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BREAKING: PDP govs abandons Atiku! *Say, Count us out of coalition
The move by Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to convoke a grand coalition, to wrench power from the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been dealt a deadly blow with governors elected on the platform of the party, backing out of the project.
The governors, who rose from a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to deliberate on pressing national issues, said they were not interested in the idea – a major factor in the party losing its 16-year hold on power, when the APC resorted to it in 2014 that led to the historic victory a year after in 2015.
But snubbing the idea at the meeting held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the governors under the PDP Governors Forum (PGF), said the party would not get involved in any merger, but would be glad to welcome individuals and platforms willing to collapse into it.
Bala Muhammed, Chairman of the body, who read the resolution, said the forum noted the “nationwide speculations about possible mergers of parties, groups, and/or associations and resolved that “the Forum will not join any coalition or merger. Equally, the forum emphasised that the PDP, as a major opposition party, welcomes any parties, persons, or groups that are willing to join the party with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.”
The body, which also spoke on the lingering crisis regarding who is the authentic National Secretary between Sam Anyanwu and Udo Okoye, both still laying claims to the office even after the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, added: “The Forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba regarding the National Secretary of the party. The Deputy Secretary will temporarily act as National Secretary pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive secretary from the Southeast zone at its next meeting.”
Regarding the proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State, the governors said: “The Forum restates its solidarity with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the ordeal into which his state and people are being by the declaration of a state of emergency. And we reiterate the commitment to stand with him till the end.”
Addressing the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in Borno, Katsina, and Edo States, the forum, which expressed alarm, while calling for a review and reorientation of priorities and strategies, suggested the need for a bottom-up approach to tackle security breaches effectively, stating: “The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country.”
They condemned the recent attacks in Plateau State, stating, “We extend our condolences to the government and people of the state, especially those who lost lives and property during this unfortunate mishap.”
Looking ahead, the PDPGF announced plans to hold a meeting on May 27, 2025, to establish a zoning committee.
Read the full text:
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) held its Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, and resolved the following:
- Noting the nationwide speculations about the possible merger of parties, groups and/or associations, the Forum resolved that we won’t join any coalition or merger. However, the PDP as a major op party welcomes any party, persons or groups that are willing to wrestle power and enthrone good leadership in 2027.
- The Forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba on the issue National Secretary of the party, but in the wake of the Supreme judgment, the Forum resolved to recommend that the Deputy Secretary act as National Secretary, pending the nominat ratification of a Substantive Secretary from the South East Zone at its next meeting.
- The Forum reasserts our collective determination to avert a rap constitutional democracy hence the decision to approach the Supreme Court to give a clear-cut verdict on the interpretation provisions of the court on the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State.
The Forum restates its solidarity with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the ordeal into which his state and people are being by the declaration of a state of emergency. And we reiterate the commitment to stand with him till the end.
- The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation country, as evidenced in parts of the country, especially Borno. Katsina and Edo States. The Forum calls for review and priorities and strategies including adopting a bottom-up approach that guarantees the sub-nationals to constitute an effective line o against security breaches. While raising the concerns, we condemn the recent attacks in Plateau State, and commiserate with the government and people of the state especially those who lost and properties during this unfortunate mishap.
- The Forum resolves that working in conjunction with the Nationa Committee (NWC) and other relevant organs of the party, to ho Meeting on the 27th of May, 2025; constitute a Zoning Committee to address all issues relating to the zoning of party offices and hold our convention in August 2025, precisely on the 28th, 29th and 30th in the ancient city of Kano.
- The Forum equally recommends the constitution of the Zoning and National Convention Committees for ratification by the NWC and NEC as follows;
Zoning Committee: Gov. Douye Diri Chairman; Gov. Dauda Lawal – Vice Chairman and Gov. Caleb Mutfwang-Secretary, while the National Convention Committee has Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri as Chairman; Gov. Ademola Adeleke as Vice Chairman and Gov. Peter Mbah as Secretary.
- The Forum expressed its gratitude to the host Governor, His Excellency. Engr. Seyi Makinde, the government and all the good people of Oyo state for their hospitality.
Signed:
H.E. Bala A. Mohammed, CON,
Chairman PDP Govs Forum/Governors of Bauchi State.
May 14, 2025.
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has given assignment to Nigerians to put all those aspiring to take up political positions in the country through the grill to ascertain their level of integrity, saying it was required as a sine qua non for the job they seek.
Obi, who has been a subject of discussion in the polity since the allegation of corruption was levied against him by Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesman of his campaign in 2023, over the conduct of the party’s primaries to choose candidates for the 2027 general elections, said the grilling must start with his own person.
A guest in an interview on a podcast with Rufai Oseni, a popular television anchor, the former Governor of Anambra State, stated that it was actually for this reason that he had now sworn to see the litigation he instituted against Okonkwo through.
His take is that the Nollywood actor should use the courtrooms to give all the details of bad behaviour, following his threat to expose him fully, after alleging that he was collecting money from aspirants in the said election for electoral favours.
Hear him: “The issue of taking Kenneth Okonkwo to court wouldn’t have arisen if he had stopped at those allegations. But he claimed he still has more he would expose about me in the future. So, I am very happy to take him to court so that he can expose me publicly, alongside other Nigerians. If any of them has any criminal allegations against me, they should bring them to court.
“Not just Kenneth, everybody should now say those things they know that is bad about me or I did that is wrong because it’s good for the system, it’s good for the society,” Obi said.
“So, if you know that when we were in primary school, this man was cheating or didn’t go to the primary school, didn’t go to secondary school, didn’t do, if you know this man has done something criminal somewhere, this is time to bring it up.”
For the umpteenth time, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned about the dangerous implication of using state institutions, particularly the judiciary to destroy Nigeria’s democracy, saying it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), speaking on the heels of Tuesday’s verdict of the Court of Appeal, halting the de-registration order by the Federal High Court, insisted that judicial officers must not lend themselves to any act capable of undermining the nation’s democratic process.
The appellate court had ordered a stay of execution on the order made on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC alongside four other political parties).
A totally scandalised Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, had taken umbrage, sparing no hard words in upbraiding the lower court judge, stating that his likes were unfit to sit on the bench.
In a unanimous ruling by a three-man panel, the court held that Lifu’s action was “the highest form of judicial impertinence”, stressing that the Supreme Court previously held that a judge who acted in such a manner.
Describing his conduct as the height of judicial rascality, the upper court, stated: “Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court.
“The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.
This court has the duty to invoke its powers in ensuring that its orders are obeyed. The application for a stay of execution is here yet granted. The enforcement of the judgment is stayed.”
Atiku, who hailed the position of the higher court, which restored his hope to be on the ballot as presidential candidate in the 2027 election, also noted the role of INEC as “significant.”
He said: “I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgement seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.
“The development reflects growing public concern over judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings within the judiciary. “Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice.
Outside ADC, Lifu’s order, also included: Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), similarly slammed for allegedly failing to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration and participation in elections.
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
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