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Nwanyanwu dares Wike: Deny you’re not plotting to run against Tinubu in 2027
Dan Nwanyanwu, National Chairman, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has dared Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to publicly deny that he is not gearing up to run against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, threatening to release the dossier he has on the move, should the former Governor of Rivers State accept the challenge.
The challenge came on Monday, on a day Nwanyanwu, who had a fortnight ago confronted the Minister for allegedly sponsoring the political crisis, alerted the world about an alleged threat by those he identified as Wike’s “hit-men” to kill him for daring to expose the plot of their patron, whom he said, was already building his structure for the purpose, including choosing a candidate for the position of Vice President in the said ambition.
“What did I say that angered him? Because I revealed what he has in his heart – that he will run against President Tinubu – which is true. If I lied, you come out and tell Nigerians, don’t mind Dan, he’s a liar. I will not run against Tinubu. Why has he not denied it? You decided to use gestapo tactics as a response. Come and say I lied, I’ll give more information, I have more on that.
“He’ll run against Tinubu. (Let) him com and deny it. Even as I’m talking to you now, vice presidential candidates are being pencilled. I don’t talk anyhow. I know what I’m saying. They’re from the North. Is that your pain? Come and say it’s not true. Then I’ll make references and produce facts. That shouldn’t anger you to the point of taking lives.”
Narrating the incidents leading to the alleged plot of assassination against him, Nwanyanwu, who said some strange men had been trailing him since his first outing over the Rivers issue, told reporters in Abuja that things came to a head on Friday last week at the Transcorp Hotel, in the FCT, where he was eventually physically confronted by the alleged assassin.
Hear him: “I am constrained to bring to the notice of the Nigerian Public the unprovoked open threat to my life by a notorious Agent of the Former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT Chief Nyesom Wike, one Mr. Moses Emmanuel.
“This bloodthirsty killer brazenly confronted me at the Pastry shop, Transcorp Hilton where I was having snacks and coffee with my friend Alhaji Aliyu.
He said he wanted to speak with me. Not having known him before now, I demanded to know what he wanted to speak to me about, he said he would like to speak with me and I offered him a seat to sit down.
He introduced himself as a brother to Chief Nyeson Wike, and began to threaten my life making reference to a television interview I granted where I expressed my personal views on the avoidable crises in Rivers State which was being orchestrated and fueled by the followers of the former Governor against the incumbent Governor Chief Simi Fubara. Most well-meaning Nigerians and leaders have at various times since the Rivers’ crises began, expressed their views, concerns about the threatening explosion in that critical State of Nigeria.
“I have in all my political life intervened to the best of my ability on any issue that is likely to destabilise our fledgling democracy. I have never sat on the fence where issues of national interest are concerned. In that manner I raised my voice as I have always done in other issues that bother on national unity and stability.
I expressed my concern on Chief Wike’s interference and meddlesomeness in the governance of Rivers State, a state he governed for eight uninterrupted years.
“I was concerned that if law and order break down in Rivers State, its impact on the already poor economic situation in the country will further deteriorate and may snowball into a larger, bigger conflagration in a country that is already restive with many unmanageable flashpoints. No patriotic political leader will see such impending danger and not stand boldly and forthrightly to be counted among the peace makers to douse the tension in Rivers State.
“It is this interview that I granted to express my personal views and suggestions on this burning issue of Rivers State crises that apparently provoked Chief Nyeson Wike to dispatch his hitman to threaten me with elimination if I ventured to speak again on the matter of Rivers State.
“This wild dog became so vociferous in his threat that others heard him and this attracted the Security Agencies in Transcorp Hilton. They took him to the Hotel basement of the hotel where he was interrogated and the colleague with him who did not disclose his identity, told him to call the Minister and he made frantic calls and spoke to somebody.
“Shortly after that call, he made another call that someone requested to speak to me and I refused to take the call. Everyone around pleaded to me to speak with the caller and I took the call and it turned out to be Chief Chukwu Emeka Woke who was Chief Nyeson Wike’s, Chief of staff when he was Governor and his close aide that holds appointment in Abuja now.
When he identified himself, I asked him if he and his boss sent their hitmen to come and kill me. His response was in coherent as it was not a clear denial or a clear acceptance.
“The security man who intervened asked me what I would want to do at that point. I told them I would like to press charges for threatening my life in the open.
I believe the hotel of the standard of Transcorp Hilton Hotel must have the footages through their CCTV what I have stated here for the purpose of verification and I also believed that the DSS open a thorough investigation which will verify and corroborate the telephone conversation between me and Chief Chukwuemeka Woke.
“I wish to cease this opportunity to draw the attention of the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the involvement of his Minster of the Federal Capital Territory in the threat to my life. I similarly draw the attention of the Inspector General of the Police, Director General of the DSS and the National Security Adviser and the General Public to this ugly situation which if not nipped in the board will degenerate to a point where no Nigerian will be safe anymore to express his opinion on National issues even as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of Expression as an inalienable right of every Nigerian citizen.
“Should anything happen to me and any member of my family, the security Agencies need not look far as to who did it. Trusting that the President will take this matter seriously, I demand that I am provided with adequate security to protect myself and family, I further demand that Chief Nyeson Wike sign an undertaken that he will be held responsible if anything unwholesome happens to me and my family, henceforth.”
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, seems to find merit in the damning verdict of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing security agencies in Nigeria of complicity in the deluge of terrorist attacks in the country.
Jare Ajayi, National Secretary of the group, in agreeing with the position, posited on Wednesday: “This is because of the strong belief that the nature of terrorism bedeviling Nigeria would not be festering for this long without complicity from some powerful quarters.”
Though he acknowledged the determination of some patriotic operatives and government to stem the tide, he posited how difficult it was to believe that the activities of the terrorists would continue to thrive without active connivance.
Hear him: “With the vows by the President and top security officers, one has the feeling that the government is determined to end terrorism in Nigeria. When President Bola Tinubu appointed General Christopher Musa, (retd), as Minister of Defence, we had a lot of hope that within months, a total stop would be put to terrorism and banditry in the country.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be a spike, rather than reduction. The reason for this could be rooted in sabotage and complicity from within and from without. This tends to buttress the alarm raised by the US Commission.”
Stressing how the organisation been consistently calling the attention of authorities to areas that needed be looked into he maintained that these included politicians, who could be complicit in promoting the urgly situation.
Citing the recent comments by Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, who pointed in the same direction, Ajayi stated that no matter how unpalatable the position of the US body could be: “It is very important not to dismiss it but to use it a beacon with which to comb all areas.”
“Many people doubted us. Some dismissed us. Others predicted confusion, division, and even outright collapse. But you stood firm. You kept faith with the ADC. And today, because of your commitment, our party stands taller, stronger, and more united.”
With these words, David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday’s night showered praises on members for conducting what he considered a flawless presidential primary election to choose its candidate for the 2027 election.
Mark, Senate President from 2007 to 2015, his audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, that by the outcome, the party had demonstrated that democracy and political competition could still thrive in Nigeria without crisis or division.
Regardless of the rejection of the result of the exercise by Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), who contested in the exercise, the former Chairman of the National Assembly, was still upbeat about its outcome.
Atiku Abubakar, Vice President between 1999 and 2007, had emerged winner of the process that took place across Nigeria from Monday till Wednesday, when the result was eventually announced.
The declared result showed that the former VP who would be running for the nation’s number one job for a record seven times came tops with Atiku 1,846,370, to Amaechi’s 504,117 and Hayat-Deen’s 177,120. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457 in the 3,113,599 tally.
Mark, who officially presented the ADC flag to Atiku as the party’s presidential standard-bearer, was emphatic that the exercise was not merely about producing a presidential candidate but about proving that internal democracy could still function effectively in the country.
Hear him: “Today is not just about announcing a presidential candidate. Today is also about proving a point to Nigeria and to Nigerians. It is about proving that democracy can still work.
“Proving that political competition does not have to become political warfare. That a party can organise itself around principles instead of personalities. This event has shown that in a season of deep national anxiety, a bright future is still possible.”
Stressing that had doubted the party’s ability to conduct a peaceful and credible primary, with some predicting division and collapse within the ADC, he praised members of the Presidential Screening Committee and Presidential Primary Election Committee for what he described as their professionalism and commitment to fairness despite pressure surrounding the exercise.
“In the face of enormous pressure, logistical complexity, and intense national attention, they carried out their responsibilities with courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to fairness and transparency. The conduct of the primary has strengthened confidence in the party and its democratic process.
“Their work has strengthened the credibility of this exercise and reinforced the confidence of our members and the Nigerian people in the integrity of the African Democratic Congress.
“It is important to mention that we are the only political party to have three strong aspirants contest for the presidential ticket. This alone makes the ADC unique in its deep commitment to democracy and democratic practices.
“By subjecting themselves to this process, they did not merely contest an election. They strengthened democracy. And despite efforts in some quarters to create uncertainty and tension, they remained committed to this process and to the ideals of this party,” he added.
For Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), it was another day of glory, as Alex Otti, Governor of Abia laid out another red carpet for her in lieu of her starling performance in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The university don, was the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who was nationally recognised for standing her ground against forces that reportedly tried to skew the process, leading to the emergence of Otti as governor.
Since then, she had received several recognitions including from the governor and other bodies, including her own students at FUTO, who gave her a heroic welcome upon the conclusion of her INEC task – the first and only one to be so accorded in Nigeria.
Wednesday’s recognition came through the naming of the newly inaugurated Umuahia Central Bus Terminal, a multimodal transport facility in the state capital after her, by the governor, who said it was in recognition of her role in that exercise.
Otti, who stressed that the decision was informed by her act of courage, integrity and commitment to truth, said: “This terminal has been named after Professor Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the courageous INEC returning officer who demonstrated unflinching integrity in the discharge of her duties during a high-stakes election assignment here in Abia.”
The governor, while stating that the honour was not limited to don alone but symbolised all individuals who resisted electoral manipulation added: “In 2023, through her courageous disposition of standing firmly by the truth… she reminded us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by simply saying no.
“So she’s just a representative of all of you—INEC staff who never bent, party officials who didn’t give in, security agencies… people who said no to intimidation.”
Stressing that the state had moved beyond basic infrastructure delivery to building an integrated transport system, he said: “The days of playing small is over. We shall no longer confine ourselves to the margins.”
He explained that the terminal was designed to accommodate over 340 buses and would improve accessibility, safety and efficiency in urban transport operations, adding that it would be supported by electric bus services, with 20 already in operation, while additional units are expected in phases.
“Services will keep improving as more buses are delivered… and you can tell with accuracy when a particular bus will arrive and depart,” he said.
He urged residents to protect the facility and support government efforts by maintaining order and paying taxes, warning against vandalism, waste disposal violations and other practices that could undermine the project, stressing that offenders would face sanctions.
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