and the Mubi-Maiha corridor.

The CGC, however, assured Nigerians that the NCS would continue to adapt its strategies, strengthen intelligence gathering, and collaborate with security agencies to close in on smugglers, adding, “There will be no safe haven for them within our operational areas.”

In his closing remarks, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance and Administration, ACG Hussain Ejibunu, praised the Customs chief for his leadership and the officers’ dedication.

He also highlighted the importance of public cooperation, urging citizens to report suspicious activities to security agencies.

In line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and following the legal backing of a competent court of law, the seized petroleum products were auctioned to the residents of Adamawa State at the rate of N630 per litre in some designated filling stations, while those in 25 litres jerrycans will be disposed at N10,000 each.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has flayed the Federal Government for implementing the policies of Bretton Woods institutions, saying the removal of subsidies and increased tariffs are emasculating Nigerians.

“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay but they won’t pay,” NLC spokesman Benson Upah said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday. 

The labour union official rejected the recent announcement of a 50% telecom tariff hike by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and proposed a 5% increase in the cost of data and calls.

He said there was no going back on the nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to drive home the displeasure of the group against the recently announced telecom tariff increase.

Upah said, “This rally is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, 5%, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across board.

“But now to say 50%, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?

“The manufacturers are groaning, the middle-class people are groaning. The ordinary Nigerians on the streets can’t even afford to turn on the lights in their sitting rooms. When taxes are low, more people than when you have high taxes.”

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have consistently advocated the removal of energy subsidies and the floating of the naira, saying failure to effect the two economic policies has plunged Nigeria into severe inflationary pressures.

After his inauguration in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor, removed petrol subsidy and floated the naira. Petrol prices more than quadrupled, soaring from less than N200 per litre to over N1,100 in many parts of the country. The naira also took a nosedive, wobbling from around N700/$ to N1,600.

Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago

The Court of Appeal Abuja has affirmed the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organization.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, the appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which outlawed the IPOB.

The court held that it found no reason to set-aside the order the Federal Government got against the group.

According to the court, the FG acted lawfully by proscribing the organization whose activities threatened the nation’s security and continued existence.

It resolved all the issues against the IPOB and dismissed its appeal for want of merit.

The late former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, had in a ruling he delivered on September 15, 2017, outlawed the activities of the IPOB in Nigeria.

The proscription order followed an ex-parte motion the former Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Mister Abubakar Malami, filed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Specifically, Justice Kafafati declared as illegal, all activities of the group, particularly in the South-east and South-South regions of the country.

He further restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any of the group’s activities”.

The Judge directed the AGF to ensure that he published the proscription order in the official gazette, as well as in two national dailies.

In a follow-up ruling on January 22, 2018, the court dismissed a motion IPOB filed to challenge the legal validity of the proscription order which it said was surreptitiously obtained by the AGF.

Dissatisfied with the decisions, the IPOB approached the appellate court to set them aside.

The organization, in its appeal which it filed through its team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh, urged the appellate court to set aside in its entirety, the ruling/final decision of the high court.

It alleged that the then AGF suppressed and misrepresented facts in the affidavit evidence he tendered before the court, maintaining that the proscription order was tantamount to declaring over 30million Nigerians of Igbo extraction as terrorists.

The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on Thursday criticised the economic policies of the Federal Government, claiming they are imposing severe hardship on Nigerians.

He made the statement during a meeting of the National Reconciliation Committee of the People’s Democratic Party with governors from the North East and other key stakeholders in Bauchi. Attending the meeting were the Governors of Bauchi and Taraba, as well as the acting PDP National Chairman.

Fintiri expressed frustration with the state of the nation’s economy, stating: “Nigeria is bleeding, we are suffering, there is too much anger, and the economic policy is not working. That is why we always call on the Federal Government to reconsider some of these economic policies that are only putting hardship on Nigerians.”

He further emphasized that holding a position of power is a privilege given by God, and therefore, the country must be governed based on trust and responsibility.

The governor also urged the Federal Government to focus on policies that do not bring further pain to Nigerians, adding: “Whatever will make us cry must not be part of your policy because the country belongs to us. It does not belong to the World Bank, IMF, or the international community,” he said.

In his remarks on party unity, Fintiri assured that the three governors from the North-East would work together to strengthen the PDP in the region.

The governor also highlighted the importance of unity in the region, which he believes contributed to the party’s victory in all states of the region during the last presidential election.

“There is no state in the zone that PDP lost. Even the one we lost in Borno, up until now, we are still wondering how we lost that election because we know we did not lose that election in Borno,” he said.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, acknowledged the factors that led to the party’s loss in the last election.

He identified disunity within the party as a key reason and expressed the committee’s commitment to addressing these issues.

“We are here to interact with our leadership and membership of our great party so that we can discuss where we are falling short of what we were supposed to do, which led to the outcome we witnessed,” Oyinlola said

About 30 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday stormed the Department of State Security office in the Magodo area of the state.

Their visit appears to be connected to the detention of two of their colleagues who were invited on Wednesday for questioning relating to issues of the state assembly.

The two lawmakers invited for questioning are Hon. Lanre Afinni and Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu. According to sources, one of them has been released, while the other lawmaker is still in DSS custody.

The lawmakers currently within the premises of the DSS include: Hon. Abiodun Tobun Representing Epe constituency on, Hon Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa constituency two, Hon Kehinde Joseph representing Alimosho constituency two, Hon. Solomon Bonu representing Badagry constituency one and some others.

After six hours of questioning, 30 members who visited the DSS office have been released.

The lawmakers refused to comment after been released.

The invitation is related to the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who was removed on January 13 over allegations of financial misconduct, and other issues.

The embattled former Speaker wrote a petition to the DSS concerning the process of his removal.

The lawmakers said they will react to the issue at the appropriate time

Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos has upheld the penalties and interest amounting to $87.9 million imposed on MTN Nigeria Communication Plc by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The court gave the verdict while delivering judgment in an appeal filed by FIRS against the Tax Appeal Tribunal’s (TAT) decision of October 20, 2023.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the Tax Appeal Tribunal had awarded a principal sum of $71 million on MTN but did not grant the penalties and interest that FIRS had requested.

But dissatisfied with the TAT’s ruling, FIRS had approached the Federal High Court in an appeal marked FHC/L/1A/2024, urging the court to set aside the decision of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

FIRS specifically prayed the court for an order setting aside the decision of TAT and an order directing the Appellant to pursue all penalties and interest arising from the principal sum awarded by the Tribunal in its judgment dated October 20, 2023.

In its brief of argument, FIRS posed two key issues for determination before the court, asking whether the Tribunal was correct in refusing to grant the Appellant the accumulating penalties and interest after determining that the goods and services purchased by the Respondent were subject to value-added taxes.

The tax agency also asked the court to determine whether the Tribunal was right to apply the provisions of the Company Income Tax Act (CITA) to address assessments related to the penalties and interest arising from the operations of the Value Added Tax Act,

In response, MTN raised one main issue for determination on whether the Tribunal erred in law by setting aside the penalties and interest imposed by the FIRS on the Respondent’s principal value-added tax liability.

MTN also contended that the Tribunal correctly dismissed the penalties and interest imposed on its alleged principal VAT liability and that the Tribunal accurately interpreted Sections 13(2) and (3) of the 5th Schedule to the FIRS Act.

They further asserted that the Appellant’s arguments regarding the applicability of these sections do not align with the Notice of Appeal and are, therefore, ineffective.

In his judgment, Justice Faji resolved all the issues canvassed by the parties against MTN Nigeria Communication Plc.

He held, “The decision of the TAT contained from page 750 of the record to the effect that interest and penalty are not due to be paid by the respondent to the appellant is hereby set aside.

“This appeal, therefore, succeeds. I grant the three reliefs sought, as prayed,” the judge held

The convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja to the tune of N10m and one surety in like sum.

According to the ruling of the court, the surety must be a responsible individual with landed property valued in like sum.

The surety is expected to deposit the original documents of a landed property and a passport photograph to the Registrar of the court.

The trial judge, while ruling on the bail application on Thursday, ordered Sowore to also deposit his International Passport with the Registrar of the court.

The trial judge, however, gave Sowore 24 hours to perfect the bail conditions or be remanded by the Police until the bail is perfected.

LEADERSHIP reports that Sowore, founder and two-time presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, respectively, is being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on 17-count charges bordering on cybercrimes and deliberately calling the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, ‘illegal IGP’.