Politics
PDP summons NEC meeting, George seeks Ayu’s removal
The South-West arm of the Peoples Democratic Party has joined the push for the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu.
Notable South-West members of the PDP told Sunday PUNCH on Saturday that with the All Progressives Congress picking its Presidential candidate from the South-West in the person of Bola Tinubu, the PDP would also need an influential politician from the region to be the party’s chairman.
There are demands from the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for Ayu to resign as the party’s chairman.
The demand was among the conditions given by Wike who is still said to be aggrieved over Atiku’s refusal to pick him as a running mate. Already, Wike and Atiku have begun meeting with a view to ensuring that a compromise is reached before the commencement of campaigns next month.
However, Sunday PUNCH learnt that the South-West is also demanding Ayu’s exit as a condition to support the party.
“Tinubu is campaigning as the candidate of the Yoruba people. Even Sanwo-Olu said recently that all Yoruba people must see Tinubu as their personal project. The PDP needs to make a huge concession for the South-West which has the second largest voting population after the North-West,” a member of the State Working Committee in Ekiti State said.
Also speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, said Ayu must leave immediately in the spirit of fairness.
George, who said he was speaking as a national leader and not on behalf of the South-West, said there was a need for the region to be given a sense of belonging as all the key positions in the party were being occupied by northerners.
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“Ayu needs to resign as chairman immediately while the South-West gets the position in the spirit of fairness. I cannot campaign for the party in the South-West in an atmosphere where there is no fairness. What will I tell our people?” he asked.
George, who was the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign in 2007, said the PDP could pick an interim chairman from the South-West just for the purpose of fairness.
He argued that refusing to take Nigeria’s diversity into consideration would make the PDP no better than the APC which is pushing a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
“NEC can appoint an acting chairman from the South-West in order to give the region a sense of belonging. Ayu promised to leave office once the PDP produces a northern Presidential candidate. For the sake of fairness, he needs to step down immediately.
“The PDP as presently constituted does not reflect Nigeria’s diversity. The North produced the Presidential candidate, the national chairman and the BoT chairman and they want the South to accept this. Would the North have accepted this if it was the other way around?” he asked.
Attempts to get a response from the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, proved abortive as he did not respond to repeated calls on Saturday.
However, a member of the National Working Committee who wished to remain anonymous said removing Ayu now would be too risky.
The official, who preferred not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the PDP Constitution states that whenever a national officer of the party resigns, he must be replaced by someone from his region.
Politics
Ogun Lawmaker Rasheed Kashamu Defects from PDP to APC
Ogun Lawmaker Rasheed Kashamu Defects from PDP to APC
Mr. Rasheed Kashamu, Ijebu-North 1 lawmaker in the Ogun State House of Assembly, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection, announced on Monday during a plenary session at the Assembly Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, was communicated through a letter read by the Speaker of the House, Oludaisi Elemide. Kashamu, who served as Deputy Minority Whip, cited irreconcilable differences and factional divisions within the PDP at both state and national levels as reasons for his move.
Elemide noted that Kashamu’s decision was aimed at aligning with progressive forces in Ogun State and supporting the development agenda of Governor Dapo Abiodun. “After reviewing the current state of affairs of the PDP, marked by unresolved leadership crises, he resolved, in consultation with his supporters, to join the APC and back the ISEYA agenda of Governor Abiodun and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” the Speaker said.
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Kashamu formally joined the APC at his Oke-Sopen Ward in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu-North Local Government Area, accompanied by his supporters, while lawmakers welcomed him into the Assembly’s majority caucus. His wife, uncle, and other well-wishers were present to witness the event.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State House of Assembly also acknowledged a letter from Governor Dapo Abiodun seeking the confirmation of Mr. Abdul Najeem Olayinka as Auditor-General for Local Governments following the retirement of Mr. Lamidi Mulero.
Elemide directed the nominee to appear before the House for screening on December 17 and to submit 30 copies of his curriculum vitae and credentials by 10:00 a.m. on December 16, as part of the confirmation process.
This development marks a significant political shift in Ogun State, strengthening the APC’s presence in the House of Assembly ahead of upcoming elections.
Ogun Lawmaker Rasheed Kashamu Defects from PDP to APC
Politics
Ex-Osun Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam Wins ADC Guber Primary
Ex-Osun Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam Wins ADC Guber Primary
Dr. Najeem Salaam, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, has emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, securing an overwhelming victory at the party’s primary election on Monday.
The primary, held in Osogbo, saw 528 delegates accredited, including 482 local government and ward delegates and 53 special delegates. Of the votes cast, 520 were validly credited to Salaam, while eight votes were declared invalid, confirming his landslide win.
Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Chairman of the ADC Primary Election Committee, officially declared Salaam as the party’s flagbearer, empowering him to lead the party into the 2026 gubernatorial race.
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In his acceptance speech, Salaam thanked delegates and ADC leadership for their confidence, vowing to champion the party’s vision and represent the people of Osun State effectively in the upcoming election.
Salaam’s nomination adds momentum to a highly competitive political landscape in Osun State, where other parties, including the Accord Party and All Progressives Congress (APC), have also concluded their nominations. Governor Ademola Adeleke secured the Accord Party ticket, while the APC confirmed Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji as its flagbearer.
Political analysts note that Salaam’s experience as a legislative leader and grassroots mobiliser positions him as a strong contender in the 2026 Osun governorship election, signaling an intense contest across major parties.
Ex-Osun Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam Wins ADC Guber Primary
Politics
El-Rufai Denies Claim on 2027 Presidency, Calls Viral Report Fake News
El-Rufai Denies Claim on 2027 Presidency, Calls Viral Report Fake News
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that he commented on which region should produce Nigeria’s president in 2027, describing the claim as fake news.
The report, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said it was the South’s turn to produce the next president. Reacting on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), El-Rufai categorically denied making such a statement.
“My attention has been drawn to a trending fake news item alleging that I specified which region of the country should produce the president in 2027. This claim is untrue, despite its virality,” he said.
El-Rufai stressed that he did not express such views in any speech, interview or social media post, noting that his opinions are only conveyed through his verifiable official platforms.
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He also faulted the practice of attributing opinions to him based on articles written by others, even when such articles are shared on his platforms as part of broader national discourse.
“It is wrong and improper to attribute to me opinion articles written by other authors, even when I share such articles on my platforms as contributions to the national conversation,” he said.
The former governor warned that the spread of misinformation and irresponsible politicking on social media poses a serious threat to public trust and democratic debate.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news,” El-Rufai stated, adding that fake news platforms should not be accorded any credibility.
He further urged journalists, media organisations and members of the public to verify information before publishing or sharing it, cautioning that failure to do so undermines the integrity of the media.
“In this age of falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever,” he said, lamenting what he described as the growing alignment of some media actors with unverified social media narratives.
El-Rufai concluded by reiterating that no political views should be attributed to him unless they are explicitly expressed on his official social media accounts or during interviews with reputable media organisations.
El-Rufai Denies Claim on 2027 Presidency, Calls Viral Report Fake News
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