Politics

PEPT: Atiku’s greed cost PDP presidency – Okechukwu

Published

3 years ago

September 7, 2023

Atiku’s Fuel Subsidy Plan Unrealistic, Destructive, Says Presidency

Atiku Abubakar

PEPT: Atiku’s greed cost PDP presidency – Okechukwu

Osita Okechukwu, the director-general of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claims that Atiku Abubakar’s avarice led to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) losing the 2023 presidential election.

Okechukwu remarked that PDP has strong chances of winning the February 25 election as he spoke as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal handed down its ruling on Wednesday on the lawsuits brought against President Bola Tinubu’s election.

According to him, PDP supporters should not blame the tribunal for failing to nullify Tinubu’s victory as they hoped, but rather, should lay their blame on Atiku for derailing the party’s chances in the presidential election.

Okechukwu noted that “Atiku’s failure to rise to the golden opportunity and play as a statesman by supporting his erstwhile running mate Peter Obi or any other Southern presidential candidate divided the opposition party”, adding, “Atiku dealt PDP a huge blow from which it might be difficult to recover.”

Commenting on the dismissal of petitions filed by the opposition parties against Tinubu of the APC, Okechukwu said, “Those intricate webs could have been resolved if Atiku had obeyed the zoning convention, supported Peter Obi or any other Southern presidential candidate.

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“It could have been simply an all Southern bout. The Wike masquerade wouldn’t have emerged. That would have meant that the bulk of votes he (Obi) garnered could have been credited to PDP.

“Atiku divided PDP’s votes irreparably. All the votes Labour Party garnered were from the party’s (PDP) stronghold, minus votes warehoused by the former Vice President who naively forgot that Northern voters are one of the most sophisticated in the country, but believed that Northern electorate would behave like children in a dormitory waiting for directives on how to vote.”

Okechukwu added that Tinubu should be commended for ‘rescuing the zoning convention’ which provides for rotation of power between the North and the South.

He said, “First and foremost, let me congratulate President Tinubu, for rescuing the zoning convention, a ligament binding North and South from unprecedented assault.

“To be honest, my take is that the opposition lost the election that day in 2022, when His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, trampled on the presidential zoning convention, which governed the 4th Republic Nigeria and was also embedded in his party’s Constitution.

“Recall that Atiku earned accolades when he stormed out of PDP Convention in 2014 in protest that President Goodluck Jonathan was breaching the zoning convention. And, in 2018, Governor Nyesom Wike hosted the PDP convention in Port Harcourt and ensured that only Northern aspirants contested for the presidential ticket as a way of honouring the zoning convention.

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“So, it is obvious that when Atiku sacrificed statesmanship on the altar of narrow political ambition, one concluded that he had wittingly or unwittingly fatally wounded the fabric of PDP.

“And, going by the time worn cliché, a divided house cannot stand. Nigerians should recognise that Atiku by his greed denied PDP a possible victory.”

Speaking further, Okechukwu stated that, as a ‘Buharist’ that had experienced the pain of losing post-election litigations, he fully understood the sense of grief among members of the PDP, Labour Party, LP and Allied Peoples Movement, APM, over the tribunal’s verdict.

Speaking on the way forward, Okechukwu called for the promulgation of a revised Electoral Act that will resolve all evident ambiguities by providing for only electronic accreditation and transmission of results.

Okechukwu said, “I subscribe to the idea that we should totally abolish manual collation of results and make electronic transmission of results mandatory.

*We also need to return to the popular Justice Uwais Handbook on Electoral Reform, which among other fine democratic tenets recommended how best to transparently recruit the INEC chairman, commissioners and sundry officials.

“With these alterations, election petitions will be concluded before swearing-in of winners. Let us not forget that our democracy has witnessed tremendous advancement and also keep in mind the fact that democracy is not a revolution, but a work in progress.”

PEPT: Atiku’s greed cost PDP presidency – Okechukwu

Politics

ADC Raises Alarm as Court Delays Release of Lifu’s Judgment Despite Payment

Published

1 hour ago

November 9, 2026

Trends Admin

ADC Raises Alarm as Court Delays Release of Lifu’s Judgment Despite Payment

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised fresh concerns over the handling of its leadership crisis, accusing the Federal High Court in Abuja of delaying the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a judgment that nullified the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

The party’s Presidential Campaign Council said the continued delay had denied affected parties access to the full details of the judgment, despite the payment of the prescribed fees for obtaining certified copies.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said lawyers representing some of the defendants had formally applied for the certified judgment but were yet to receive the document.

According to the council, counsel to the third defendant submitted an application on November 5, the day Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment, while counsel to the first defendant filed another application on November 6.

The council maintained that both applications carried the Federal High Court’s official ‘PAID’ stamp, indicating that the required fees had been settled.

Shaibu questioned why the certified judgment had remained inaccessible despite the judge’s reported declaration in open court that copies were ready.

He argued that the delay was particularly troubling because the judgment directly affected the leadership and future of the opposition party, as well as the political interests of its members.

The ADC campaign council maintained that without the certified copy, affected parties could not properly establish the precise orders made by the court or fully determine the appropriate legal steps to challenge them.

It described the situation as a denial of access to justice, insisting that litigants should not be subjected to unnecessary difficulties in obtaining official copies of judicial decisions affecting their rights.

The council also recalled its earlier objection to Justice Lifu presiding over the case, saying its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had previously raised concerns about the judge’s impartiality.

It further questioned the timing of the judgment, which was delivered days after the ADC’s campaign activities in Sokoto, alleging that the circumstances surrounding the ruling and the subsequent delay in releasing the certified copy had heightened suspicions among party members.

The ADC had earlier rejected the November 5 judgment and announced plans to challenge it through the appropriate judicial channels.

In the controversial ruling, Justice Lifu nullified the Senator David Mark-led leadership structure and invalidated actions taken by the disputed executive, including decisions connected to the party’s 2027 presidential nomination.

The ruling also recognised the position of Nafiu Bala Gombe in the leadership dispute.

The ADC has vowed to pursue every lawful avenue to challenge the judgment, while demanding an immediate explanation for the delay in releasing its certified copy.

As of Monday, November 9, there was no reported official response from the Federal High Court addressing the campaign council’s latest allegation.

ADC Raises Alarm as Court Delays Release of Lifu’s Judgment Despite Payment

Politics

Tension in Delta as Task Force Members Protest Over Colleague’s Killing at NDC Rally

Published

1 hour ago

November 9, 2026

Trends Admin

One Killed, Five Injured as Violence Disrupts Obi-Kwankwaso Rally in Delta

Tension in Delta as Task Force Members Protest Over Colleague’s Killing at NDC Rally

ASABA, DELTA STATE – Tension has heightened in Asaba, Delta State, following a protest by members of a task force over the killing of their colleague during Saturday’s violent political clash involving supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The protest reportedly took place on Monday, November 9, 2026, two days after violence erupted during a political procession organised by the Obedient/OK Movement in support of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to reports, the task force members took to the streets to express their anger over the death of their colleague, who was reportedly among those affected by Saturday’s violence.

The protest came amid growing tension over the circumstances surrounding the deadly confrontation, which left one person dead and several others injured.

The incident occurred along Nnebisi Road, Asaba, at about 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, during the political procession.

The Delta State Police Command confirmed the death and disclosed that five other people sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The police said they had received intelligence suggesting a possibility of violence before the procession and subsequently invited the organisers to a security meeting.

According to the command, the organisers were advised against holding an open-road procession and encouraged to conduct their political activities at a designated venue where adequate security could be provided.

However, the police alleged that the organisers ignored the advice and proceeded with the procession.

Following the violence, the command announced that it had commenced a full-scale investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the clash and identify those responsible.

The Delta State Government also condemned the incident, describing the loss of life as unacceptable and calling on the police to ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

The development has further heightened concerns over political violence and public safety in Delta State as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The circumstances surrounding Monday’s protest, including the full identity of the deceased task force member and the extent of the protesters’ demands, were not immediately clear.

Tension in Delta as Task Force Members Protest Over Colleague’s Killing at NDC Rally

Politics

Hamzat, GRV Clash Over Housing, Transport, Governance at Lagos Debate

Published

22 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Hamzat, GRV Clash Over Housing, Transport, Governance at Lagos Debate

The Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) counterpart, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, have presented contrasting development plans for Lagos State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The two candidates outlined their policy priorities during the 2026 Lagos State Governorship Debate held in Lekki on Sunday, November 8, with particular attention to housing, transportation, infrastructure, security, healthcare, waste management and accountable governance.

Hamzat, who described the debate as a job interview, relied heavily on his experience in public service, arguing that his professional background and previous appointments had prepared him for the responsibility of governing Lagos.

He said his experience as a teacher, case manager in New York and systems manager, alongside his years in the Lagos State Government, had equipped him with the knowledge required to manage the state’s affairs.

The APC candidate recalled his time as Commissioner for Science and Technology, during which he said he led the development of the state’s residents and structural database.

He also highlighted his tenure as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, citing his involvement in the delivery of major infrastructure projects, including a cable bridge described as the first of its kind in West Africa and the second in Africa.

Hamzat said effective governance required a leader who understood the people, the state and the responsibilities attached to public office.

Presenting his development blueprint, tagged Jacob’s Promise, he said it was structured around seven pillars, seven broad areas of action and 100 pledges.

He identified respect for citizens, hard work and truthfulness as the principles that would guide his administration, adding that government should prioritise actual delivery over public announcements.

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According to him, residents should evaluate candidates based on their experience, the substance of their programmes and their ability to translate promises into tangible results.

In contrast, Rhodes-Vivour argued that Lagos needed a different approach to governance, accusing successive administrations of prioritising the interests of wealthy residents and privileged communities over those of ordinary people.

The ADC candidate said his political activities and manifesto had consistently focused on improving the living conditions of ordinary Lagos residents.

He maintained that the state needed an integrated development strategy capable of addressing interconnected challenges in housing, transportation, healthcare, education, waste management and urban planning.

On housing, Rhodes-Vivour promised to deliver 100,000 housing units within his first four years if elected.

He proposed funding social housing through luxury taxation, developing the eastern foreshore and intergenerational areas, and decentralising housing development across the state.

He also promised to expand Lagos’ railway network, saying his administration would connect the state’s rail lines within two and a half years through a private-sector-driven arrangement.

He said the proposed approach would be transparent, equitable and cost-effective, with the objective of improving connectivity and opening up more communities for development.

Rhodes-Vivour further argued that the state’s high internally generated revenue should translate into improved living conditions and better public services for residents.

He cited communities such as Makoko while criticising what he described as development policies that displaced ordinary residents in favour of elite interests.

The ADC candidate also pledged to address traffic congestion, flooding, waste management and the activities of street touts, popularly known as agberos.

OTHER CANDIDATES PRESENT THEIR VISIONS

The debate also featured governorship candidates of other political parties, including Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Deji Doherty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Funso Doherty criticised the state’s revenue and taxation system, arguing that Lagos residents continued to face multiple levies without receiving public services commensurate with the revenue generated by the government.

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He maintained that Lagos was operating below its potential despite its substantial internally generated revenue.

The NDC candidate, who said he had spent about 30 years in the private sector, promised a new direction for the state, particularly in healthcare and essential public services.

He urged residents to hold his party accountable if elected.

Deji Doherty, on his part, highlighted the need to improve electricity supply and create more economic opportunities for residents.

He said his experience as a technocrat and industrialist had informed his decision to seek the governorship position.

On housing, the PDP candidate cautioned against making unrealistic promises, arguing that the cost of land and building materials must be considered before setting ambitious construction targets.

He also raised concerns about gaps in primary healthcare delivery, particularly in some island communities.

DEBATE AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTION

The Lagos governorship debate was organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition of media organisations comprising Channels Television, TVC News, The PUNCH, TheCable and Vanguard.

The exercise is part of a series of debates scheduled ahead of the 2027 general elections, aimed at giving candidates a platform to explain their programmes and respond to questions on issues affecting Nigerians.

The organisers said the debate was designed to promote issue-based political engagement, democratic accountability and informed electoral choices.

The participating candidates were expected to address major concerns affecting Lagos residents, including the economy and cost of living, transportation and infrastructure, flooding and the environment, healthcare and social welfare, security and accountability.

The February 6, 2027 governorship election will determine who succeeds Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the next governor of Lagos State.