Politics
PDP Makes U-turn, Zones National Chair to North, Secretary to South
*All incumbent NWC members lose seat Decision subject to NEC approval
*Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal’s presidential bids intact as ticket is thrown open
Apparently yielding to pressure and paying attention to the mood of the nation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National zoning committee, yesterday, made a u-turn on the zoning of offices of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and moved the chairmanship seat to the northern region.
From the outcome of the committee meeting, it has also been decided that all the current NWC members of the party would lose their seats in view of the decision, even though the resolutions are still subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
A major twist to this development, however, is that it has not affected the presidential aspirations of northerners in the party like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, as the ticket, by implications, has not be thrown open.
The committee had last Thursday zoned the office of the National Chairman to South, where 32 members spoke in favour of retaining the national chairman to the south, while 25 members spoke in favour of the national chairman to the north.
The meeting adjourned till Thursday this week, where the issue was revisited.
First, at a Wednesday meeting, the PDP governors voted 8 to 4 members to zone the office of the National Chairman to the north.
At the meeting, which took place at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s lodge, Abuja, three northern governors — Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) — voted for the chairmanship to be zoned to the south.
But Governor Samuel Ortom (Benue), voted for the chairmanship to be in the north. Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the PDP governors forum, did not vote, because he presided over the meeting.
Other PDP governors, who voted in favour of northern chairmanship were Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
The meeting immediately resolved to pass the resolution of the governors to the zoning committee of the national convention.
Reaffirming the decision of the PDP governors, the 48-man national zoning committee headed by the Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announced the swapping of the offices in the north to the south and offices in the south to the north.
Reading the communique of the meeting, Ugwuanyi said, “At the end of the deliberations of the PDP National Zoning Committee, it was resolved as follows:
“The National Zoning Committee of the PDP was given the mandate to zone National offices to be contested by all PDP Members of the Party at the PDP National Convention of the Party scheduled for October 30/31 2021 by the National Executive Committee of the Party.
“That the mandate of the Committee does not include zoning of the offices of the President, Vice President and other Executive and Legislative offices of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And the decision of the Committee to zone the party offices does not in any way affect the executive and legislative offices in Nigeria.
“That zoning of offices on PDP has traditionally been between the North and South of Nigeria.
“The decision of the PDP Zoning Committee is in line with the Constitution of the party on zoning and rotation of party and national offices in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.
“Consequently, the current offices being held by officers in the Southern zones of the country, namely, South West, South East and South South zones, should swap places with the offices currently in the northern zones of Nigeria, namely, North West, North East and North Central zones.
“We want to thank the party, especially the National Executive Committee that set up this Committee on September 9, 2021 for finding us worthy to serve the party in the capacity as zoning committee members.
“We shall pass on our recommendations to the National Executive Committee of the Party through the National Working Committee of the party.”
Ugwuanyi signed the communique as chairman, while Ortom signed as Deputy Chairman. The deputy governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, signed as secretary of the committee.
In the same manner, office of the national treasurer of PDP has been taken to the north as well as that of the National Youth Leader.
Also, by implications, the office of the National Publicity Secretary, would be in the south, while the office of national organising secretary held by Col Austin Akobundu would be taken north. The office of the national secretary held by Senator Umaru Tsuari has been sent to the south, while the national woman leader was zoned to the south. The next national legal adviser is going to be northerner.
The zoning as announced was a clean sweep of all incumbent members of the PDP NWC.
Another implication of the zoning is that the presidential ambitions of Abubakar Saraki, Tambuwal, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed might not have been affected, because according to an insider, what happened at the zoning committee was an indication that the presidential ticket of the party might be thrown open.
The source, therefore, said all the northern presidential hopefuls were free to contest at the presidential convention.
He said the zoning committee discussed the report of the Mohammed committee, which threw the presidential ticket open, but decided to play it down till further notice, when it would be appropriate to discuss it.
Chuks Okocha, Thisday Live
Politics
Ex-APC Chairman Ganduje Discusses Kano Politics, National Leadership Plans
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
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.
El-Rufai Says Son Bello Remains Loyal to APC Despite Criticism of Party
Politics
Atiku Denies Fayose’s Claims About 2027 Vice-Presidential Talks With Makinde
Atiku Denies Fayose’s Claims About 2027 Vice-Presidential Talks With Makinde
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly refuted claims by former Ekiti State governor Peter Ayodele Fayose alleging that Governor Seyi Makinde had agreed to run as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Fayose as a “serial political gossip” and dismissed the report as a “reckless and malicious fabrication” consisting of “beer parlour tales of infamy.”
Fayose had alleged that Makinde agreed to the vice-presidential slot and pledged ₦10 billion in contributions, a claim Atiku denied entirely. Shaibu said the account was not insider information but “insider fiction, manufactured to mislead, distract and provoke.”
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“There were no negotiations over vice-presidential tickets. There were no discussions about ₦10 billion contributions. There were no zoning manipulations. There were no delegate-delivery guarantees. And there is certainly no clandestine ‘Dubai meeting’ on any such agenda,” the statement read.
Atiku’s office emphasized that his political engagements are broad-based, principled, and national in scope, and not transactional or clandestine, as alleged. The statement further warned the public against giving credibility to reports from individuals who “attempt to manufacture relevance by inventing tales around serious national figures.”
The former vice president also clarified that during his recent visit to the residence of former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, no discussions about vice-presidential arrangements took place.
Shaibu urged Nigerians to treat the publication with contempt, stressing that “falsehood may trend for a moment, but it collapses under the weight of truth.”
Atiku remains focused on principled engagement and building coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections, rejecting backroom political theatrics as “mischievously and irresponsibly portrayed.”
Atiku Denies Fayose’s Claims About 2027 Vice-Presidential Talks With Makinde
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