News
Our presidential ticket zoned to South – NDC *Invites Atiku to join party
Unlike the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which was prevaricating on the zoning option for the party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has come out with a clear declaration on the matter, saying the presidential ticket is going South.
A strong argument at the ADC had been that the party chieftains should zone its ticket to the area to enable it complete the presumed eight years since Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had already taken the first four years of the unwritten power rotation arrangement that Nigeria politicians seem to favour.
It was against this backdrop that some strong voices in the party, had pressurised Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President to shelve his ambition to go for the ADC ticket, which he roundly rejected, insisting that on making the choice through contestation.
But on Monday, Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the NDC, confirmed that the same scenario would not play out in the party, as it had clearly taken a decision to zone the position to the South.
Against the backdrop of the defection of Peter Obi, erstwhile presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), counterpart, from ADC to NDC, on Sunday, Galadima said the matter was already settled from the outset.
A guest of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, he told his host: “The NDC will submit its register either on the fifth or the sixth of this month. Once we do that, we’re good to go. We have zoned the party’s candidature to the south. No mincing words. We’ve zoned it to the south. Therefore whoever wants to run, should go and register to have the opportunity to run.
Galadima also made a direct pitch for Atiku to join the party to ensure that the goal of unseating President Bola Tinubu is achieved in 2027, saying that if the former VP declined, he could be held responsible for any failure to unify the and the consequences therefrom.
Hear him: “The truth of the matter is that all of us – Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, all of us migrated into the ADC such that they bring the unity of the opposition forces within the ADC to enable them without much problem to unseat Tinubu.
“Unfortunately, there is this insinuation that the APC and this government – in fact, by extension – Tinubu used the courts to scuttle the opposition. This is why I’m making this call to Atiku Abubakar to follow us as we followed him into the ADC, such that there will be the unity of the NDC to unseat this government.
“If he refuses, then whatever happens to the opposition, the Vice President will be held responsible. The clarity is that all the political gladiators are now in the NDC. If anybody is outside – as Kwankwaso was outside the ADC and he was persuaded to come in, so we’re pleading with Atiku Abubakar to come into the NDC such that we can consolidate again and remove the incumbent government.
“If he refuses to do that, then the ball is in his court, because he has scuttled the movement of the opposition to unseat this government. He cannot continue beyond tomorrow (Tuesday) to be in the ADC or else he has agreed now to forfeit his right to contest in this election in 2027.
The wives of the five engineers allegedly murdered in Ebonyi State yesterday rejected the comments attributed to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, on the development, describing it as an attempt to “sweep the truth under the carpet”. The group renewed calls for an independent reinvestigation into the case.
Nelson Onyemeh, Ernest Edeani, Ikechukwu Ejiofor, Samuel Aneke, and Stanley Nwazulum were reportedly kidnapped in November 2021 while supervising construction work on the Abakaliki Ring Road project.
The protesting women, whose husbands were consultants with NELAN Engineering firm, accused authorities of inconsistencies, interference, and a possible cover-up in the handling of the case, which dates back to November 3, 2021.
In a statement, Mrs. Patricia Onyemeh, Mrs. Lovette Edeani, Mrs. Ifeoma Ejiofor, Mrs. Esther Aneke, and Mrs. Nwazulum faulted Umahi’s claim that the engineers were victims of a communal crisis, as they insisted no such conflict occurred at the time.
They said: “The characterisation of the disappearance of the five engineers as a consequence of communal crisis is completely outrageous, misconceived, and flawed.” The engineers, according to the families, travelled to Ebonyi for an official meeting linked to the African Development Bank-funded ring road project when Umahi was governor.
They said: “Credible accounts indicate that our husbands were last seen in connection with official engagements tied to the Ebonyi Ring Road project. “This raises serious questions as to whether the incident can be fairly reduced to communal violence.”
They further alleged that while investigations were ongoing, Umahi announced that the engineers had been killed and buried, a move they said raised “serious suspicions”. The women said: “This announcement by a sitting governor, while security agencies were still tracking movements, raises grave concerns.”
The women also questioned the sudden removal of a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator, Victor Onyesom, who was reportedly handling the case.
They further accused the police of presenting unidentified skeletal remains to the families without conducting DNA tests. The group said: “The police claimed the remains were those of our husbands, but refused DNA testing.
You risk getting into trouble if you by any means, join in spreading the rumour that Tony O. Elumelu, because it is manifestly false, United Bank for Africa, one of the establishments of the popular Nigerian business mogul, warned on Monday.
Against the backdrop of rumours spreading across the social media, the bank rejected the claims as fake and damaging, saying at no time did the industrialist and Chairman of the Heirs Holdings, divorce his wife, Awele Vivien Elumelu.
The bank, in a statement, which also described the story as also defamatory, and malicious publication, the statement said: “These statements and all similar content are entirely fabricated, reckless, and without basis. The claims are a deliberate falsehood designed to mislead the public and cause reputational harm.”
Stressing that the matter had been reported to law enforcement authorities, the statement, signed by Alero Ladipo, confirmed that three people linked to the publication had been arrested.
Naming those involved in spreading the rumour as Mr Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Mr Chigozie Success Ihebom, and Mr John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky), the bank informed that investigations were ongoing and could lead to more arrests and prosecutions.
The statement added: “Investigations are ongoing and are expected to lead to further arrests and prosecutions of all persons involved in originating, amplifying, or sustaining this defamatory campaign. This serves as a formal notice to all individuals, platforms, and entities involved in the publication, reposting, or continued dissemination of this content to immediately cease and desist.
“Failure to comply will result in the initiation of legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, damages, and any other remedies available under applicable law.
“The UBA Group is resolute in protecting the reputation, privacy, and integrity of our brand, that of Mr. Elumelu and will pursue all necessary legal avenues — civil and criminal — to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable.”
Abdulrahman Mohammad, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), belonging to the camp of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all but scoffed at the 13-member Interim National Working Committee (INWC), raised by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) as a non-event.
In a statement, shortly after the committee was announced by Adolphus Wabara, PDP BoT Chairman, Mohammed dismissed claims upon which the body rested its decision after its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC), describing the development as illegitimate and misleading.
The embattled party boss, who conveyed his position through, Jungudo Mohammed, spokesman of the camp, said: “The PDP wishes to categorically state that no such meeting was convened by the leadership of the party. Consequently, any resolutions, announcements, or claims emanating from that gathering are null, void, and of no effect.”
Stressing the irony in individuals he claimed previously opposed the idea of a caretaker committee, now embracing it, he said every NEC meeting must be preceded with due notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission to be valied.
Hear him: “Even if, for the sake of argument, they possessed the legal authority to convene such a meeting (which they do not), they have once again failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
“Specifically, the mandatory requirement to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a minimum of 21 days’ notice for such a meeting was blatantly ignored. There is no evidence of compliance, nor was INEC in attendance as required by law. This alone renders their actions null and void.”
Mohammed questioned the authority of the BoT, a mere advisory body to raise the 13-man committee led by Taminu Turaki, saying such a move ran against the grains of the PDP constitution, urging relevant regulatory bodies to examine the conduct of those involved, particularly members of the senior bar.
Describing the development as part of a pattern, the party said the alleged NEC meeting was a continuation of earlier failed attempts to create confusion within its ranks.
His words: “We therefore call on all party members, stakeholders, and the general public to completely disregard this illegitimate assembly and its outcomes. It has no constitutional basis, no legal standing, and no binding authority whatsoever.
“The PDP remains committed to upholding its constitution, the rule of law, and democratic principles under the able leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammad and Senator Samuel N. Anyawu.”
-
Columns3 weeks agoAbike Dabiri: Did Obi raise a monster or you’re drunk on Tinubu’s poisoned chalice?
-
News4 weeks agoStop using Latin phrases, make clear, unambiguous orders – NBA tells courts
-
News2 weeks agoJandor: Tinubu didn’t endorses Hamzat *I’ve briefed President on my ambition
-
News4 weeks agoNafiu Gombe: Yes, I have sponsors! *I can’t fight ADC big men alone!
-
Columns2 weeks agoBe the hero that saved Nigeria! Open letter to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
-
News6 days agoBREAKING: Makinde, Turaki, lose! *S’Court affirms Wike’s PDP leadership
-
Columns4 weeks agoCentus Nweze (JSC): Death of legal purist, irony of Nigerian judiciary
-
Columns2 weeks agoNow VDM has become Sowore’s nemesis, does Peter Obi need anther advocate?