Politics

PDP governors mount pressure on Wike to drop Ayu-must-go call

Published

3 years ago

September 19, 2022

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike

Division in Southwest chapters over Makinde’s position
Fayose to meet Rivers’ governor

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are mounting pressure o their Rivers State colleague, Nyesom Wike, to halt his agitation for the resignation of the national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, it was learnt last night.

The governors, sources said, are pushing for reconciliation between the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Wike before the commencement of the campaigns on September 28.

The PDP Governors’ Forum Director-General, CID Maduabum, confirmed that the 13-member forum, which met last on June 8 in Abuja, would reconvene at the instance of Atiku.

It was also learnt at the weekend that former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has accepted to be Atiku’s emissary to Wike.

A party source said: “The quest for the PDP presidential to ticket by some of them, which was a legitimate aspiration, was the source of all these reactions and a chain of disruptive events that we have witnessed immediately after the presidential primaries”.

The source expressed optimism that the governors will succeed in convening the meeting because majority of them have accepted in principle to attend.

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Maduabum, who confirmed the proposed meeting, said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that moves are being made in that direction and consultations are ongoing to ensure its fruition. We are positive that this will be achieved in a matter of days”.

Many party elders have blamed Atiku and Ayu for failing to take the appropriately steps at the right time to address the post-presidential primary crisis.

According to the source, the party chairman aggravated the crisis with his recent utterances against the governors, which dismissed them as children who were nowhere to be found when the PDP was being formed.

He said: “The national chairman did not help matters with some of his statements because these are the same governors who stood firmly by the party during turbulent times in the past.

“The PDP would have been smothered in the grip of Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman way back in 2016. It took the bold initiative by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and a few of his colleagues to rescue the PDP from Sheriff’s suffocating grip.

“Most of the people who have taken over the party today, were either in the APC where they went to seek greener pasture, or they simply stood by and watched the degenerating situation from their comfort zones.

“The credit of rescuing the PDP and bringing it back to national reckoning once again, should go mainly to Governor Wike and some of his colleagues who fought the battle up to the Supreme Court to rescue the PDP from the clutches of political hyenas.

“Although Wike too may have his own faults and excesses with his unguarded statements, he has done more good for the PDP than harm. He was at the battle front during the crisis that threatened the very existence of the PDP at the time.”

Also faulting the party chairman’s role in the crisis, another party elder recalled how the crisis has threatened the hitherto cordial relationship between Wike and Benue State Governor Mr. Samuel Ortom.

According to the source, Wike gave Ortom a free hand to nominate a candidate from the Northcentral zone for national chairman ahead of the party’s October 2021 national convention.

The source said stakeholders in the zone had initially penciled down former Senate President David Mark for the job and the choice was about to be sealed before Ortom proposed Ayu for the position.

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The source, who is a member of PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) said Ortom took it upon himself to persuade Mark to step down for Ayu. He added that the Benue governor also pleaded with former Senate President Bukola Saraki to accept the choice.

He added: “On three occasions, Governor Ortom made personal visits to Mark to plead for his understanding. Mark, who is not given to such mundane struggles, took things calmly and withdrew from the race.

“Ortom also visited Saraki to get his endorsement. Saraki’s initial objection to Ayu’s nomination at the time was not personal. He didn’t want any candidate from his Northcentral zone to become chairman because of his presidential aspiration then. But Ortom was able to get him to support Ayu in the end.”

The source further narrated how Ayu’s disposition after he became chairman almost strained the relationship between Wike and Ortom, with the Rivers Governor voicing his suspicions about Ortom’s complicity in the chairman’s growing antagonism.

“At a point, Governor Wike actually confronted Ortom at a location in Abuja, accusing him of conspiring with Ayu to sabotage him. Wike was visibly angry at his friend, accusing the Benue Governor of having betrayed him.

“It took the intervention of former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana; a former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang; and a former Attorney General, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke to pacify Wike during that encounter. Although the two governors are still friends, it’s doubtful if they still enjoy the mutual confidentiality they used to share”, the source said.

Governor Ortom, who is one of the PDP governors loyal to Wike, has joined other stakeholders in moves to ensure the resolution of the crisis through dialogue.

The governor had said that despite the criss, the PDP still stood a chance of reinventing itself and winning the 2023 presidential election.

Ortom had also blamed the PDP leadership for failing to activate the party’s existing conflict resolution mechanism to resolve the rift between Atiku and Wike before the crisis degenerated.

The Nation

Related Topics:Ayu must go Featured PDP governors Wike

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Politics

Osun PDP Lawmakers Endorse Tinubu for 2027, Back Adeleke Re-Election

Published

1 day ago

February 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Osun PDP Lawmakers Endorse Tinubu for 2027, Back Adeleke Re-Election

Lawmakers of the Osun State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, while also declaring their support for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid in 2026.

The endorsement was announced at a joint meeting of the PDP lawmakers in Osogbo, where they said the decision was driven by what they described as the need for political stability, continuity in governance, and sustained development at both the state and federal levels.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, said the endorsement of President Tinubu was based on his administration’s policies and interventions, which, according to them, have had a positive impact on Osun State and the South-West region.

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Egbedun noted that backing President Tinubu for a second term would strengthen federal-state collaboration, especially in the areas of infrastructure development, security, and economic reforms, while also ensuring continued federal presence in Osun.

The lawmakers also unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Governor Adeleke, citing what they described as his people-oriented leadership style, commitment to workers’ welfare, and ongoing projects across key sectors, including education, healthcare, road infrastructure, and local government development.

According to the PDP legislators, Governor Adeleke’s administration has prioritised inclusive governance, fiscal discipline, and the restoration of public confidence in government, adding that these achievements make him deserving of a second term in office.

They dismissed suggestions that endorsing President Tinubu, who belongs to a different political party, contradicts their loyalty to the PDP, arguing that the move reflects political pragmatism and the overriding interest of Osun State.

The lawmakers stressed that their decision does not weaken the PDP in Osun but rather positions the state to benefit from harmonious political alignment between the state and the federal government.

Reaffirming their commitment to the PDP, the legislators said they would continue to work for the party’s success in future elections while supporting leadership choices they believe would advance peace, stability, and development in Osun State and Nigeria at large.

Osun PDP Lawmakers Endorse Tinubu for 2027, Back Adeleke Re-Election

Politics

Ex-APC Chairman Ganduje Discusses Kano Politics, National Leadership Plans

Published

3 days ago

February 14, 2026

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Former APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and ex-Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

Ex-APC Chairman Ganduje Discusses Kano Politics, National Leadership Plans

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and ex-Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has opened up about life after leaving office, his ongoing projects, and the future of Kano State politics in an exclusive interview.

Ganduje described life after office as less stressful but still busy, noting that he remains actively involved in party politics both in Kano and Abuja. He explained that while the pressures of leadership are gone, politics and governance never truly end. “You can’t just stop, since politics and governance never really end,” he said.

The former governor revealed that he is spending much of his time writing books to keep his mind sharp and contribute to knowledge-based politics. Among his current projects are “Abuja: Evolutionary Development of a City in Nigeria’s Capital Territory,” “Progressive Leadership and Sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria,” and “Progressive Party Ideology and Philosophical Direction.” Ganduje stressed the importance of education, research, and ideology in sustaining democracy and shaping effective governance.

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Reflecting on his early life, Ganduje highlighted how knowledge, experience, and patience shaped his political journey. From attending primary school in a remote village to earning a PhD from the University of Ibadan, he emphasized that education and persistence were crucial in achieving his goals. His career spanned roles as local government secretary, commissioner, deputy governor, governor, and APC national chairman, providing him with extensive governance experience from the grassroots to the national level.

On Kano politics, Ganduje expressed pride that his predictions of a progressive return to APC in the state have been realized. He highlighted APC’s success in delivering the highest number of delegates and votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during primaries and defeating the PDP in the general election by over 500,000 votes.

Addressing the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Ganduje dismissed claims that the movement could challenge APC dominance in Kano. “The Kwankwasiyya Movement will not have any impact. Even though you see large crowds, the APC can mobilize bigger numbers if we choose,” he said, stressing that public sentiment favors APC due to concerns over the use of state resources for national ambitions by opposition leaders.

Ganduje also left the door open for political reconciliation with Kwankwaso, provided they share a common vision for the state and country. “I am ready. Politics is about interests. There are no permanent enemies or friends… What matters is what we want to achieve,” he said.

On the national stage, Ganduje addressed fears that northern Nigeria may not support President Tinubu in 2027, dismissing the notion as wrong. He emphasized that most Northerners accept the rotation of the presidency and are supportive of Tinubu completing his term. “Politics will always have noise, but the reality on the ground is different,” he added.

Ganduje’s reflections highlight the intersection of political strategy, education, and leadership experience in shaping both personal legacy and the future trajectory of Kano State and Nigerian politics.

Ex-APC Chairman Ganduje Discusses Kano Politics, National Leadership Plans

Politics

El-Rufai Says Son Bello Remains Loyal to APC Despite Criticism of Party

Published

4 days ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai

El-Rufai Says Son Bello Remains Loyal to APC Despite Criticism of Party

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has clarified that his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, remains a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by personal conviction, even as he continues to critique the ruling party. Bello currently represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, where he serves his constituents independently of his father’s political stance.

El-Rufai made the disclosure during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Thursday evening, shortly after reportedly resisting an attempted detainment by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his return from Egypt. The former governor, now a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), emphasised that Bello is mature enough to chart his own political path.

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“My son Bello was elected under the platform of the APC and his electorate seem to be happy with the work he is doing, so since he is an adult of over 30 years, he can make his own choices. Politics is about personal preference,” El-Rufai said, explaining that his son’s continued stay in APC does not contradict his own opposition to the party.

He added that if Bello chooses to remain within the APC without engaging in any of the party’s perceived wrongdoing, guided by the values and home training he received, “then Alhamdulillah.”

Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, born in 1988, has represented Kaduna North since 2023 and currently chairs the House Committee on Banking Regulations. His work in the National Assembly has earned commendations from constituents, reinforcing his independent political credibility within the APC framework.

El-Rufai’s clarification comes amid ongoing political realignments in Nigeria, where personal choices sometimes diverge from family or party affiliations. The statement highlights the balance between individual political conviction and broader party loyalty, particularly in high-profile political families.