Politics
2023: Trouble for Atiku, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso as Afenifere, Ohanaeze reject northern candidates

There may be looming trouble for prominent politicians from the northern part of Nigeria who have shown interest to run for president in 2023 as the Southern and Middle Belt Forum have demanded that all political parties zone their presidential ticket to the South.
The politicians include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had contested for presidency on three occasions, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and an ex-governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso. While neither of them had yet to officially declare their presidential bid, there are strong indications they are eyeing the exalted position.
Kwankwaso, while featuring on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television on Sunday, dismissed the power rotation between the North and the South.
But the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, which comprises Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere; the South-East socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; and the Middle Belt Forum, urged all parties to zone their presidential ticket to the South ahead of the 2023 presidential election, adding that the South and the Middle Belt would not vote for a northern presidential candidate in 2023.
The demand is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the leadership of the groups in Abuja on Thursday.
The communiqué was signed by elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Ayo Adebanjo (leader of Afenifere), Prof. George Obiozor (President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo) and Dr Pogu Bitrus (National President, Middle Belt Forum).
Also at the event were the National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, Senator Emmanuel Essien, as well as former governors and ministers.
The leaders resolved that the extant constitution and structure of Nigeria are grossly flawed and lopsided. They therefore demanded the fundamental restructuring of the country by enacting a new constitution that would enthrone equity, fairness and justice.
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The communiqué further read, “The northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the office of the Presidency of the country for the full statutory period of eight years by 2023, hence, the Presidency should rotate to the South.
“Therefore, we unequivocally, and in full resolve, call on all political parties in the country to zone their presidential tickets to the South and advise that any political party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect support from the four regions.”
The group noted that the basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, is fair and even sharing of power.
The leaders condemned the continued senseless killings of innocent citizens across the country by terrorists and criminals, especially in the North-West and called on the government and security agencies to redouble efforts to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
They cautioned the National Assembly to only give consideration to bills that would promote equity, justice, peace and national cohesion instead of issues that would exacerbate crises in the country.
Others who attended the meeting include former Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom; former Governor of Akwa Ibom; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Bozimo; Senator Femi Okurounmu, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Solomon Asemota (SAN), Mrs. Nella Andem-Rabana (SAN), Major General Henry Ayoola (retd.), Amb. Okey Emuchay and others.
Meanwhile, a group, Disciples of Jagaban, has asked Nigerians to reject the alleged elite gang-up to truncate the ambition of the former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of becoming president in 2023.
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The group, rooting for Tinubu’s Presidency noted that since the former governor informed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), the elite had started scheming so Tinubu would not emerge the next president.
Against this backdrop, the National Coordinator of the DOJ, Abdulhakeem Alawuje, in a statement on Friday, urged the masses to rise up against those who attempt to stop Tinubu.
The statement is titled, ‘Tinubu’s detractors, enemies of Nigeria’, read in part, “Detractors of Tinubu are not just Jagaban’s opponents, they are the collective enemies of the people, and if Nigerians fail to stop them now, we may not be able to stop them for a very long time.
“We all know how these people appropriated the resources of Lagos State before the emergence of Tinubu on the scene in 1999. Except the respite brought by former governor Lateef Jakande, Lagosians had long been denied the dividends of democracy and fruits of good governance, despite the fact that Lagos was the capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But since Tinubu took over the leadership of Lagos State, it has become a prosperous and a pacesetter state to date, under his guardianship and mentorship.”
Punch
Politics
Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau
Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has cast doubt on the ability of a newly formed opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Shekarau described the alliance, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as a gathering of individuals with personal political ambitions rather than a structured and unified opposition front.
His remarks came just two days after the coalition’s formation was announced, with the stated goal of challenging Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Sule Yau, Shekarau remarked, “This is just a gathering of certain individuals with political ambitions; none of them has officially consulted their party leadership.”
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He further argued that a coalition featuring prominent figures does not necessarily equate to an effective political alliance.
“The coalition of opposition figures is a good development, as seen in their recent meeting under what they call an opposition alliance. However, none of the key figures involved represents their party leadership,” Shekarau stated.
Emphasizing the legal framework for political mergers, he pointed out that only registered parties could formally unite, making the recent gathering an informal arrangement rather than an officially recognized coalition.
Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau
Politics
PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027
Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t made its official position known on the coalition being put together by some key leaders of the opposition to wrestle power from the ruling party at the federal level, All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, Sunday Vanguard understands that the PDP may join forces with them on one condition: The process will not lead to its loss of identity.
The PDP was in power for 16 years before the APC dislodged it from the Presidential Villa in 2015 when then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection to former President Buhari.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had, last week, announced his decision to join the coalition with other members of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Atiku was responding to a call by a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai, to key members of opposition parties in the country to come together and fight Tinubu and APC in 2027.
El-Rufai had made the call while dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In his response, the former PDP presidential candidate confirmed that he, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, among others, had kick-started a movement aimed at defeating Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections.
He spoke at a press conference organized by Nigeria’s key opposition leaders and political stakeholders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.
When journalists asked whether the emerging coalition would be the major opposition force against the APC in 2027, Atiku did not mince words.
“Yes,” he declared.
Clarity
Sources within the PDP told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend that the party will expect the former presidential candidate to give clarity to his decision soon.
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A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was “yet to be discussed at the official level,” said, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed.
“For now, he is still a high ranking member of our party the PDP.
“We have been following his public statements and engagements and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.
“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades -first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election; and in 2013 or thereabouts to join others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Note, however, that on each of these occasions he returned to the PDP.
“Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain. “For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear, this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.
‘Significant shift’
“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.
“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.
“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”
Identity
The party chieftain further explained that a majority of leaders and members of the PDP are resolute in their desire to ensure that the party retains its identity.
According to him, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, spoke the minds of most leaders and members of the PDP when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to dump the party and join the SDP.
Lamido said in an interview, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.
“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”
Lamido equally questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his motivation for seeking power.
“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole”, he said.
While restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the party which he helped to form hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant him leaving to join another.
His views resonated with another leader and foundation member of the PDP, Chief Bode George, who has told whoever cares to listen that he is in the PDP to stay.
PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027
Vanguard
Politics
PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on 20 December 2024, which affirmed the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that matters concerning the leadership or membership of a political party are internal affairs and should not be subject to judicial intervention. The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter initially brought by Aniagwu Emmanuel.
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However, the judgment, expected to bring an end to the crisis, has left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as both parties in the suit—Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye—are claiming victory. The development threatens to disrupt the fragile peace the party has enjoyed since its organs unanimously endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye following the High Court’s ruling in Enugu.
PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling
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