Politics
Wike: Atiku banking on Presidency! *They want power to remain in the North *Mark’s ignoble role *Last minute plot to stop me
Even David Mark, former Senate President and the Chairman of the Convention Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was not spared on Friday, in the expose by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as he recounted the role the party top echelon played in skewing the primaries that produced former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate in the 2023 election, at the event.
Wike, who riled up against the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu and Atiku for engaging in a grand plot, accused Mark of also playing a major role in skewing the process to produce the outcome, which handed over the ticket to Atiku, saying the former Chairman of the National Assembly did not play the noble role befitting of the office he had held.
On a day the governor accused Ayu, of exploiting delegates and manipulating the presidential primary which saw Atiku Abubakar emerge as the party’s flagbearer for 2023, he also accused Atiku of reneging on his own assuring that the office of the National Chairman must revert to the South to ensure balance in the party, saying it depicted arrogance on his part.
Wike, on the same day, also revealed how Atiku was banking on the Presidency, the seat of power in Abuja, to support his ambition to succeed the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, so that power would return to the North, saying it must have accounted for why the former VP did not see any reason to ensure fairness in the party in order to carry everyone along.
Hear him: “They’re are banking on the Presidency. No I did not say President Buhari, but some people in the Presidency who want power to return to the North. But they may not know the mind of the President. They don’t know what will happen on the last day. There are some people who are very close to me. They may come out and say this is what we’ll do and people will believe that it is from me. There may even be certain steps that will suggest that it is what I want. But until they hear from me, it may not be so. It is the same thing with Buhari. After all, did they not say that Buhari has endorsed a candidate. But eventually, did the President not say, no, everybody should go and canvass for votes and he was not backing anybody?”
Wike who spoke in a media chat on Friday, said of Ayu: “He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there. He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge. When he was canvassing to become leader of the party, he not allow me rest, pleading to be given a chance to unite the PDP.
“It was to my dismay, that he got into office and began to do the opposite of all he had sworn to uphold within the party. When they started selling forms for the primaries, I reminded the National Chairman that they had set up a committee on zoning headed by the Governor of Enugu State. However, Ayu started selling forms without resolving the issue of zoning.
“So, cleverly, they now came up to say, ‘well, since people have already bought forms, there is no need to zone.’ I knew the move would cause problems but decided to go in for the campaign and gave it his all. We went for the primaries and we campaigned seriously. And they were shocked because if you look at the modus of our campaign, nobody was the DG. Nobody was anything, you never know… because we didn’t want to allow anybody to approach people to be moles.
“But the success of the campaign became a problem and a source of concerns for other candidates and as such, a series of meetings were held. A whole National Chairman threatened some of the presidential aspirants at that time that if Wike wins he was going to resign. In fact, he was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku Abubakar. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi Governor) is there. (Bukola) Saraki is there; Tambuwal is there.
“Meetings and meetings and meetings were called. You must withdraw, if not we will lose. Wike will win. Some of them said but the issue is not about Wike, we want to run. This is the national chairman of a party, who is supposed to be the chief umpire,” Wike narrated. This continued even until the day of the primaries. This was the reason the PDP’s primary election kicked-off “very very late”.
“The primary was to supposed start at 11am. We started at 5:30pm to 6pm. Who are the delegates? (They are from) 774 local government under where use to have 4,000 or 5,000 delegates. So, what was going on? Meetings upon meetings upon meetings. Putting pressure (on aspirants to) step down. Some retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. But even in the committee of the convention, when we met in Benue Governor’s lodge with the National Working Committee, I raised it. I said, ’National Chairman, these people you are forwarding as chairmen of these committees are all known supporters of Atiku Abubakar.
“Ayu swore ‘oh, no’. I said look, ‘Just to let you know that if we don’t want this convention, we would have gone to court but we don’t want the party to be in crisis. Therefore, do the right thing so that at the end of the day all of us will be happy that the party has done a good convention and a winner has emerged without rancour.
“We are an opposition party, we are not in the ruling party. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves in such a way that there should not be internal crisis that may not be resolved before the general elections. There was nothing Ayu didn’t do; manipulation of delegates list… there was nothing he didn’t do. And, unfortunately, today, the numbers are not adding up. There is nothing they didn’t do to make sure that Wike did not emerge (as winner).
“So, we went to the convention and they came. You remember I spoke last based on alphabetical order. And when I came out to speak, of course, there was danger. The ovation was thunderous so it became a problem to them. To tell you, and I was highly disappointed by the former Senate President. Very experienced, very civil. All these things were set up to manipulate the system. Senator David Mark; he was the Chairman of the Convention planning committee. It has never happened in the history of elections.
“In fact, when you are speaking, whatever thing you want to do, it is at that point you will say it. But everybody has spoken, I have spoken. We have now sat down for them to commence voting, (that’s when) a whole Chairman of Convention Planning Committee said there was an announcement. It has never happened anywhere.
“The announcement we were thinking would be for security reasons, don’t pass this way or ‘there is something we just picked up; I don’t know if anybody has lost anything — your phone or whatever’. Such announcements is expected. But (the announcement was) to give back the microphone to Tambuwal to come again and speak after everybody has spoken to say ‘My brothers I want to withdraw’.
“Not even saying you want to withdraw, you now went ahead to say that his people should vote for Atiku Abubakar. At that point, if not for the love of the party we have, if we don’t love this party, that convention wouldn’t have held. There would have been crisis in that convention.”
Wike also accused Ayu of being very corrupt, when told that that was a weighty allegation and asked if he had evidence, he challenged Ayu to deny the allegation.
“Listen, Ayu has the opportunity to challenge me. I will name, I said I will name. I told you I was going to speak; am I not speaking today? Even some of the governors can tell you.
“Look, will he deny that he collected one billion from Lagos? Let him deny, I will tell you who gave him the money; not Lagos government. The money was given to him in Lagos. He met one of the presidential aspirants and told him that he is not sure these governors will want to sponsor the party.
“Let Ayu say no. I will even call some of the business men and how the money was arranged in Lagos. That money did not enter into the account of PDP. But we are not attacking Ayu on that basis. Look I am not any governor. I am a serious governor. I can’t just come here and begin to say anything. I say I challenge (him). Let him deny this.”
Source: tinyvoicengr.com
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Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, virtually poured cold water on the burning issue of Goodluck Jonathan, for Nigerian President making a bid for the office he lost in 2915 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, through the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi, who is also making another bid for the same office for the second time, told reporters on Tuesday, shortly getting a letter of clearance from the Nigerian Democratic Congress though he was not aware that the former President was contesting, he was in no position to obstruct the move as political choices were the rights of individuals to make.
Against the revelation by Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State, who spoke on behalf of Nemadi Sambo, Jonathan’s Vice President and currently in charge of the presidential screening of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi told the reporters at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja: “Actually, I’m not aware of that. But democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for.
“I’m not in any way going around looking for who and who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria.”
But he was quick to marshal out his plans for the country, declaring that under his presidency, Nigerians would be freed from daily lamentations coming from the parlous situation the present government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by President Bola Tinubu had plunged the country.
Hear him: “This I will do by first uniting the country because it’s not a united country. We have to govern the country by the Constitution of Nigeria, which stipulates federal character and inclusivity. The country must be united. The country must be secure.
“We want to see mothers no longer fear when their children go to school or work. We also want a country where we can travel all over Nigeria without fear. So many Nigerians today go to bed not knowing where the next meal will come from tomorrow. That must change.
“We must live in a country where people do not turn public assets and public wealth into private assets. So we must fight corruption to a standstill and make it work for everybody. Politicians are preoccupied with the next election when Nigerians are dying. That must stop.”
He also took time to explain the reason for the two-hour stretch of drilling during the screening. Saying: “This is democracy in action because NDC chooses to do things properly. So when we say this is going to be screening, it has to be done right.
“Nigerians want to know whether you meet the stipulated constitutional qualification and provide relevant documents to back them.
“This is the way to know whether everything you have said or declared is the truth and if you can answer questions posed about your commitment to building a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria. That’s why the screening took over two hours.”
Regarding his status as a sole candidate, Obi, who was accompanied by Victor Umeh, a long time ally and Senator representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, said: “I don’t know who else has bought. So until the party says I’m the only one who expressed interest, that’s it.”
“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.
“However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building,”
These were the exact words with which Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 presidential announced his decision to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election, putting paid to speculations that have been rife that he is exiting the coalition arrangement, which also had Atiku, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi as members.
Using his official X handle to make the announcement on Sunday, Obi also decried a broader societal trend where integrity, humility, and adherence to due process are often misinterpreted as weakness. He expressed concern that genuine efforts toward nation-building are increasingly undermined by suspicion, exclusion, and political maneuvering focused more on control than service.
Despite his departure, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s progress, emphasizing that his primary concern remains the welfare of citizens—particularly issues of insecurity, poverty, and displacement. He stressed that his ambition is not driven by the pursuit of political office, but by a desire to see a just, compassionate, and functional society.
Obi’s announcement comes after days of speculation in the media about his planned exit from the party he joined barely six months ago to the newly registered National Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
However, Obi did not disclose his next destination in the statement issued on Sunday.
On his part, Kwankwaso said that neither he nor his associates has taken any final position on their political future. He emphasized that consultations among key stakeholders are still in progress.
He acknowledged, however, that the ADC is grappling with mounting legal and structural challenges.
See full statement below:
Fellow Nigerians, good morning. I woke up this morning after my church service with a deeply reflective heart, and despite every constraint, I felt compelled to share these thoughts with you.
Many people do not truly understand the silent pains some of us carry daily—the private struggles, emotional burdens, and quiet battles we face while trying to survive and serve sincerely in difficult circumstances.
We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities for decent living often works against the people—a society where intimidation, insecurity, endless scrutiny, and discouragement have become normal.
More painful is when some of those you associate with, believing you would find understanding and solidarity among them, become part of the pressure you face. Some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.
We live in a society where humility is mistaken for weakness, respect is seen as a lack of courage, and compassion is treated as foolishness—a system where treating people equally is questioned simply because you refuse to worship status, tribe, class, or power.
Personally, I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them. I have never used privilege, position, or resources to oppress others, intimidate the weak, or make people feel small. To me, leadership has always been about service, sacrifice, and helping others rise.
Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.
However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building.
Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider in one’s own home. You and your team become easy targets for every failure, frustration, or misunderstanding, as though honest contribution has become a favour being tolerated rather than appreciated. And when you choose to leave so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned.
Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character and question your intentions.
There are moments I ask God in prayer: Why is doing the right thing often misconstrued as wrongdoing in our country? Why is integrity not valued? Why is the prudent management of resources, especially when invested in critical areas like education and healthcare, wrongly labelled as stinginess? Why are humility and obedience to the rule of law often taken to be weakness rather than discipline? Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President.
I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed while going to school or work. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people will not live in IDP camps but in their homes. I am desperate for a country where Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from.
Yet, despite everything, I remain resolute. I firmly believe that Nigeria can still become a country with competent leadership based on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity for all. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President is playing a major role in tinkering opposition politicians in Nigeria into one platform, leading to their decision on Saturday to produce a common candidate to square up against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The former President is said to be the rallying point for the massive initiative, believed to have foreign components, including supports coming from as far as the United States and the United Kingdom, where Nigerians with influence are persuading authorities to help dislodge Tinubu and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The initiative is coming as lobbyists are intensifying efforts to press it on London and Washington about the need for a regime change in Nigerian, a project said to be getting traction, based on manifest anti-democratic credentials already manifesting within the government in Nigeria.
A current video circulating in recent days, showed one of the efforts being championed by Mike Arnold, former Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, and founder of Africa Arise International, a nonprofit focused on humanitarian work and missionary efforts in Nigeria.
The former mayor was seen in the video, not only pushing authorities in Washington to act fast to change the APC government of Tinubu, which he accused of doing little to prevent the massive killings in Nigeria, by ensuring a free and fair election in 2027.
An insider privy to the move, told WhirlwindNews: “What you saw today, is a foretaste of what is coming. You know these politicians are coming from every angle. Baba, is making sure that politicians get it right. That is why he is throwing his weight behind the initiative. He is doing everything to ensure that what Tinubu is planning for Nigeria doesn’t succeed.
“How can Nigeria descend into a one-party state where nobody will act outside the confines of the Tinubu influence. Is that not autocracy. That is what Obasanjo is trying to prevent. Such a thing is not going to happen under his watch, it is not going to happen before his nose. That is what he wants to prevent even if it is the last thing he does while alive.
He also spoke of the foreign arrangement, confirming the push to secure help from outside Nigeria, saying: “These people have captured all institutions in Nigeria – INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), the security agencies and the judiciary – so, what is left, is the determination of Nigerians not to allow it.
“You know what will result if Tinubu manages to capture Nigeria in the manner it is going. It is not going to stop there. Where we are headed is to make Nigeria like Cameroun under Paul Biya, Uganda under Yoweri Museveni and the likes. Of course these countries are watching known that what is at stake is democracy and the consequences will be great if Nigerian democracy fails.
Political leaders at a National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders held on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State, after weighing in on the current challenges facing the country, warned that democracy in the country was under increasing strain and required urgent collective action to safeguard it.
The summit, themed: Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue” brought together key opposition figures across party lines, culminating in the adoption of a joint communiqué known as the Ibadan Declaration.
Leaders at the event said the decision to rally behind a single candidate was driven by the need to avoid fragmentation of votes and strengthen the opposition’s chances at the polls.
Seyi Makinde, who hosted the delegation, while warning of not only a steady erosion of democratic competition, but that the concentration of political power under one party threatened pluralism, reminded the ruling party that the ‘wet e’ era in the defunct Western Nigeria, started from Ibadan, which he said must not be allowed to repeat itself.
“Democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one-party state,” he said.
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, described the move as both strategic and necessary, warning that disunity has historically weakened opposition efforts.
“A single stick can be broken easily, but a bundle of sticks is far more difficult to break,” he said, urging political actors to prioritise national interest over individual ambition.
Turaki maintained that Nigeria is currently experiencing what he termed “progressive regression,” citing worsening insecurity, economic challenges, and declining confidence in democratic institutions.
“This is not a moment for silence or division; it is a moment for decisive action,” he said.
Former Senate President David Mark described the moment as a “national rescue mission,” stressing that no single opposition party could confront the current political structure alone.
“We cannot confront the future as fragmented entities. This is the time to rewrite the story of coalition building in Nigeria,” Mark said.
In the communiqué issued at the end of the summit, opposition parties reaffirmed their commitment to contest the 2027 elections at all levels, rejecting what they described as attempts to impose a one-party state.
They also resolved to resist any move to make the election a one-candidate race, insisting that Nigerians must be presented with credible alternatives.
Beyond the consensus candidacy plan, the declaration raised concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.
They passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan.
The opposition leaders alleged bias and called for his removal from overseeing the 2027 elections.
The summit further urged the National Assembly to review contentious provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, and demanded an extension of deadlines for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
Participants also called for the release of political actors allegedly detained on bailable offences, stressing the need for inclusivity and respect for fundamental rights.
Speakers at the summit, in their separate remarks, repeatedly stressed that Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, urging leaders to act decisively to preserve democratic institutions.
The summit ended with the declaration of a shared commitment among opposition parties to deepen collaboration, rebuild public trust, and present a united challenge in 2027.
The Ibadan meeting attracted several prominent political figures from different political parties, including the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Among them were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, political economist Pat Utomi, and elder statesman Jerry Gana, among other notable political leaders.
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