Politics

Atiku’s men threaten showdown if Wike group has its way

Published

2 years ago

October 16, 2022

Rivers gov, Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu meet in Spain for talks Keyamo mocks opposition party for seeking loan to run its affairs

No fewer than four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have teamed up as a counter force to check what they perceive as the excesses of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in his face-off with the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the party’s national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) are being backed by several notable members of the party in the evolving stand-off, The Nation gathered yesterday.

Wike and three of his governor allies, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), departed for Spain on Friday night for their next round of strategy on the crisis in the PDP.

Sources said Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi might join them later. Members of the anti-Wike group are said to have resolved to resist Ayu’s resignation as the party’s national chairman.

Party sources said they have even issued their own threat to dump Atiku’s campaign should Wike and his group be allowed to have their way on Ayu’s exit.

It was gathered that Atiku was at a point considering bowing to the pressure from the Wike group by persuading Ayu to step down in the interest of peace in the party ahead of the presidential election.

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Torn between resigning to his fate and continuing with the 2023 campaign without the support of the Wike camp or conceding to the clamour for Ayu to resign, Atiku is said have pandered towards the latter choice, especially after the launch of his presidential campaign in Uyo last week.

A source said: “The situation within the party as regards the fate of our National Chairman has become more complicated. While it is true that our presidential candidate is now less opposed to Wike’s demand for Ayu to resign, following the outcome of the meeting between the Board of Trustees (BoT) leadership of the party with Wike in Port Harcourt last week, Atiku had indicated readiness to agree with Wike and sacrifice Ayu.

“But there is a twist to the whole issue as some of our governors, peeved by Wike’s overbearing attitude, have warned the party not to toy with the idea of giving in to Wike and his supporters.

“I can tell you that Governor Godwin Obaseki, Ahmadu Fintiri, Duoye Diri and Darius Ishaku, among others, are now strongly opposed to Wike’s demand for Ayu to resign and have vowed not to allow such to happen under any arrangement.

“The governors are not alone in this stance. Many prominent members of the BoT and the NWC are also opposed to the thought of allowing Wike to have his way regarding Ayu.

“To them, the Rivers State governor has done his worst and should not be allowed to force Atiku and the PDP to their knees.”

The Nation also gathered that after being briefed on the outcome of the BoT meeting with Wike, Atiku instructed that effort at convincing Wike and others to support his campaign should continue.

“He was ready to compromise his earlier position and discuss modalities including having Ayu step aside for an acting chairman from the South to take charge of the campaign. But other stakeholders of the party did not waste time in opposing the proposed arrangement,” another source said.

Wike, according to one source, refused to shift ground on his insistence that Ayu must resign during the recent meeting between him and the BoT.

A PDP NEC member said the objection of Governors Obaseki, Ishaku, Fintiri and Diri to the removal of Ayu was hinged on the fears within the party that Wike’s camp would make more demands should Ayu leave.

“Beyond the issue of ego and bad timing, there are worries that Wike and his supporters may remain implacable even after succeeding with the sack of Ayu as national chairman. With the way they’ve carried on so far, some leaders of the party are insisting that it will be wrong to allow one man to hold the entire party to ransom in this manner,” the source said.

“We are telling Nigerians that we are coming to correct the lopsidedness in government. We are saying we want to offer a decisive government to Nigeria. How do we explain that we cannot manage our own affairs without being forced to accept queer conditions? How do we explain that we can be forced to abandon our own rules and constitution just because someone wants to play God?

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“These are the questions some of us are asking, and as such, I am not surprised to hear that some of our leaders are already opposing the egoistic demands of a minority who are unwilling to put the general interest of the PDP over and above their personal desires and ego.”

Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ortom off to Spain for crucial meeting

A few hours after his latest tirade against Ayu on Friday, Wike left Port Harcourt for Spain in company with Makinde, Ikpeazu and Ortom for what sources described as working out their next move on the PDP crisis.

It was learnt that Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, might join the team later.

The G5 has been calling for the resignation of Ayu as their minimum condition for peace in the party and to join the presidential campaign council of Alhaji Atiku.

The five governors have insisted that it is unfair for the party to have the national chairman and presidential candidate from the northern extraction ahead of the poll.

It was gathered that Ayu is also not leaving anything to chance in his face-off with Wike as he is working harder at lobbying more party leaders to ensure he is not removed from office to placate the Rivers State governor and his backers.

A source said: “Ayu is not resting on his oars as he has also intensified his efforts at winning more leaders of the party to his side. Several meetings have been held with party leaders and groups.

“Last week, he met with the forum of ex-officio members of the party as part of moves to ensure he is not sacrificed in the ongoing face-off.”

Keyamo mocks opposition party for seeking loan to run its affairs

Spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) yesterday mocked the PDP over its plan to take a N1 billion loan to run its affairs.

Keyamo, in a tweet on his verified account, said: “Nigerians should see the same party that complains about the fact that we borrow in some cases to fund infrastructure.

“They have not even won an election, they are suggesting taking loans to run their party!

“The problem with the PDP is their hypocrisy that stinks to high heavens.”

Attached to the tweet was Ayu’s statement on the N1 billion: “When we came in and the party had funding difficulties, the current presidential candidate suggested that the party should take a loan of N1bn from a bank. And the owner of that bank was also an influential member of this party. He has left the party now.

“But when we discussed with him, we discarded the idea. And the party never took any loan or any money from anybody. And I as a person never collected N1 billion from anybody.

“Any money advanced to the party was declared before the National Working Committee (NWC) and handed over to the National Treasurer of the party.

“The party’s accounts are straight. They are up to date. And we promise to present the audited account to the public at the end of the year. On today’s allegations – luckily, I had fully briefed the Board of Trustees (BoT) that one of our governors made a contribution of N100m to the revival of the Peoples Democratic Institute which was housed in a portacabin. And we explained to them that we hired an appropriate place in Asokoro; we have renovated and furnished it. Two or three days ago, we went there to inspect the place.

“And the NWC decided that even before commissioning, we should invite the governor in question to come and inspect what we have done with his money. I am happy to state that the National Secretary of the party has since written a letter to that governor.

“So, it is not true. Neither I nor the NWC ever took any party money to carry out the renovation. In fact, we have not even exhausted that N100m which was donated by one of the governors.”

THE NATION

Politics

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Mallam Ibrahim 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

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi

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

Published

3 days ago

March 22, 2025

Trends Admin

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.