Politics
Atiku camp moves to pacify G-5 govs

Despite his claim that he had moved on after failing to resolve his differences with five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has reportedly informed members of his kitchen cabinet to explore further avenues to resolve the lingering crisis.
Atiku, had in a radio programme last week, claimed that he was moving on without the five aggrieved PDP governors.
However, the tide moved against his presidential bid during the week, when the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, accused Atiku of undermining his re-election bid next year.
Bala had demanded an apology from Atiku. As at the time of filing in this report, neither Atiku nor his media aides had offered any apology to the governor.
While the controversy over Bala’s accusation was still raging, the five aggrieved governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; and Samuel Ortom of Benue State, met the Bauchi governor in the state capital.
Though still unconfirmed, there are claims that Bala who is fighting the political battle of his life, may join forces with the G-5 governors to undermine Atiku’s presidential bid.
Saturday Sun gathered that following the raging storm rocking Atiku’s campaign organisation, the former vice president has urged members of his kitchen cabinet to reach out to prominent PDP leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, to intervene.
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A competent source told Saturday Sun that Jonathan’s intervention may prove counterproductive, as Atiku’s key men who are expected to lead the delegation to Jonathan, all worked against Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.
The source said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is unwilling to support Atiku, like he did in 2019, claiming that the former President may have covertly given his support to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
The source further revealed that Southern PDP leaders and other critical stakeholders expected to prevail on the five governors, are opposed to the emergence of Atiku.
He said the leaders, prior to the primaries that produced Atiku, had insisted that the next president of Nigeria must emerge from the South, after eight years of Buhari’s regime.
He said: “Atiku’s campaign is struggling, even if he might not want to admit it. The support he expected from the people is not coming. He has realised that he needs the governors to win this election.
“He had the chance and missed the opportunity. Now, the five aggrieved governors are recruiting more people to join them. If Atiku doesn’t move fast, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State will join the G-5 governors.
“As I speak, there is no prominent PDP leader from the South who is with Atiku. Those people parading themselves as Southern PDP leaders can’t win elections in their villages.
“The problem now is that, the people who can prevail on Wike and other governors, are those Atiku offended in the past. He has offended Jonathan and even worked against him in 2015.
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“He undermined Obasanjo in 2003. He worked against Odili in 2007. Edwin Clark doesn’t want to even see Atiku for working against Jonathan in 2015. Same thing with Bode George.
“Leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo who worked for him in 2019, can’t openly support him. These people I’ve mentioned are those who can prevail on these aggrieved governors to work with Atiku.
“Atiku may have the support of the North, but he won’t get a landslide victory there. Kwakwanso will drag the votes with him in the North. In the North East where he’s from, the vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima will get votes for his party.
“While Tinubu can boast of 80 per cent of votes from the South West, Atiku can’t do same in the North. With Obi, he has lost the South East. With Wike, he may not win up to 30 per cent in the South South.”
Revealing why Atiku appears to be handicapped, the PDP member said the former vice president is careful not to upset his Northern Muslim support base, who according to the source, doesn’t want him associated with Wike.
He said if Atiku concedes some grounds and positions to the G-5 governors, they’ll support his presidential bid in 2023.
He said while the presidential candidate of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is willing to concede some cabinet positions to the G-5 governors, Atiku on the other hand is unwilling to commit himself.
Issuing a stern warning, the PDP leader said: “If Atiku’s kitchen cabinet members mean well for him, they need to tell him the truth now. The G-5 governors must be brought on board before the end of November or PDP can just bid Aso Rock goodbye.”
The former Vice President told reporters in Minna on Friday that all issues with the aggrieved governors and others would be resolved before next year’s election.
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
Politics
Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary

Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary
The Supreme Court on Friday declared an ally of Nyesom Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, as the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had ruled against him by recognising Sunday Udey-Okoye as secretary of the party.
A five-member panel of the apex court held that the issue of who is the National Secretary of the PDP borders on the internal affairs of a political party which is not justiciable.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, who delivered the lead judgment of the Supreme Court, consequently struck out the judgment of the trial court delivered in October 2024 and also set aside the majority judgment of the court of appeal which had in December affirmed the sack of Anyanwu as PDP’s National Secretary.
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Justice Tukur subsequently affirmed the minority judgment of the appellate court delivered by Justice Ekanem, which had nullified the judgment of the trial court on account of lack of jurisdiction.
Besides, the apex court held that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who initiated the suit at the trial court lacked the necessary legal backing to do so since he did not show how he was affected by who is the National Secretary of the PDP.
In its decision, the Supreme Court agreed with Anyanwu’s argument that both the Court of Appeal and the trial court in Enugu lacked the authority to hear the case, as it involved the internal affairs of the PDP.
PlatinumPost reports that Anyanwu had earlier left the position of secretary to contest for Imo governorship election, only to return after losing the guber poll.
Supreme Court declares Wike’s ally Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary
Politics
Updated: Atiku, Obi, El-rufai, others form coalition to unseat Tinubu

Updated: Tinubu reacts as Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, others form coalition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he has formed a coalition with some prominent opposition leaders aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, attended by several opposition politicians, including former key members of the All Progressives Congress who have since defected.
But the Tinubu-led administration has reacted saying the coalition was driven by hate and not genuine.
The event was convened to address President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Among those present at the event were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Others are a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Chief Peter Ameh and Soni Monidafe, among others.
When asked whether the emerging coalition would serve as the main opposition against the APC in the 2027 elections, Atiku said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”
Many are wondering how leaders with differing ideologies, ambitions, and party affiliations can work together.
In his reaction, spokesperson for the Tinubu-led government, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement referred to the Abubakar-led coalition as “the coalition of Tinubu haters.”
“They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest. They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu,” Onanuga said.
The presidential spokesperson added that Tinubu remained focused on governance and would not be distracted by a coalition of politicians driven by selfish interests.
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