Politics

Tinubu strikes deal with G-5 Govs in London as PDP threatening sanction

Published

4 years ago

December 30, 2022

Indication emerged on Thursday that the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has struck a deal with the members of the G-5, the five aggrieved governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Daily Trust had exclusively reported on Wednesday that Tinubu and the five governors will meet in Europe where a deal on their alliance for the 2023 presidency would be struck.

An impeccable source close to Tinubu told this paper that the meeting was held on Wednesday at the London residence of the APC presidential candidate.

He said all the G-5 governors; Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), attended the meeting.

In attendance from the side of Tinubu included Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar and former governor of Ekiti State, John Kayode Fayemi.

Before the commencement of the meeting, the source said all other persons present at Tinubu’s residence were excused.

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“We have agreed to work together with the G5. The agreement rhythm with our desire to forge together a government of national unity.

“When the history of this political epoch is written, the names of Wike, Ortom, Makinde, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu will be written in gold for the courageous decision to place national interest above all other considerations,” he said.

He also said that the governors are to remain in PDP and work for the actualisation of Tinubu’s presidency while pursuing their other political interests.

Another source close to a sitting governor confirmed the meeting but added that they are still fine-tuning the modalities of the alliance for the benefit of all parties.

The crisis rocking the PDP revolves around the five governors. Since former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar emerged as the flag bearer of their party, they have been calling for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

The five PDP governors were unavailable for comments last night as they were yet to return to the country. Wike had recently foreclosed supporting Atiku, saying he would make his candidate for the presidency known to the public next month.

The governors have been weighing options between Tinubu and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. Daily Trust could not establish if all the five governors will support Tinubu at the end of the day considering the peculiarities of their stake in the political permutations.

Govs will be sanctioned if … – PDP

The PDP said it will not hesitate to bring the full weight of its constitution to bear on any member that goes contrary to its laid down rules and regulations no matter how highly placed.

Reacting to the romance of the governors with Tinubu and Obi, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told Daily Trust that the party will not spare any member that violates the constitution of the party.

Ologunagba disclosed that everything was still in the realm of speculation but if anything untoward happens, the PDP is a “Party that deals with rules and laws, we have our organs and processes and we follow our rules. The party takes action after due consideration of all the issues.

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“So when those things happen, the constitution of the party will deal with them. We are a party that is very organised, united and concerned about the elections and Nigerian people, but that does not mean that if anybody, no matter how highly placed, goes contrary to the provision of the constitution of the party, the constitution will not kick in.”

Ortom’s senatorial bid

Governor Ortom’s senatorial bid would not likely be affected if he supports the presidential candidature of either Peter Obi or Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election, sources familiar with what is happening, said.

Some members of the governor’s PDP and close allies believed that he has a firm grip on his Benue North West Senatorial District, which covers seven local government areas.

Ortom’s allies, however, think he would have a slight change in Tarka LGA where APC’s strong leader, Senator George Akume, who is the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, hails from as well as part of Gboko LGA, the homestead of the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

“Whether Ortom supports Obi or Tinubu, it will not affect his senatorial bid. It will not affect him except for the voting pattern in Makurdi metropolis, which is usually dicey because the sitting government never wins elections in the state capital because of its homogenous nature.

“But, Ortom broke the jinx and won in the last election. So, he would likely scale through again,” one of the allies said.

Also, a PDP stalwart, who declined his name in print, said the power of incumbency will determine the governor’s senatorial election and not his support for either of the duo.

How alliance will affect Makinde’s second-term bid

Unlike Ortom, the second term bid of Oyo Governor Makinde is being threatened by the continued insistence of the G-5 governor to work against Atiku while backing either Tinubu or Obi.

Makinde is the only first-term governor among the quintet. Although Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu are seeking senatorial seats, Makinde’s ambition is the most threatened considering the dynamics of Oyo politics.

The state is controlled by many political gladiators that it is difficult for a single politician to be the major determinant in an election.

Makinde won the 2019 election on the strength of a coalition of gladiators who wanted to oust the then-ruling APC and stop late Abiola Ajimobi from installing a successor.

Despite Makinde’s insistence on not supporting Atiku, some leaders of the PDP in the state, including a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Wole Oyelese and a former Minister of State for FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, have all declared support for Atiku.

An Ibadan-based political affairs commentator, Rasheed Olanrewaju, said if not well-managed, the opposition might take advantage of the crisis in the PDP to take over the state.

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“Seyi and his advisers need to think through their actions. It is a dicey situation. If Tinubu wins the presidential election, the momentum might favour APC in the state, especially those PDP leaders working for Atiku who might work against the governor to pay him back.

“If Atiku wins without Seyi’s support, it is also dicey because the APC candidate, Teslim Folarin still enjoys a good relationship with some leaders in the PDP, where he was until 2017. So they can decide to work for him and negotiate his return to the party after the poll, ensuring PDP still controls the state. Some PDP stalwarts are already campaigning for him,” he said.

While declining to comment on the report that Makinde and the other G5 governors will announce their preferred presidential candidate in January, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, maintained that his principal will be re-elected on the strength of his performance in the past three and half years.

Anxiety in Amaechi’s camp

Also, Tinubu’s romance with Wike is unsettling the camp of the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who came second during the presidential primaries of the APC in June.

Though Amaechi was named as the special adviser on infrastructure in the Presidential Campaign Council of Tinubu, Daily Trust reports that he has not been participating in the campaign exercise.

The former governor of Rivers State, who was the campaign DG of President Buhari in 2015 and 2019, has been at loggerheads with Wike since 2013.

A source close to him in Abuja told this paper that Amaechi was not being treated fairly by Tinubu and the people around him.

“It is an understatement to say he (Amaechi) is not happy. When Oshiomhole went to Port Harcourt, he asked the people to only support Tinubu and that for the other positions, they should support Wike. A similar thing was re-echoed when the Ebonyi governor visited the state,” he said.

He, however, faulted the report that Amaechi was mulling defection to the PDP.

“It is not true that he has met Atiku. He is not leaving APC, the party he co-founded,” he said.

A chieftain of the party in the state, Steve Nwankwo said that whatever alliance Wike has with Tinubu will not in any way diminish the influence of Amaechi in the party.

He said that Amaechi had laboured to build the party structures in the state saying that the former minister and his supporters were not afraid of whatever alliance governor Wike has with the APC presidential candidate.

The Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers State, Mr Darlington Nwauju, said Wike’s alliance with Tinubu was in the realms of conjectures and speculations.

Related Topics:Featured G-5 London PDP Tinubu

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Politics

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Published

1 hour ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Politics

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Published

5 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Politics

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, have reiterated their plan to reduce the cost of petrol if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

The pair made the remarks during a brief stop at an NNPC filling station in Guzape, Abuja, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, where they were approached by members of the public.

Amaechi was driving the vehicle with Atiku seated beside him when they stopped at the filling station. The encounter attracted a small crowd, with the politicians responding to questions about fuel prices and their proposed policy.

Amaechi said an Atiku-led government would reduce the cost of petrol through what the ADC ticket describes as a production subsidy, rather than simply returning to the previous system of subsidising imported petrol.

Atiku also addressed the crowd briefly in Hausa, saying, “Zan dawo da tallafi insha Allahu,” which translates to, “I will bring back the subsidy, by God’s grace.”

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The encounter came a day after Amaechi challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce petrol to ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi said he would withdraw from Atiku’s presidential ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol was brought down to that price. He made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The former Rivers State governor has continued to criticise the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on households, particularly the effect of higher fuel prices on transportation and the cost of goods.

Atiku has separately outlined a proposed domestic production subsidy under which government support would be directed at locally refined petroleum products.

The proposal is intended to reduce production costs for domestic refineries and, according to Atiku, allow the savings to be reflected in lower petrol prices for consumers.

The former vice president has argued that the intervention would be structured, capped and subject to public disclosure and independent auditing. Imported petrol would not qualify under the proposed arrangement.

The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major issue in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration in May 2023.

The Federal Government has defended the removal, arguing that the former subsidy regime imposed a significant burden on public finances. Opposition figures, including Atiku, have instead linked the policy to higher living costs and have proposed alternative measures to reduce the impact on consumers.

The Abuja filling-station encounter therefore provided Atiku and Amaechi another opportunity to restate their position on petrol prices, fuel subsidy and the cost of living as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 election.