At last, Rivers PDP dumps Atiku for Tinubu – Newstrends
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At last, Rivers PDP dumps Atiku for Tinubu

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Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dumped the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Samuel Nwanosike, who is a strong ally of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Recall that the G-5 governors had dumped Atiku following his refusal to prevail on the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign and allow a Southerner to take over the position.

However, the five aggrieved governors of the main opposition party are yet to agree on the presidential candidate to back for next month’s election.

Atiku vs Tinubu

It was gathered that loyalists of Governor Wike have held several meetings on the issue and have strongly resolved to campaign vigorously for Tinubu in the state.

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Speaking to Sunday Sun, Nwanosike said Rivers State PDP has settled on a candidate, adding that elders and opinion leaders of the state have decided to dump Atiku and work for Tinubu because of what he described as “unfairness and political imbalance” he claimed Atiku was propagating.

“With this unfortunate development, it is clear that Atiku is not the true unifying factor we thought he is.

“We want to say clearly here that we stand by our leader Nyesom Wike on this issue,” he said.

Northern Dominance

The council boss said it is not possible for a Northerner in the person of Buhari to govern Nigeria for eight years and hand over power to another Northerner, Atiku.

He said: “We politicians cannot sit down and watch this happen. To halt the injustice, elders and opinion leaders of Rivers State after careful deliberation on the matter, zeroed in on Tinubu as the most suitable candidate.

“We have x-rayed the three frontrunners in the race, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Bola Tinubu. It is Tinubu we found to be the true unifying factor.

“To say that Nyesom Wike’s vote is just one vote is a mere political rhetoric that makes no meaning.”

Reconciliation

Asked what would happen if Atiku returned for another reconciliation, he retorted: “No way! The decision of the elders and opinion leaders of the state is final.”

He, however, stated that only Wike could change the decision, adding that the people of the state met without Governor Wike and took the decision to move forward.

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APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi

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Felix Morka and Peter Obi

APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi

Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, of misleading the public.

Obi had raised the alarm that Morka threatened him over his New Year message to President Bola Tinubu.

“My New Year Message has now led to threats to my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face consequences,” Obi had tweeted.

The allegation of Obi had attracted comments from different quarters, with Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, accusing the ruling party of stifling opposition voices.

The Labour Party also told Tinubu to call Morka to order, demanding a probe of the alarm raised by Obi.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Morka said Obi’s allegation stemmed from his answer to a question during an interview on AriseTV’s THIS WEEK program on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

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“To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi or his family or those around him or anyone. Morka has absolutely no reason to, and has never, threatened Obi or anyone. Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely contains or suggests threat against Mr. Obi or anyone else, as the verbatim transcription of the relevant clip indisputably attests:

“Morka’s answer was in the exclusive context of the question. The last sentence of that answer that, “I am not somebody to go on the offensive in that manner, but Mr. Obi has crossed the line so many times and I think that at this point he has coming to him, whatever he gets, he needs to manage it”, was in specific and exclusive response to the question’s reference to “prophet of doom” and “voodoo economics”. Again, nothing in that sentence constitutes or suggests a threat to Obi or anyone.

“While everyone has a right to free speech, no one has a right to peddle misinformation or outright falsehood. The right to free speech granted by our country’s Constitution is not Mr. Obi’s exclusive right but a right that is available to all Nigerians, including Morka. Mr. Obi cannot disseminate misinformation and demand or expect that no one should disagree or challenge his false narrative.

“Ours is a democracy where every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, is entitled to agree or disagree with other political views or opinions. More than any other Nigerian in this political dispensation, Mr. Obi has exercised his fundamental liberty to speak and disseminate his political views in person, in the formal and on social media.”

The APC spokesman claimed Obi leads a restless band of online mob who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to other citizens who dare disagree or criticize Obi or his opinions or position on any subject or matter of national conversation.

“Many eminent and highly respected elder statesmen have been serially attacked, humiliated and bullied by Obi’s online followers. Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order.”

“Obi must think himself to be Nigeria’s sacred cow, the super citizen, quintessential, without blemish, beyond reproach, always right, never wrong, and endowed with the supreme and inalienable right to deride, castigate, intimidate blackmail and incite Nigerians against other political leaders who disagree with him, even those who defeated him decisively in the last general election. Mr. Obi is not entitled to any monolithic or exclusive constitutional or extraterrestrial liberty over and above any other citizen.

“There’s no doubt that Mr. Obi has crossed the line of truth in his many assessments. As a candidate for the office of President in the last general election, Mr. Obi made very bold electoral promises to implement specific economic policies to tackle the country’s economic crisis.”

APC spokesman denies threatening Peter Obi

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El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP

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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed claims that he has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A close associate of the ex-governor informed Channels Television that the allegations are baseless and the work of detractors. The aide emphasized that El-Rufai, as a prominent political figure, would not join the PDP without making such a decision public.

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El-Rufai also addressed the speculation on his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, urging the public to ignore the rumors and asserting that legal action has been initiated against those spreading falsehoods.

“Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” El-Rufai posted on Sunday.

 

El-Rufai speaks on report of defection to PDP

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Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC

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Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori

Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC

In Delta State, some PDP elders have queried Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged anti-party activities.

The elders under the aegis of  ‘Concerned Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State chapter, urged Oborevwori to either confirm or deny rumours of his alleged romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group, in a statement by Mr. Theophilus Ekiyor, Mr. Ochuko Oghenekome and Mr Ezekiel Chukwudi, also urged the governor to either confirm or deny his defection plan.

The statement reads in part: “The rumour mills are agog with stories of your intention of cross-carpeting to the ruling party at the centre, the APC

“You have been secretly romancing top aides to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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“Top presidential aides and allies of the president are now working to facilitate a meeting between you and President Tinubu on this self-seeking agenda.

“Your ultimate goal, as pointed out by those close to you, is to obtain approval to join the APC. In this regard, we are deeply troubled by these flying and unconfirmed rumours.

“We, therefore, demand prompt clarification from you to put us in the picture.

“A delayed response could be considered  as glaring evidence of your compromised position.”

However, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Festus Ahon, dismissed the query, which he attributed to opposition politicians in the state who are afraid of the governor’s landmarks.

He said: “Those people are not from the PDP. They are elements who want to heat up the polity. The governor is comfortable in his party and has no plan to defect to the APC.”

 

Delta Gov Oborevwori under fire for hobnobbing with APC

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