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

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

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the South-West region has distanced itself from the coalition of opposition political parties.

    It said no part of the party in the Southwest region had joined a coalition with any party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Recall that a coalition of opposition parties in Nigeria had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 general elections.

    This decision was arrived at a meeting which had in attendance former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi; former Senate President, David Mark; former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, among others.

    Speaking in Ibadan during the Southwest stakeholders’ meeting of the party, the Chairman of chairmen in the 36 states of the federation and FCT, Abuja, Hon. Femi Olaniyi, otherwise known as ‘Ferrari’ maintained that nobody can take any decision on behalf of the party concerning joining the coalition, except directive from the party National Working Committee (NWC).

    He noted that the SDP in the Southwest region still awaits the NWC of the party to come up with its stand, and everything regarding the coalition.

    Olaniyi said, “As it stands now, there is nothing like a coalition in SDP.”

    He allayed the fear of party members on various challenges confronting them in their respective states, saying, “The NWC has promised to guide us and assist each state with membership cards, register and every other thing at the appropriate time.”

    Olaniyi maintained that there is unity among leaders and all stakeholders in the region as they always speak with one voice for the progress of the party.

    Read Also: FAAC shares highest allocation of N1.818tr in June

    “In 2027, we will rescue Nigeria from the current administration, bring a formidable government and show all Nigerians a true and real democracy.”

    Olaniyi, who also doubles as Lagos State Chairman of the party, said, “We discussed the challenges, progress and the coalition at our meeting.

    “We have seen how everything is being played out in our party. So, we need to brief our members, especially our stakeholders in the region.

    “In the six states of Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo, respectively, we have been asking a series of questions regarding this so-called coalition, and we just called our people to intimate our resolve not to be part of any coalition at the moment.”

    Also speaking, a serving lawmaker representing Ise-Orun Constituency in the Ekiti State House of Assembly under SDP, Babatunde Omotayo, said, “We are here to resolve some issues. We resolved issues and dialogued for the development of our party- SDP.

    “The most important among what we discussed was how we can remain one and speak with one voice to move the party forward in the region. So, SDP as a political party doesn’t have a plan to join the so-called coalition.”

  • 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.”

  • Choosing Obi over Faduri in 2023 was a costly mistake, LP laments

    Choosing Obi over Faduri in 2023 was a costly mistake, LP laments

    …assures error won’t be repeated in 2027

    More than two years after the 2023 presidential election, the Labour Party (LP) has expressed deep regret over its decision to field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, describing it as a costly mistake with lasting consequences.

    Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, said the LP erred by choosing Obi over Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, whom he hailed as a professional nurse with “unimpeachable credentials and visionary leadership.”

    Arabambi said the election exposed the dangers of prioritizing political popularity over principled leadership, lamenting that the sidelining of Oluwadare Joseph was more than a mere miscalculation.

    “It was a betrayal of Nigeria’s genuine quest for transformation. Instead of presenting a disciplined, well-prepared leader with a clear blueprint for national renewal, we offered Nigerians a populist who excelled at telling people what they wanted to hear,” he said.

    He assured that as the 2027 general elections approach, the Labour Party will not repeat what he called the “Obi error,” stressing the need for leaders like Faduri Oluwadare Joseph who embody substance, sacrifice, and a clear vision for systemic change.

    Arabambi said, “Perhaps the most damning indictment of Obi’s candidacy is his ethnic polarisation that shadowed his campaign. While Faduri stood as a truly national figure, with support cutting across regions, Obi’s movement, intentionally or not, became a vehicle for tribal sentiment.

    Read Also: ADC: Coalition of Atiku, Obi can’t unseat Tinubu in 2027 – Support group 

    “His refusal to firmly denounce Kanu’s secessionist rhetoric, his selective outrage over insecurity, and his tendency to frame national issues through a partisan lens exposed a troubling parochialism beneath his “unifier” facade. 

    “Nigeria does not need a president who excuses extremism for political convenience. It needs a leader who will uphold the rule of law while addressing legitimate grievances, something Faduri embodied, which obi lacks.”

  • 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.

  • Obi’s politics of distortion: Why Nigeria needs performance, not pretense

    Obi’s politics of distortion: Why Nigeria needs performance, not pretense

    • By Gloria Adebajo Fraser

    In recent remarks widely circulated across digital platforms, Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, made several caustic jabs at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, ranging from criticisms of his international trips to accusatory rhetoric on insecurity and economic management. While opposition is healthy in any democracy, it must be rooted in facts, integrity, and a vision grounded in reality—not sentiment, sarcasm, or selective memory.

    Obi’s latest outburst, laced with populist punches like, “People are dying in Benue and our leaders are commissioning bus stops”, is not only morally dishonest, but also politically irresponsible, considering his own contradictions, inadequacies, and lack of national governance experience.

    Track record: President Tinubu vs. Peter Obi

    President Tinubu’s record of performance is public, historic, and transformational. As Lagos State Governor (1999–2007), he:

    Grew Lagos’ IGR from N600 million to over N10 billion monthly, laying the foundation for fiscal independence.

    Created LASTMA, LAMATA, and crucial institutions still in use today.

    Attracted global investment without borrowing recklessly.

    Built a merit-driven governance template that produced credible leaders including Yemi Osinbajo, Babatunde Fashola, and Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Peter Obi, on the other hand, is remembered for:

    Saving money for Anambra State in banks without investing significantly in education, infrastructure, or poverty reduction.

    Leaving no visible institutional legacy—no functional industry, no large-scale educational initiative, no game-changing reform.

    Offshoring educational standards—sending his children abroad, while offering no innovative solution to public education.

    Declaring publicly that governance was about “cutting cost”, not expanding opportunity—a philosophy that reduces state-building to hoarding.

    Moral contradictions and deceptive politics

    Obi’s statements like “Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government” are rich in irony. His party, the Labour Party, is currently embroiled in leadership crises, legal infighting, and factional disintegration.

    Moreover, his claim of readiness to “put his life on the line” for Nigeria rings hollow in the absence of any concrete, tested national-level action plan. What Peter Obi offers is critique without clarity, emotion without execution, and populism without policy depth.

    His continued posturing as a moral compass—“Go and check my records with UNICEF and UNDP”—is a diversion from the truth that he has never held a federal executive position, chaired a national economic council, or managed a conflict-ridden region like Benue or Zamfara.

    The real economic reality: Nigeria’s painful but necessary reforms

    What Obi and his coalition deliberately ignore is that Nigeria’s current hardship is not manufactured by Tinubu, but inherited from years of unsustainable fuel subsidies, multiple exchange rates, low productivity, and ballooning debt.

    The fuel subsidy removal was not optional—it was demanded by global financial realities and written into loan agreements with the IMF and World Bank since 2020.

    The currency floatation was a necessary correction to reverse foreign exchange arbitrage and boost export competitiveness.

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    Tinubu’s government has not only acknowledged the hardship, it has taken bold, people-centered steps to reduce the pain:

    Income-sensitive tax reforms—exempting businesses under N50 million and individuals earning below N1 million annually from CIT and PAYE respectively.

    Federal technical colleges, vocational institutes, and colleges of education are now tuition-free, opening doors to low-income families.

    N200 billion in palliatives, N125 billion for MSMEs, and N315 billion in soft loans and grants have been rolled out.

    The Presidential Tax Reform Committee, digital revenue system, and new Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) are designed to simplify compliance and eliminate multiple taxation.

    “The test of leadership is not in avoiding difficult decisions but in guiding the people through them with courage and vision,” said Dr. Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR, a governance strategist.

    Stop the politicization of poverty

    Peter Obi’s pattern is clear: weaponize hardship, capitalize on people’s frustration, and refuse to acknowledge complex global realities. But Nigeria cannot afford a leader who confuses crowd applause with policy solutions.

    The economic hardship is real, but so is the effort of the current administration to mitigate it within contractual and structural limitations.

    The World Bank has disbursed over $2.25 billion in programmatic loans, tied to reform benchmarks—not wishful populism.

    Politicians promising Nigerians miracle recoveries without acknowledging the fiscal constraints of these loans are either deceiving the people or exploiting their vulnerability.

    The way forward: competence, not clatter

    Nigeria needs builders, not blamers. President Tinubu may not be perfect, but he offers:

    A proven record of institutional development

    A strategic, steady hand in economic stabilization

    A team-driven leadership model that encourages technocratic reforms

    Peter Obi offers emotionalism without economics, headlines without homework, and ambition without answers.

    Conclusion

    In this critical period of reform and national rebirth, Nigeria must not be distracted by populist opportunism. Those who seek to lead must offer more than slogans—they must present a coherent vision and demonstrate capacity.

    Peter Obi has every right to participate in democracy. But he lacks the moral clarity, tested competence, and national reach to credibly position himself as a better alternative to President Tinubu.

    As Nelson Mandela once said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” Tinubu has both—and a track record to prove it.

    • Fraser is the coordinator of The National Patriots.
  • 2027: No discussion on joint ticket with Atiku, says Obi

    2027: No discussion on joint ticket with Atiku, says Obi

    …says no to coalition to wrest power from APC

    …pledges to do one term

    Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has dismissed talks of a joint ticket with former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 election.

    Obi also said he would not be part of any coalition not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, or how to revive the economy, make industries productive and put food on the table of Nigerians.

    The former governor of Anambra State said this on Sunday night when he appeared on X (formerly Twitter) space to answer questions from supporters.

    A statement by the Peter Obi Media Outreach, Ibrahim Umar on Monday quoted the former governor as saying, “I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets including with Atiku.

    “If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to 4 years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office by 28th May, 2031.”

    Obi, who came third in the 2023 general election, told his supporters at home and abroad that he would be on the ballot for the presidency in 2027 and would be willing to do one term in office.

    He acknowledged being involved in coalition talks because of his “desire to rescue Nigeria from the drift by aligning with all patriotic Nigerians.”

    Obi said, “If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians. Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it.”

    He urged Nigerians to see the need to rescue the country with him.

    Obi said, “I will bring stability to Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria.”

    On the lingering crisis in the Labour Party, Obi said they are working around the clock to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party based on the Supreme Court ruling.

    Read Also: I will contest 2027 presidency – Peter Obi

    Speaking on the rotation of the presidency between the North and South, Obi said: “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”

    On President Bola Tinubu’s visit to St Lucia, Obi said: “In 2 years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend 8 nights in St Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle.

    “St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin. President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days.

    He also spoke on his preparation for the election, saying,  “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.

    “Three things to follow up with in the first 100 days. Prioritise security, education and poverty eradication; cut costs and shun corruption. My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors.

    “My Presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.

    “Imagine in this country, People are dying in Benue, Borno, and other parts of the country and our leaders are commissioning Bus Stops and holidaying.

    “To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one.

    “My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians.

    “Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”

  • Atiku, Obi in yo-yo politics

    Atiku, Obi in yo-yo politics

    It will take a few more weeks, perhaps months, for the frothing politics of former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s and former Anambra governor Peter Obi’s presidential aspiration politics to settle down. For now, the country must be contented watching with amusement the exploratory activities of the two aspiring contenders, the first a veteran contender, and the second a latter-day and opportunistic contender. Before the 2023 presidential poll was conducted, both gentlemen started out in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having carried over their ambitions from their unsuccessful 2019 presidential contest. Vice president Atiku had in the 2019 poll run on the same ticket with Mr Obi, and performed quite creditably to give the eventual winner, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate’s Muhammadu Buhari, a run for his money.

    But in the 2023 poll, Alhaji Atiku and Mr Obi parted ways, with the latter sensing that he could take the opportunistic wind of the Christian vote to soar to victory. The maths did not of course favour him, but he was Machiavellian and naïve enough to believe he could win. Still he performed surprisingly well to nearly equal the votes of his former PDP standard-bearer (6.10m to 6.98m in an election in which over 93m people registered and a little less than 27 percent voted compared with about 35 percent that voted in 2019 out of a little over 83m who registered). Nearly two years after the 2023 presidential poll was done and litigated, both politicians have belatedly and grudgingly acknowledged that the division in their camp led to their defeat. Since then they have indulged in the most unpredictable form of politics that sees them oscillating like a yo-yo, from one excitable high one day to a depressing low another day. They are no longer ambiguous about their loss, thank God, but they are even far more ambiguous about their future.

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    In the past few weeks, they have issued statements and granted interviews about how they planned to approach the 2027 presidential poll. Having reluctantly agreed that they would need a coalition of political parties to swing the next poll, they have nevertheless proceeded to flip flop on who should anchor the coalition, which political vehicle to use, and which two politicians should be on the presidential ticket. The only thing still firing Alhaji Atiku’s interest in presidential politics, nay politics at all, is his ambition to rule Nigeria. But sensing mounting opposition inside and outside his political party to his being on the ticket, he has quibbled about the subject and, in a few galling moments, feigned disinterest in becoming the standard-bearer. He has pretended that all that mattered is ‘saving Nigeria’ from ‘misrule’. At other times, he has also hinted very broadly that with Mr Obi joining him on the ticket, they would not only win the presidency, he would be quite willing to cede a putative second term to his running mate, the overrated former Anambra governor and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last presidential poll.

    While it is almost certain that Alhaji Atiku wants to run for the presidency for the last time, if he can get a platform, Mr Obi has dissembled even much more, insisting in one breath that he is not as fanatical about contesting for the position as he is in midwifing sound governance for Nigeria. And in another breath, he is promising to run for office because the country needs the services of people like him. He and Alhaji Atiku have conducted joint exploratory work on running on the same ticket. His party, the LP, is distressed, but so is the PDP on which the former vice president still holds high hopes. But in the interim, both gentlemen are also looking in the direction of a few errant parties posing naked on the fringes and seducing political wayfarers and ambitious aspirants to turn in and climb under their duvets. There was mention of one Social Democratic Party (SDP), but that one regained its senses and decided not to play whoredom. Then there is also mention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a single parent party seemingly averse to celibacy. But even here too there are stirrings of revolt by its kept men. Perhaps they will finally create a new party altogether.

    Clearly, many permutations will remain tentative in the weeks and months ahead, as both Alhaji Atiku and Mr Obi make up their minds regarding which party to use, being themselves incapable of loyalty to one spouse; or which ticket to cobble, especially considering that both men have suggested that this might be their last contest. If the lure of winning does not trump their principles forged from the push and pull over ageing and presidential contest, then they might conceivably go their separate ways by trying their luck on different platforms. But if what matters to them is winning, then they might sink their differences, abandon principles, and in stark embrace of realpolitik, join forces to try to take the presidency, whether Alhaji Atiku ends up betraying his one-term presidency pledge or not. Whatever they end up doing in the months to come, don’t count on making sense of what they say now or what positions and arguments they advocate in the interim.

  • Avoid heating polity, activist urges Atiku, Obi, others

    Avoid heating polity, activist urges Atiku, Obi, others

    An activist, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors of Kaduna and Anambra States, Nasir El Rufai and Peter Obi respectively, against heating up the polity as the nation moves toward 2027 general election.

    Onitiri urged Atiku, El-Rufai and Obi to moderate their actions, utterances and speeches to avoid heating up the political space which might endanger the current political dispensation.

    In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, Onitiri noted that the advice became expedient in view of the way and manner the politicians were going about their new found political association.

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    Onitiri advised Alhaji Atiku that seeking American Court’s help to disqualify President Bola Tinubu in preparation for 2027 Presidential election was going too far and seen by Nigerians as unnecessary and should be avoided.

    “As one of the Democrats who risked their lives between 1993 and 1994 and faced the military to secure the present political dispensation, we cannot sit by and allow the present crop of politicians to play into the hands of the military boys who might want to threaten our fledgling democracy,” he said.

    He pointed out that the current economic and security situation in the country called for cooperation and collaboration between the ruling APC and the opposition parties by joining hands and working together to find solutions to the lingering problems, for the overall interest of the poor masses of the nation.

    Onitiri pointed out that from all available facts and accounts, the Federal Government had been trying it’s best to salvage the worsened inherited economic and security situations since 2023 till date.

  • 2027: Obi’s ally dumps LP, joins APC to work for Tinubu’s reelection

    2027: Obi’s ally dumps LP, joins APC to work for Tinubu’s reelection

    Fabian Ozoigbo, an ally of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state.

     Ozoigbo, who was the head of Logistics of the Labour Party, declared that he is ready to work for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 for his efforts in stabilising the country since he assumed office.

    He said there is a lack of trust in the Labour Party, while blasting the party for faulting the result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the last presidential election.

    Ozoigbo, who briefed reporters on Wednesday in Awka, said that as a member of the opposition, he had expected Nigeria’s economy to collapse following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

    He, however, said that to his admiration, President Tinubu has managed to keep the economy stable.

    He said, “As a member of the opposition, I had expected the economy to collapse irretrievably after the removal of fuel subsidy, but that the economy is still on, though with hardships is a puzzle to me.

    “I have decided to come close to the government that is holding this economy to observe and take part in this surprising phenomenon.

    “My goal is to be part of a new Nigeria that is possible with positive policies that will turn the economy around. Since the economy has not collapsed by now and there are signs of recovery, I want to be part of this economic miracle.”

    Ozoigbo said his entry into the APC at a time Anambra is moving towards the November 8 governorship election was timely, especially with the election of a grassroots politician, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, as the candidate.

    He said Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife’s entry into the governorship race would make it easy for APC to win Anambra.

    “APC in recent times threw up a Trojan horse in the person of Prince Nicolas Ukachukwu as their candidate.

    Read Also: 2027: Why coalition against APC may not succeed, by ex-ACF scribe

    “His emergence as a grassroots-oriented person, coupled with his philanthropic gestures over the years, has begun to attract people, especially the middle-class citizens of the state, to his quest. My people and I want to be part of it.

    “His emergence is a clarion call for all men of goodwill and good conscience to gather together to make the point that Anambra is not for only rich people but for both the rich and the poor.”

    Speaking about the 2023 presidential election, Ozoigbo remarked that it is regrettable there is significant distrust among members within the Labour Party.

     He stated that it is even worse that, despite all the claims to victory, the Labour Party relied on the same INEC result it had discredited to prove its case in court, and thus faced failure.

  • Atiku, Obi, Amaechi at coalition talks

    Atiku, Obi, Amaechi at coalition talks

    • Malami, Babachir pledge support

    A group of Northern political elite may have thrown their weight behind a proposed national coalition movement to be led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The Nation gathered that the decision was reached at a meeting by the politicians under the aegis of the  National Political Consultative Group (North-NPCG), in Abuja yesterday.

    At the meeting, which was said to be non-partisan, were Atiku;  Datti Baba-Ahmed, Peter Obi; former  Justice Minister Abubakar Malami; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)  Babachir Lawal.

    Erstwhile Minister of State for  Solid Minerals, Abu Bwari and former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, among other Northern political leaders were at the meeting that lasted over four hours.

    Obi, former Rivers Governor  Rotimi Ameachi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Chairman   Adolphus Wabara were also at the meeting to show solidarity with the group. 

    The Nation learnt that former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, who hosted Atiku in Ilesa at the weekend, joined the meeting virtually.

    The attendees kept sealed lips when approached by reporters after the meeting. However,  it was gathered that the formation of a coalition to present a formidable candidate against  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 topped their talks.

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    A member of the group, who did not want his name in print, said they met to further consolidate North’s position ahead of the 2027 general election and to seek the support of like-minded individuals across the  “ South. ‘’

    He said: “Today’s (yesterday) meeting was essentially to review the position of our (North) region ahead of the 2027 general election as regards the coalition movement.

    ‘’We extended invitations to like-minded  persons or  leaders from the Southern part of the country.” 

    He, however, assured that ‘’a formal statement on the outcome of the meeting will be made available tomorrow (today). 

    Obi to North: vote for competence in 2027

      Obi, according to a statement by the Obi Media Outreach after the meeting, urged the North to vote for competence and capacity in 2027.

    He was also said to have described the North as the ‘’future and huge asset’’ of the country.

    According to the statement by Ibrahim Umar, the former LP presidential candidate, pointed out that crimes and insecurity in the North are caused by poverty.

    He advised the region to invest more in education because it is the easiest way to tackle the menace.

    Obi also noted that the North had for long voted for religion and tribe.

    He called on the electorate in the region to begin to vote for ‘’competence and capacity.’’

     The former governor also underscored the importance of trust among Nigerians to be able to tackle the myriad of problems facing the nation.

    Drawing an inference from some successful agrarian nations like Bangladesh and the Netherlands, Obi said the North has more potential than they.

    He stated that what was lacking in the North was good governance, good policies and implementation.

    Former Justice Minister Malami was said to have bemoaned the security situation in the North and called for a platform to address the challenge.