The Nation Newspaper

Tag: atiku

  • Knocks for ex-VP Atiku after dumping PDP for third time

    Knocks for ex-VP Atiku after dumping PDP for third time

    • ‘I left because of irreconcilable differences’
    • Exit is of no effect, says Makinde

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the third time, citing irreconcilable differences with the leadership.

    Mixed reactions trailed Atiku’s new move by former colleagues and others, who faulted the timing and motivation for the defection.

    The former Vice President said the party had deviated from the foundational principles which made it a formidable platform.

    His exit was thumbed down by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who said the party saw the back of a man holding it down.

    The governor believes Atiku’s departure would not affect PDP’s electoral fortune.

    But, one of his associates, Umar Bello Jada, who rationalised the defection, said Atiku left the party because it was no longer habitable for him.

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who chided Atiku for wrong timing and lack of sensitivity, said the defection happened during the seven-day mourning declared by the Federal Government in honour of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP chairman in Adamawa State, where Atiku hails from, Ahmed Shehu, a lawyer, said the chapter would not miss the ex-vice president.

    On Monday, Atiku’s new political platform – the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – announced the suspension of political activities nationwide.

    In a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, the party’s Interim National Chairman, David Mark, announced the immediate suspension of all political activities at both the national and state levels for the duration of the mourning period.

    But Atiku resigned from the PDP yesterday.

    It was the third time Atiku would call it quits with the party.

    In 2007, as sitting Vice President to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, he left the PDP to contest for President on the ticket of the Action Congress (AC). He failed to win, only to return after the poll.

    He defected to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 and challenged the late President Buhari for the party’s ticket, which he also failed to clinch.

    He returned to the party in 2018 and contested for President on its ticket with Mr. Peter Obi, who defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as his running mate.

    They were defeated by President Buhari.

    He also contested on the party’s ticket in the 2023 election. He lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Yesterday, he dumped the party for the ADC, where he is seeking the ticket to contest for President in 2027.

    Makinde, who spoke during the 10th Coronation Colloquium of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi in Akure, Ondo State capital, said Atiku’s exit was not a dent on the PDP.

    Makinde said Atiku merely exercised his freedom of association by leaving the PDP, adding that his membership of the party held the platform down.

    He said: “Politics is a game of interest, and I don’t think that will make any dent on the PDP. The PDP is an institution.

    “You have freedom of entrance and exit. But I think anyone who would hold PDP down, it is better for such an individual to just leave.”

    Noting that the PDP would remain stronger and firm as a party, the governor said the ADC is not a threat to the opposition party.

    He added: “I don’t see ADC as a threat to PDP. Players would come and go; governors would also come and go, the President would also come and go, but our country and state will remain.”

    Why I left PDP, by Atiku

    Atiku, in his resignation letter of July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Jada Ward1, Jada Local Government Area, said PDP had neglected the principles of the founding fathers.

    The letter reads: “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the PDP with immediate effect.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the party.

    “Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.

    “As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.

    “However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.

    “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”

    Atiku’s departure from the PDP came amid tensions and power struggles within the party, particularly between him and key figures, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

    Also, since PDP had shunned the coalition, reality had dawned on the Atiku camp in the PDP that the Wike/Anyanwu forces might scuttle his 2027 presidential bid in the party.

    Ahead of the defection, Atiku’s supporters had resigned from the PDP and joined the ADC.

    Prominent among them are former Senate President David Mark, who is the interim chairman of the party; Bolaji Abdullahi, interim publicity secretary; Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, and Senator Dino Melaye.

    Keyamo faults timing, coat of arms use

    Keyamo berated the former Vice President for announcing his resignation at a time when the nation is still mourning.

    In a post on his X handle, the minister described the timing of Atiku’s resignation as an attempt to divert attention from the solemn occasion to himself.

    He said while it was within Atiku’s constitutional right to change parties at will, releasing his resignation letter during the mourning period was inappropriate.

    Keyamo stated: “It is within your constitutional right to change political parties at any time you may wish.

    Read Also: FEC holds special tribute session for Buhari Thursday

    “However, releasing your letter of resignation from the PDP during this week of the mourning of our immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, is clearly an attempt to draw the spotlight away from such a solemn occasion and direct it on yourself.”

    The minister alleged that Atiku signed the resignation letter the morning after the death of the former President was announced.

    He wrote: “With the greatest respect to you, this clearly demonstrates that your obsession with your perennial presidential ambition knows no sympathy or empathy.”

    Keyamo also faulted Atiku for using the Coat of Arms of the Federal Government on his private and political communications.

    He described the act as morally and legally wrong.

    Keyamo stressed: “Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, makes this an offence.

    “Morally, it is also reprehensible to use a symbol suggesting that you are acting on behalf of the authority which that symbol represents. It borders on impersonation.”

    The minister said if all former government functionaries continue to use the Coat of Arms in their personal, political, or private communications, it would cause confusion nationwide.

    Keyamo said his duty as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and Senior Advocate is to uphold the laws and constitution of the country.

    He added: “I have a duty, both as a cabinet member and a member of the Inner Bar, to protect our laws and constitution. Please, be well guided.”

    ‘PDP remains strong in Adamawa’

    Adamawa PDP chairman, Shehu, said the PDP is too strong a party for the personal strengths of individual members to affect it significantly.

    He said: “The former Vice President is a great asset for sure, but our party itself is a formidable one with remarkable presence across the country. So, we remain one big winning force.”

    The chairman dispelled the rumour that the entire PDP structure in Jada Ward 1 had collapsed into the ADC.

    Shehu said: “The PDP in Jada remains as it has long been, to the best of our knowledge.

    “If the leaders and members of the PDP in that ward had gone out of the party with Atiku, they would have informed the party.”

    Olusunle: defection was best option

    PDP chieftain Prof. Tunde Olusunle, who teaches Creative Writing at the University of Abuja, said defection was a good option for Atiku.

    Olusunle, who served as a Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said the defection would further weaken the PDP.

    He said: “ADC is blossoming into a nationwide Tsunami, whose impact will be more far-reaching than what the Labour Party (LP) provided in the home-stretch of the 2023 polls.

    “The game plan is to render the PDP, hitherto the most vibrant opposition party, from being able to challenge the APC in future contests.

    “The short-sightedness of this coterie of characters assumed that the PDP is the most virile platform on which democratic interests can be pursued, but ADC is the game-changer which has taken the APC by surprise; what the ADC is bringing to bear on our politics is humongous.”

    Lagos APC: it’s an act of desperation

    Lagos APC described the defection as “a predictable act of desperation and the final unravelling of a fragmented opposition.”

    The Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said in a statement that “Atiku’s latest political move is a clear confirmation of the internal chaos and irrelevance that now define the PDP.”

    He added: “Atiku’s departure from the PDP is not a surprise to discerning Nigerians.

    “His continuous political nomadism is emblematic of a man driven not by principles or ideology, but by unrelenting personal ambition.

    “We further note that the defection will neither change the electoral fortunes of the ADC nor pose any serious threat to the dominance of the APC, especially in Lagos State and across the federation.

    “Let us be clear: whether Atiku is in PDP, ADC, or any other alphabet party, the people of Lagos and indeed Nigeria are wiser.

    “The APC remains the only party with a proven track record of delivering transformative governance, economic growth, and infrastructural development.

    “We wish to emphasise that this development presents an opportunity for the electorate to reassess the character and consistency of those seeking to lead, reiterating that APC stands firm in its commitment to progress, unity, and a vision-driven Nigeria.

    “Lagos APC also wish to use the opportunity to urge our members and supporters to remain focused and continue mobilising at the grassroots for the forthcoming elections, stressing that victory lies in the party’s unity, performance record, and people-oriented agenda.

    “Atiku has again proven that political instability follows him wherever he goes. Nigerians deserve better than recycled politics and self-serving theatrics. APC is ready to lead, and ready to win.”

    PDP will suffer, says Jada

    Jada said the PDP had been dealt a terrible blow by the defection.

    He said: “What has happened is foretold, as the PDP is a dead party, killed by its very leaders who traded it for what they could get for themselves.”

    He said PDP would cease to exist in the southern part of Adamawa, which is Atiku’s stronghold.

  • 2027: Atiku’s exit is freedom for PDP, says Makinde

    2027: Atiku’s exit is freedom for PDP, says Makinde

    …his ADC led coalition is no threat to us

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has described the departure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a form of “freedom” for the party, saying it is better than being held back by internal obstacles.

    Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, officially resigned from the party in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman of Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State. In the letter, he said the PDP had strayed from its founding vision, describing his decision to leave as painful.

    His resignation comes weeks after joining a coalition of opposition figures that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

    READ ALSO; UPDATED: Why I resigned from PDP, by Atiku

    Reacting to the development during the 10th Coronation Anniversary Colloquium of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, held in Akure, Governor Makinde said Atiku’s exit does not diminish the PDP’s strength or prospects.

    “Politics is a game of interest, and I don’t think Atiku’s exit will make any dent on the PDP. The PDP is an institution,” Makinde said. “You have the freedom to enter and exit. But I think anyone who would hold PDP down—it’s better for such a person to just leave.”

    He dismissed concerns over the rising profile of the ADC, saying it poses no threat to the PDP. “I don’t see ADC as a threat to the PDP. The goal is the same if you’re dissatisfied with the pace and direction of governance. You’re free to associate with any platform,” he noted.

    Governor Makinde concluded by emphasizing that political players come and go, but the nation and its institutions will endure: “Governors will come and go, presidents will come and go, but our country and our states will remain.”

  • UPDATED: Why I resigned from PDP, by Atiku

    UPDATED: Why I resigned from PDP, by Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

    In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman PDP, Jada 1 Ward Jada LGA Adamawa State, Atiku said his resignation is due to irreconcilable differences that have emerged in the former ruling party.

    He noted that he found it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which according to him, diverges from the foundational principles it stood for.

    The letter reads, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

    READ ALSO; Collaborating with AY Makun a dream come true – Kamo State

    “I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party.

    “Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a Presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life. As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.

    “However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.

    “I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”

  • BREAKING: Former VP Atiku quits PDP

    BREAKING: Former VP Atiku quits PDP

    Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has formally resigned his membership of the opposition party.

    The move came amid Atiku’s growing involvement in the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC), a newly formed coalition party poised to challenge for power in the 2027 elections.

    In a letter dated Monday, July 14, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of PDP Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Atiku announced his immediate withdrawal from the party he helped found.

    The letter, shared by his Special Assistant on Media via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, read:

    “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the party.

    Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.”

    Read Also: Shettima, Radda, Atiku, other dignitaries attend Fidda’u prayers for Buhari in Daura

    Reflecting on his decades-long association with the PDP, Atiku added, “As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.

    “However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.

    “I wish the party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”

  • Shettima, Radda, Atiku, other dignitaries attend Fidda’u prayers for Buhari in Daura

    Shettima, Radda, Atiku, other dignitaries attend Fidda’u prayers for Buhari in Daura

    Vice President Kashim Shettima, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum were among the prominent figures who attended the Fidda’u prayers held in honour of late President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Daura.

    The solemn prayer session commenced at exactly 12 noon, drawing together a host of high-profile dignitaries, religious leaders, and traditional rulers.

    The Nation recalls that Buhari passed away on Sunday in a London hospital and was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura on Tuesday, in a ceremony attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several African leaders.

    Read Also: Rep. Etteh mourns Buhari, hails ex-President’s legacy of discipline, national service

    Among those present at the Fidda’u were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

    Also in attendance were former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari; NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa; the Emir of Daura, HRH Faruk Umar Faruk; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai (rtd); former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Aliyu Isah Pantami.

    Senator Abdul’Aziz Yar’adua, alongside other community leaders, religious clerics, and traditional rulers, also took part in the prayer session.

    Wednesday’s Fidda’u prayer served as a moment of reflection, remembrance, and continued spiritual support for the late Nigerian leader.

  •  Atiku salutes a ‘soldier of principle’

     Atiku salutes a ‘soldier of principle’

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has described the late Muhammadu Buhari as an epitome of patriotism, stoic discipline, and a commitment to Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity.

    Atiku said: “From the battlefield to the corridors of power, he served with the kind of austere conviction and firm belief in duty that marked him as a soldier of principle and a leader of formidable will.’’

    He noted that Buhari’s death was not just a loss to his family and the people of Daura but national tragedy.

    Read Also: Nigeria declares seven days of mourning for  ex-President

    “Nigeria has lost a statesman who bore the burdens of leadership in both turbulent and triumphant times and whose legacy will be remembered for generations to come,” Atiku added.

    The former Vice President offered his condolences to Buhari’s family and the people of Katsina State, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.

    “To his beloved family, I offer my deepest condolences. I pray for strength and comfort in this time of grief. To the people of Katsina State and the entire nation, I mourn with you. May we all take solace in the knowledge that he gave his life to the service of Nigeria and never wavered in his belief in her promise,” he said.

    He prayed that Allah forgives the late President’s shortcomings and granted him eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.

  • 2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    • Osun chair dares three Senators, eight Reps to defect; rains curses on those who leave

    The South West Caucus of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, insisted that it would not be part of the coalition being put together by some politicians, including prominent members of the party such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The caucus, comprising Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Taofeek Arapaja, among others, reaffirmed its unwavering loyalty to the PDP and commitment to its unity, stability, progress and success at all levels.

    Governor Makinde dismissed the coalition as incapable of constituting any threat to PDP.

    Chairman of the party in Osun State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, warned PDP federal lawmakers from the state against dumping the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The PDP Caucus, in a communiqué at the end of a meeting in Ibadan, said the party remained intact in the Southwest.

    It urged all its organs and relevant bodies to remain focused and continue to work assiduously toward the successful conduct of the scheduled National Convention to further strengthen and reposition the PDP for the task ahead.

    “The Caucus states in that it is not part of the reported coalition and urges all members of the PDP to remain united, steadfast and continue to stand behind our leaders in the Zone in navigating through all issues at the zonal and national levels,” it said.

    But it expressed support for the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) that “our Party remains open to working with other well-meaning like-minded citizens in the collective effort to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    It also resolved to intensify efforts to ensure “the victory of our great Party in the upcoming bye-elections in Oyo and Ogun States as well as Local Government Council election in Lagos State. The Caucus is confident that the PDP as a party of choice in the Southwest and Nigeria at large will record a sweeping victory in the coming elections.”

    It demanded the immediate release, by the federal government, of “the withheld Osun State Local Government allocation. The withholding of the Osun State Local Government allocation by the Federal Government is unconstitutional, unwarranted and a violation of the rights and wellbeing of the people of Osun State.

    Fielding questions from reporters at the end of the meeting, Makinde said the brains behind the coalition have always been known as people with antecedents of moving from one party to another.

    He said any serious party leader should address whatever challenge is facing his party head on, instead of jumping ship at the slightest opportunity.

    He said the question people should be asking is what such defectors have to offer.

    On the caucus meeting, he said: “We want the whole world, the entire country to know that the PDP in the Southwest is united, we are together.

    “Coalition is not a threat to PDP. Who are these people in this coalition? They have been in some parties before, whether PDP or APC. What are their antecedents? Does it mean that every time they move from one party to the other, they repented or changed or they have something new to offer the people?

    “Those are salient questions. If this building here, the roof is leaking, as leaders of PDP in the Southwest, are we going to abandon the building and go somewhere else to take refuge? We will stay inside here and fix it and let the people know that we are responsible leaders and we have the interest of the people at heart. That will be my own expectation for anybody that has anything against this party.”

    On the threat by some members of the coalition that they will remain in the PDP but work for the coalition, the governor said people were entitled to their opinions but the party as an institution with laid down structure has its own way of dealing with such issues at the right time.

    His words: “People can say whatever they like. But in a party like PDP, that is an institution, we have our own ways and means of dealing with such issues. And when we get to the point where we have to deal with such issues, I give you the assurance, we will.”

    Addressing the delegates earlier, the governor recalled how the refusal of the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to allow the office of the party’s national chairman to go to the South resulted in the formation of the G5.

    The meeting had in attendance leaders, delegates and stakeholders of the party from Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos State.

    Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleken, was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi.

    PDP dares Osun Senators, Reps over dumping party

    Hon. Sunday Bisi, in a video which has gone viral, warned PDP senators and Reps to be careful of their actions as the 2027 elections draw near.

    Bisi who spoke in Yoruba at a gathering of party stakeholders said: “those of us who are close to our senators and Reps, let’s advise them; their mandate is for four years. You did not mandate them to spend two years and cross to another political party.

    Read Also: 2027: Southwest PDP rejects Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai coalition

    “Whoever does that is a betrayer and he will also be betrayed. And it will not be well for such a person.

    “I am saying this because we built this party with our sweat and tears and got them elected. Now that the party’s flame is shining, anyone who tries to extinguish it will have his own flame extinguished instead.

    “Talk to them because some of them are acting like they will not return home again and need the party again. We’re monitoring their every move in Abuja. Help us warn them seriously to desist from any untoward action.

    “We worked for this party, and we want to warn Wole Oke; he wants to destroy the PDP finally after he used the platform for 24 years. He forgot God and the future, I won’t say more than this.”

  • ADC: Aeroland defends Atiku, blames Bode George for PDP’s decline

    ADC: Aeroland defends Atiku, blames Bode George for PDP’s decline

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Adewale, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should not be held responsible for the party’s struggles and decline.

    Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland and a former PDP chairman in Lagos State, made the remark during an interview in Lagos while reacting to a recent accusation by former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George.

    George had blamed Abubakar and other former party leaders for the collapse of the PDP, accusing them of jumping ship to lead a new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). 

    He expressed his concerns during a Friday appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he criticised Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark for aligning with the ADC-led alliance aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

    Responding, Adewale said it was George, not Abubakar, who contributed to the party’s decline, especially in Lagos, alleging that George had consistently worked against the PDP in every election cycle in the state.

    Adewale said, “I read with dismay a recent statement credited to Chief Bode George claiming that Atiku Abubakar joined the opposition coalition after destroying the PDP.

    “What could be more shameful and disgraceful than a known serial betrayer of Lagos PDP accusing another person of destroying the PDP.

    “Is it not ludicrous that the same person that has serially and openly worked against the PDP and openly instructing his supporters to work for ADP and Labour party, at different election cycles in Lagos, now claims Atiku destroyed the PDP?”

    He said that George as founding member of PDP had not delivered a polling units, including his, to PDP since 1999.

    He added, “Despite all Bode George has benefited from the party, he has never won his polling booth or produced even a councilor from his ward. 

    “I challenge anyone who has any evidence of Bode George winning his polling booth or producing a councilor since 1999, I will give the person N5 million.”

    Adewale alleged that in 2017, George While on Channels Television, directed PDP members vote for ADP during the LG election. 

    He added that George in 2019, through a press conference also directed PDP members to vote for the ADP Gubernatorial candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi. 

    Adewale also alleged that in 2023, George also told PDP members to vote for Labour Party ahead of the 2023 general election.

    Read Also: Oyebanji, Fayemi not for ADC, says aide

    He noted that Abubakar was not part of the people that could be accused of destroying PDP, rather the former vice president had worked and spent for the party.

    He said, “So, Bode George should just keep quiet and stop offending our sensibilities. Atiku did not violate any party rule or guideline. 

    “Atiku has contributed and worked greatly for PDP unlike Bode George and his ilk that would rather secretly work for the ruling party while in PDP in Lagos in every election cycle.”

  • Atiku’s Coalition can’t stop Tinubu’s re-election, says Ex-Rep 

    Atiku’s Coalition can’t stop Tinubu’s re-election, says Ex-Rep 

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi, has said the coalition propelled by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar poses no threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

    Faparusi stated that the coalition lacks the capacity to unseatTinubu, describing it as “a huge joke and “mere shadow chasing”.

    The Ex-Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ekiti State who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, said that the coalition has further widened chances of the President to win reelection on the strength of deep-seated “self-serving” impression Nigerians have about the promoters.

    Faparusi maintained the new party adopted by Atiku and other opposition leaders lacks the requisite structures for such task, saying Nigerians, including masses and elite, are solidly behind the President Tinubu-led administration.

    Read Also: Tinubu arrives Rio de Janeiro for 17th BRICS Summit

    According to him: “I have not seen any of their leaders telling Nigerians what they will do better or how they are planning to improve their lives . It’s all about power grabbing, Nigerians can’t be fooled”.

    He expressed confidence that Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Governor Biodun Oyebanji will deliver the state 100% for President Tinubu, which he believed will be replicated in other APC controlled States .

    Faparusi was of the opinion that the coalition of forces was patterned after the consummation of APC in 2013 by the Tinubu, his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari and other forces but reflected that such was not shabbily done the way Atiku and his ilks were going about it.

    The APC Chieftain urged the proponents of coalition to bury the thought that they will take over power in 2027, alluding to that as a tall and unrealisable dream.

  • Controversy trails membership status of Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai others

    Controversy trails membership status of Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai others

    • You can’t serve two masters, Bode George slams ex-VP, others

    • Leave LP immediately, join Obi in ADC, Abure tells Otti

    • Sanwo-Olu says anti-Tinubu coalition will fail; condemns political distractions

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark and other promoters of the coalition under African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday came under further attacks for what a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, called seeking to serve two masters.

    George, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, accused Atiku and other party members of moving into ADC without resigning from the party.

    He said it was bad enough that Atiku and Mark in particular had to abandon the PDP to its fate after precipitating the crisis that has turned the party into a shadow of its former self.

    Factional leader of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure said Abia State Governor Alex Otti should leave the LP immediately to join the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, in the ADC.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the anti-Tinubu coalition as a political distraction which is bound to fail.

    Chief George, speaking on Channels Television, said: “You can’t serve two masters, as stated in the Holy Book. You either serve A or you serve B. But to say you are in A and B is a fallacy.”

    He alleged that Mark and Atiku were some of the architects of the crisis rocking the PDP.

    Continuing, he said: “It is nothing but existential imbecility. Or sometimes what is called existential docility. What is it that they are all going there?

    “This is your father’s house. The house made you, brought you into the limelight. You gain every laurel and recognition from this same house. And because there is a little crisis, is leaving the cultural thing to do? No, you sit in there.

     “If you have a house that is leaking, do you run out? No, you are the landlord.

    “Do they have a concept? What is the strategy they have? That is a classless strategy.

    “When we had the last convention, General Buhari had just finished eight years. Then Atiku Abubakar wanted to compete (but) we said no; a northerner had just finished eight years. We had (Peter) Obi in the South. This was the beginning of the crisis.

    “David Mark was the chairman of that convention and Iyorchia Ayu was the chairman of the party. Of course, you cannot do things like that and get away with it. I warned against it at that point.”

    READ ALSO: Meet Nigerian riding bicycle from Nigeria to USA

    Leave LP now, join Obi in ADC, Abure tells Gov Otti

    Abure in a statement yesterday asked Otti to stop deceiving the public that he has not joined the other faction’s Caretaker Committee in the coalition party.

    The leadership of the LP, according to him, is in a hurry to recalibrate the party ahead of 2027.

    Abure said the LP would not fall for Otti’s deception again.

    “How can he be in the Labour Party when recently he conducted the local government election in Abia State with Zenith Labour Party as his party?” he wondered.

    He added: “He should not think that every Nigerian is bereft of knowledge. He formed and is funding the illegal caretaker committee that has formally joined the ADC.

    “The icing on the cake was the Wednesday unveiling of the coalition where every member of the caretaker committee formally joined the ADC.

    “We are shocked that Otti is paradoxically trying to mislead members of the Labour Party to say that he is still a member of the Labour Party. In any event, we had earlier suspended him indefinitely from the party because of his anti-party activities.

    “Labour Party is on the move again. We have the best brand in Nigeria, and we are eager to engage young Nigerians who have the interest of the nation at heart.

    “We are therefore willing to let go of everyone, no matter how high, whose interest in Nigeria is self-driven, opportunistic politicians who are not principled.

    “Labour Party is not and cannot be in any coalition because coalitions of political parties are ideologically bereft. It is a marriage of political strange fellows whose only agenda is power-grabbing.

    “It is selfish in nature, and no true democrat will agree to such an amalgam. Labour Party is therefore in a hurry to sanitise itself of people without character.”

    Sanwo-Olu: Anti-Tinubu coalition will fail

    Governor Sanwo-Olu told a group of journalists and politicians in Lagos Nigerians would support President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the gains of his bold reforms are fully realised.

    He described the ADC as nothing but a mere distraction which President Tinubu should ignore.

    “Nigerians will never go back to Egypt,” Sanwo-Olu said.

     “The target is to distract the Commander-in-Chief and derail the social and economic gains that we can see and feel. But President Tinubu knows the game and will never fall for their bait.”

    In Sanwo-Olu’s view, President Tinubu’s track record, achievements and reform agenda are strong enough to stand above any narrative being crafted to derail his administration or his prospects for re-election.

    He cited the stability in the foreign exchange market, students loan scheme, massive infrastructural projects, more revenue for states  after the removal of fuel subsidy, tax reforms, increased oil production and the national minimum wage, among others.   

     “President Tinubu is not only a builder of men but a visionary leader whose impact is evident across the nation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Asked if the President and his All Progressives Congress (APC) were bothered about ADC and its promoters, Sanwo-Olu said: “No one should be concerned or distracted by what ADC or any other group is attempting to orchestrate. The truth is clear, the people can see the difference, and history is on his side.

    “They have nothing but bitterness to offer; they are bound together by their illogical resentment against President Tinubu, not by any edifying ideology. They will run out of steam.”

    Asked what advice he had for the President, the governor said:”Simple. The President should stay the course. Millions of well-meaning Nigerians across party lines and compatriots who understand what it takes to govern the most populous black nation on earth and revive a troubled economy are behind him and trust his leadership.”

    “We know how far we’ve come under President Tinubu’s leadership. The focus should remain on delivering results, deepening reforms and building a stronger Nigeria. Any attempt to shake that foundation will be futile.”

    Coalition proof Tinubu’s policies ended business as usual, says Lloyd

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Chidi Lloyd, said that the ongoing coalition against President Bola Tinubu is a proof that the President’s policies are working, effective and no longer business as usual.

    Lloyd, former Emohua Local Government Chairman in Rivers State, said the coalition would only compel many Nigerians to believe in the administration of Tinubu because his policies had displaced established politicians.

    He said the fact that most individuals, who had held various offices in the country without making significant positive impact, were forced out of their comfort zone for a coalition, was an indication that the country was getting it right.

    Describing the coalition as dead on arrival, Lloyd said all members of the group were not foreigners but known old politicians who have been in the corridors of power since 1999.

    He said Nigerians were wiser now and would not allow same people that foisted a system that never worked on them to return to power.

    He took a swipe at some individual members of the coalition, saying they lacked moral rectitude to preach to Nigerians about a better country.

    Lloyd said: “The coalition is dead on arrival. We didn’t see any foreigner. If the coalition were formed by citizens of America or Britain, we would have been worried. The coalition still has the same faces, the same old faces since 1999.

    “I agree that what we have is a gathering of displaced politicians. We have a former vice-president; we have someone that was a Senate President for eight years. He was in a position to change Nigeria. His daughter won an election under an opposition party. It means his own political party is not popular in his federal constituency. “

     ADA Registration: Northern groups tackle El-Rufai, Amaechi over comments on INEC

    The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN), yesterday faulted former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

    The AYCF in a statement by its President-General, Yerima Shettima, said Nigeria’s electoral process is governed by clear rules and procedures meant to uphold transparency, fairness and accountability, insisting that Amaechi’s claims of deliberate obstruction by INEC were not only baseless but also reflected a poor understanding of the registration framework.

    “INEC’s requirements, such as submission of office addresses and proper identification of party officers, are standard protocols that all parties must meet to be duly registered,” Shettima noted.

    “It is critical that all political entities, including the ADA, comply with these guidelines to preserve the integrity of our democracy.”

    The AYCF leader described as “disheartening” the resort by Amaechi and El-Rufai to what he termed sensational claims, instead of focusing on addressing the substantive compliance issues facing their new party.

    “The ADA’s struggles to meet INEC’s clear requirements should not be twisted into tales of bias or conspiracy by the commission,” Shettima stressed.

    “What we see here is a need for diligent preparation on the part of political actors.”

    On his part, Chairman of NAN, Salihu Suleiman, warned that expecting INEC to compromise its standards for ADA would be unrealistic and a dangerous subversion of democratic principles.

    Suleiman said El-Rufai’s skepticism over INEC’s willingness to register the ADA typified a growing habit among some political leaders to question electoral institutions instead of engaging them constructively. He cautioned that such rhetoric could undermine trust in the electoral process and disenfranchise voters.

    Both groups urged Amaechi, El-Rufai and other political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements, build trust in democratic institutions and approach their political ambitions within the framework of established laws. They reiterated their commitment to supporting a fair, transparent and credible electoral process in Nigeria.