Ohanaeze says no going back on Igbo president, rejects PDP no-zoning formula - Newstrends
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Ohanaeze says no going back on Igbo president, rejects PDP no-zoning formula

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6 years ago

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  • Zoning will not favour PDP in 2023, says Bauchi gov
  • It’s fair for South to produce next president – Masari

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has rejected the Bala Mohammed-led committee report of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which recommended that the 2023 presidential ticket of the party should be thrown open to all sections of the country.

Governor Mohammed had said zoning the presidential ticket of the party might cause some regions to feel excluded during the 2023 general election.

He spoke during a Channels TV programme on Thursday, stressing that the party would provide a level-playing field for all candidates, and encourage a merit-based process.

“In 2015, we lost because we were so over-confident and there was too much internal wrangling. We lost in the north, even in the states where we had comparative advantage, because of the wrangling that particularly came out of our lack of internal democracy.

“And that is why today, we are saying that we have seen some zones that have not had a shot at the presidency for a long time — the South-East and the North-East. But we’re not yet going to say that the choice of the presidential flag bearer should be left exclusively to those zones. We’ll give a level-playing field because good things are from every part of the country, and we have good hands.

“We are just saying that if we zone completely to those places, there may be some feelings of exclusion. There will be some feelings of even shortchanging Nigerians in terms of presenting the best. The merit-based leadership recruitment that we want to do, is even at the same time, looking at history.”

But Ohanaeze said that the Mohammed-led committee report was capable of impugning the unity of the country and asked for the withdrawal of the report that it described as unconscionable.

The Igbo parent body noted that it was committed to Nigeria producing a President of Igbo extraction in 2023, adding that it would willingly identify with any group that is ready for the bargain.

In a statement, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonnia said, “Ohanaeze views the report by the Bala Mohammed led committee as most despicable, un-reflective and unconscionable. It is very worrisome that some highly placed Nigerians who have benefited so much from the unity of the country would be inclined to decisions and actions that will further inflame the passions of the patient but aggrieved part of the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians agreed on the rotation of the presidency between the North and the South; in which case it is the turn of the South after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari. For clarity purposes, both the South West and the South-South had both taken their turns in the persons of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan respectively. It is rather very unpatriotic and a trifle on the sensibilities of the Igbo for the committee to even suggest the rotation of the presidency to the North East in the first instance and open to every part of Nigeria as a major slight.

“It is disturbing that all the indignities, perceived and real, that the South-East suffers in the current dispensation are the outcome of the Igbo support to the PDP since 1999. It is on record that in 1999, the Igbo were in hock with the PDP through which Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the President of Nigeria; same in 2003 and the subsequent elections in Nigeria.

“On the other hand, the Igbo had invested much political capital in the PDP only to be betrayed by its apparent lack of principles. The leadership of the PDP is advised to retract the comment made by Alh Bala Mohammed and countermand the content of the obnoxious committee report in the interest of the party.

“Let it be known that Ndigbo does not wax so eloquent on political parties. The Igbo is bound to advertise the party that caters to the interest of our people. It is instructive that Senator Ali Ndume, a chieftain of the All Peoples Congress (APC) is among the prominent Northerners that canvass for zoning the Nigerian presidency to the South East for the 2023 presidential election. Other prominent APC chieftains are highly committed to the realisation of this project and we will be very delighted to work with them in the overall interest of Ndigbo.

Also speaking on the issue, Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, says it will be in the interest of fairness for a candidate from the southern region to emerge president in the 2023 general election.

Masari stated this during an interview on Channels Television, which was aired on Thursday.

With barely two years to the 2023 elections, there have been speculations on which zone will get the presidential ticket of the two major political parties — All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking on what he thinks would happen after the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, the Katsina governor said the APC has a “bright future” in the country when compared to other parties.

 “With regards to zoning, fair is fair. If you ask me, I would, as a person — Aminu — think we should move the presidency to the southern part of the country,” he said.

When asked which part of the south he prefers, he said “south is south”.

Masari also claimed that no political party has impacted the lives of “ordinary Nigerians” positively through social intervention programmes as the APC has done.

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2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients

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5 hours ago

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November 2, 2026

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Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed

2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients

 

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has warned supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, against attacking him over his recent comments about the former Anambra State governor, threatening to make further damaging revelations about the 2023 presidential campaign.

 

Baba-Ahmed, who served as Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, said he had more information to disclose about what transpired during their political partnership, insisting that attacks from Obi’s supporters would not silence him.

 

He made the remarks during an interview with Symfoni TV, where he accused some Obidients of attacking anyone who expresses views contrary to their expectations about their political principal.

 

“Obidients are always eager to attack me. I have more damaging things to reveal. You attack me because I told you the truth about Peter Obi,” he said.

 

The former senator’s outburst comes amid growing disagreements over Peter Obi’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly discussions surrounding a possible alliance or presidential ticket involving former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

 

Baba-Ahmed had argued that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket might struggle to attract sufficient support in Northern Nigeria, claiming that his experience during the 2023 campaign had exposed significant challenges facing Obi in the region.

 

He recalled that shortly after joining Obi on the Labour Party ticket in 2022, he had to contend with controversies surrounding allegations that northerners were required to obtain identification cards in Anambra State, the demolition of a mosque and the leaked telephone conversation between Obi and the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

 

According to Baba-Ahmed, these controversies created difficulties for the campaign in Northern Nigeria, forcing him to personally undertake efforts to address the concerns and convince voters to support Obi.

 

He claimed that he took Obi to several locations, including Borno, Kano and Zaria, to counter the allegations and improve his acceptance among northern voters.

 

Baba-Ahmed maintained that his assessment of the political challenges surrounding Obi remained valid, insisting that his comments were based on his personal experience as the former presidential candidate’s running mate.

 

His latest remarks have further exposed the growing tension between him and sections of the Obidient movement, whose members have criticised him over his perceived opposition to Obi’s political decisions.

 

The former vice-presidential candidate, however, insisted that he would not be intimidated into silence, warning that he had more revelations to make if the attacks against him continued.

 

The development adds another dimension to the political realignments and disagreements unfolding among opposition figures as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

The allegations and recollections concerning the 2023 campaign remain Baba-Ahmed’s claims and have not been independently established.

 

 

2027: Datti Baba-Ahmed Threatens to Expose More Secrets About Peter Obi, Warns Obidients

 

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Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027

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18 hours ago

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November 1, 2026

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Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027

ABUJA – The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has stirred the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the South-East geopolitical zone currently has no presidential candidate.

Speaking during a political event on Sunday, Umahi specifically dismissed the presidential ambitions of Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that the former Anambra State Governor does not represent the interest of the region.

The Minister’s comments come amid rising political realignments as the nation looks toward the next electoral cycle. While Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer in the 2023 election, has maintained a strong grassroots following, Umahi insisted that the South-East does not have a “consensus” candidate.

Addressing supporters, Umahi, who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that the South-East is not yet ready to project a candidate for the presidency. He described the NDC and its candidate as lacking the structure and national appeal required to secure the highest office in the land.

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“Let me be clear: there is no presidential candidate in the South-East in the 2027 general election,” Umahi stated. “We are not just looking for a candidate; we are looking for a President. As it stands, the region has not produced a candidate that we can all rally around.”

The Minister’s dismissal of Obi is seen as a significant political statement, highlighting the ongoing fragmentation within the South-East political elite. While Obi enjoys a massive cult-like following—often referred to as the “Obidient” movement—his relationship with key political figures in the region, particularly those in the APC, has soured since the 2023 elections.

Umahi’s remarks suggest a strategic shift by the ruling party to consolidate its grip on the South-East, potentially sidelining the Labour Party/NDC influence in the region. By declaring that there is “no candidate,” Umahi may be signaling that the APC is open to negotiations or that the region should align with the national ruling party to secure developmental benefits, rather than running a “lone race” that may end in defeat.

Political analysts suggest that Umahi’s statement is a direct attack on the viability of the NDC and Peter Obi’s renewed bid. It remains to be seen how Peter Obi’s supporters and the leadership of the NDC will respond to the Minister’s assertion that the South-East has no candidate.

As the 2027 elections draw closer, the battle for the soul of the South-East—and the definition of its true political leadership—is clearly heating up.

Umahi Disowns Peter Obi, Says South East Has No Presidential Candidate for 2027

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2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

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21 hours ago

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November 1, 2026

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2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

A crowd of supporters in Jigawa State has chanted “Tinubu Must Stay” as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, led a grassroots mobilisation campaign in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027.

The mobilisation took place on Sunday, November 1, at Garun Gabas Ward in Malam Madori Local Government Area, where Abdullahi inaugurated a campaign office for the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as the Tinubu Must Stay Movement.

The event attracted All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, community leaders, women, youths and other supporters. It also provided a platform for some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to announce their defection to the APC.

Abdullahi, who is the chairman of the TMS Board of Trustees and its national coordinator, said the movement was expanding its grassroots structures to promote public understanding of the Tinubu administration’s policies and mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

He explained that the group intended to take the administration’s reform agenda to communities across the country, particularly its emphasis on economic diversification and inclusive national development.

According to him, the administration’s interventions in education, agriculture, food security, national security, digital literacy and healthcare were designed to stimulate economic growth, improve livelihoods and strengthen national development.

The NITDA director-general cited South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia as examples of countries whose development experiences, he argued, demonstrated the importance of sustained economic reforms and policy consistency.

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He urged residents to support Tinubu’s return to office in 2027, expressing the view that continuity would help sustain the administration’s development agenda.

“On this note, I implore the people to come out en masse and ensure a landslide victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” Abdullahi told the gathering.

Beyond political mobilisation, he announced plans to empower an additional 200 women in Garun Gabas Ward through the movement’s community intervention programmes.

He said the proposed intervention would complement previous empowerment exercises in Jigawa State, including a recent programme in Hadejia, where beneficiaries reportedly received financial assistance, sewing machines, bakery equipment and agricultural inputs to support small businesses and improve household incomes.

Abdullahi added that the movement would continue to prioritise women, youths, children and persons with disabilities through economic empowerment, educational assistance and other community development initiatives.

He also thanked residents for their support for Tinubu’s administration, assuring them that the movement would sustain its engagement with communities.

The gathering also witnessed the reception of some defectors from the PDP and NDC into the APC. The new members, who were received by Abdullahi and the Malam Madori APC leadership, attributed their decision to what they described as development interventions and improvements in their communities.

They specifically cited projects facilitated through NITDA, saying the interventions had strengthened their confidence in the administration’s development agenda.

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Speaking at the event, the APC chairman in Malam Madori Local Government Area, Alhaji Tanko Ahmad, commended Abdullahi for facilitating digital infrastructure projects, particularly the establishment of an Information and Communication Technology Development Centre at Government Secondary School, Garun Gabas.

Ahmad said the facility had expanded students’ access to digital skills and improved opportunities for young people to prepare for an increasingly technology-driven economy.

He pledged the support of the party’s structures in the area for the Tinubu Must Stay Movement and its planned grassroots mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement’s convener in Garun Gabas, Engineer Hashim Suleiman, described the turnout as an indication of local support for the initiative.

He said the movement began its activities in the United Kingdom before its formal launch in Abuja and subsequent expansion into communities across Nigeria.

Suleiman described the inauguration as the beginning of further grassroots engagements and urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes to use the assistance productively to establish sustainable businesses.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of an Award of Recognition to Abdullahi by the TMS leadership in Garun Gabas in acknowledgement of his contributions to digital infrastructure development and grassroots engagement.

The organisers said the movement planned to establish more structures across Jigawa and other parts of the country through political sensitisation, community engagement and empowerment programmes as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.

2027: ‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Chants Rock Jigawa as NITDA DG Opens Campaign Office

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