The Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has denied claims that he resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) five months to the February 22 local government election.
Abioye, in a video he made available to The Nation to counter the claim of the Executive Director of Projects Implementation of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oluremi Omowaiye that he resigned in September 2024, explained the legal stance of local government tussle.
He said: “I resigned my membership of the PDP in 2023, not 2024. On the issue of reinstatement, the Court of Appeal did not reinstate any local government official. It was an election that was conducted under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, using ‘Yes or No’, 60 days notification as against 360 days.
“The way forward is the All Peoples Party (APP) judgment, which sacked them on November 30, 2022. They abandoned that appeal and the Court of Appeal dismissed that. There is already a pronouncement of Court of Appeal on that decision.”
Abioye berated the APC for living in denial over the appeal of the APP, which sacked them.
He said: “The way forward is for the Attorney-General of the Federation to look at the APP judgment and give us an opinion. Please let us press it on the Attorney-General of the Federation.”
Executive Director of Projects Implementation of Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Remi Omowaiye, has berated the Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, for resigning his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year.
Omowaiye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled that Abioye had confirmed on a national television that he resigned from the PDP last year, five months to the February 22 council election.
He said Abioye’s confirmation showed that last Saturday’s local government poll could not be credible, even if the Appeal Court verdict, by implications, did not tag it illegal.
“It is worrisome that a former aspirant under PDP for the House Assembly seat, ex-secretary of PDP and now Special Adviser, Legal Matters to Governor Ademola Adeleke will chair an agency that ought to be neutral.
“He is wearing two caps, Special Adviser on Legal Matters and OSIEC Chairman to conduct an illegal election. This is an affront to residents of Osun State,” Omowaiye said.
He said Adeleke, Abioye and Osun State Executive Committee (Exco) members must tender an apology to residents of Osun State for making them to observe lockdown ‘’when we are not in the era of COVID-19 and for wasting billions of Naira on an illegal self-acclaimed local government election.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has conducted its northeast zonal congress in Bauchi despite a Federal High Court order restraining the exercise.
Nation reports that a day before the congress, Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order directing the PDP and its leadership to maintain the status quo pending further proceedings on February 25, 2025.
The ruling, delivered in suit No: FHC/ABJCS/298/2025, sought to halt the election of zonal committee members and national ex-officio representatives.
However, the party proceeded with the congress at Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, at the weekend where Alhaji Babangida Modibbo Umar emerged as the new North East Zonal Chairman.
Also, in line with the party’s consensus arrangement, all 22 leadership positions were filled unopposed.
The congress was attended by prominent PDP leaders, including the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagun, and the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, and Taraba States.
Also present were Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Senator Hassan Dankombo, former Bauchi State Governor Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, and several national and state assembly members.
Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Architect Ruben Okoya, announced the election results, describing the process as smooth and transparent.
In his acceptance speech, Babangida Modibbo Umar expressed gratitude to the delegates and pledged to justify their confidence in him.
Modibbo who succeeds Rev. Emmanuel Bovoa from Taraba State hailed the congress as a reflection of unity and strength, adding that similar exercises would take place nationwide ahead of the 2025 national convention.
The PDP has also released its 2025 zonal congress timetable, which includes elections for new zonal working committees and national ex-officio members as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the national convention.
Rivers court stops party from holding zonal congress
Ignore Ologunagba, event will hold, says Akonjom
The infighting in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a turn for the worse over its South-South zonal congress initially scheduled to hold today.
A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday night had announced the postponement of the congress by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig has approved the postponement of the South-South Zonal Congress of our great party, earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 22, 2025,” the statement said.
The postponement, it said, was necessitated by the need for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the zone, adding that the South-East and North-East Zonal Congresses would proceed as originally scheduled.
The statement expressed regrets over any inconvenience the postponement might have caused, saying a new date for the congress would be announced in due course.
But in a counter-statement yesterday, the South-South Zonal Executive of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) said the party’s zonal congress scheduled to hold today had not been postponed, contrary to the position of the party at the national level.
The statement issued in Abuja by the Organising Secretary of the party’s South-South Zone, Mr Ekom Akonjom, said the congress would go ahead as planned.
Ologunagba, Akonjom said, had no power to direct a postponement of the congress.
The zonal organising secretary, therefore, urged party stakeholders and all those expected to be at the congress to disregard the assertions of the national publicity secretary of the party.
He said the National Working Committee (NWC) does not have the powers to interfere with the workings of zonal executive councils of the party.
According to him, the PDP South-South Zonal congress would proceed as scheduled because the NWC lacks authority to postpone.
Akonjom said: “We have noted a statement from our party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, claiming that the South South Zonal Congress in Calabar, Cross River, this Saturday, has been postponed.
“While it is his duty to convey party information, it must align with our party’s constitution.
“To clarify, the South-South zonal congress, which was approved by the zonal executive committee, will take place as scheduled.
“We urge the public and our delegates to ignore the statement from the national publicity secretary.
“The NWC does not possess the authority to summon zonal congresses, as specified in Article 27 (2) (c) of the party’s Constitution.
“Furthermore, there has been no convening of the NWC meeting to discuss postponing the South-South zonal congress,” he said.
According to him, PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, is a member of the NWC, and unaware of the convening of any such meeting.
“We wish our delegates safe travels to Calabar, as the zonal congress is set to go ahead as planned,” he said.
Rivers court stops party from holding zonal congress
The controversy, however, took a twist yesterday with an order by a Rivers State High Court stopping the zonal congress.
Sitting in Port Harcourt, the court ordered that the South-South zonal congress should not hold in Cross River or anywhere in Nigeria.
The court presided over by Justice G.V. Obomanu issued the order of interim injunction in a case instituted by Tony Ejiogu, a member of the PDP from Ward 3 in Etche Local Government Area, and Field Nkoro, former Vice-Chairman, Southeast PDP.
Named as defendants in the suit are the PDP and Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice-Chairman South-South Zone of the PDP.
The judge in a copy of the order he issued yesterday ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante litem as at February 20 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court granted the request of the claimants to serve the originating and other subsequent processes to be filed on the suit on the defendants by substituted means, pasting same at the gate of the first defendant (PDP) South-South zonal headquarters at Road 1, Plot 2A Presidential Housing Estate, New GRA, Port Harcourt or by publication in any widely read national newspaper.
South-South party leaders disown Calabar congress, back governors
In yet another twist to the saga, leaders of the PDP in the South-South Zone, including the state chairmen of the party in the six states comprising the zone, yesterday disowned the party’s zonal congress scheduled for Calabar, Cross Rivers State today.
In a statement they issued yesterday, the leaders also passed a vote of confidence in the four PDP governors in the zone.
The zonal leaders further passed a vote of confidence in the Zonal Secretary of the Party, Chief Felix Omemu, warning those fomenting leadership crisis in the region to desist forthwith.
The statement was signed by Bishop Etim Ante, Zonal Publicity Secretary; Lloyd Owonaro, Zonal Youth Leader; Chief (Mrs) Tessy Toru, Zonal Woman Leader; Chief Boghabofa N. Amaino, Zonal Ex-officio, Bayelsa State; Monday C. Akpan, Zonal Ex. Officio Akwa Ibom; Chux Nwaebuni, Zonal Ex-officio, Delta State, and Hon. Hon. Idehen Ebomoyi, Zonal Ex-officio, Edo State.
Others are High Chief Nname R. Ewori, PDP State Chairman, Rivers State; Chief Solomon Areyinka, Chairman Delta State; Aniekan Akpan, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State; Solomon Agwana, Chairman, Bayelsa State; Tony Aziegbeni, Chairman, Edo State and Mr. Dennis Nkiri, Acting PDP State Chairman, Cross River State.
The leaders insisted that they had an obligation to timely act to strengthen and ensure the stability of every of the PDP structures across the zone.
They wondered how a ruling party in the zone that produced four incumbent state governors, 12 senators, over 40 members of the House of Representatives, over 100 House of Assembly members and many chairmen of local government areas would convene a zonal executive meeting (ZEC) with less than three per cent attendance of statutory officials.
They said: “With the absence of top personalities like former governors, deputy governors, non-serving legislators and former party officials and other strategic stalwarts of the party, who are statutory members of ZEC, the conveners of such purported meeting have a case to answer for this glaring political gangsterism and malfeasance attempt to manipulate the collective will of members.
“Any gathering including a purported Zonal Elective Congress illegally scheduled for Calabar, Cross River State without the due approval of key leaders including the state governors remains illegal and unacceptable.”
The zonal PDP leaders, who issued a 10-point communiqué after their meeting, declared that the internal wrangling in PDP involving the national structure and some states in the South-South was avoidable and uncalled for, and accused agents of destabilization of instigating and spreading conflict in the zone.
They said: “We abhor the baseless fight for supremacy orchestrated by the leadership of the party in the zone against the four governors, having been fully aware that all the current zonal officers were nominated by their governors, including the current National Vice-chairman and the South-South Zonal Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who was nominated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and supported by other governors.
“It is appropriate to state that the purported Zonal working committee meeting held in Benin, Edo State on the 14th February 2025 to approve the purported Zonal Executive Meeting (ZEC) on the 15th February 2025 is illegal and unconstitutional, as they could not secure the required two-thirds majority as provided in section 26(3).
“Therefore, every decision taken in the purported Zonal working committee on the 14th and the subsequent unauthorised Zonal Executive Meeting held on the 15th February 2025, all in Benin, Edo State is inconsequential, illegal, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.
“We view the purported and illegal removal of our erudite Zonal Secretary, Prof. Felix Omemu, who has worked for our dear party diligently for over two decades and also worked as our zonal secretary for over three years as an affront on our teeming members and insensitivity on the esteemed personality and dignity of our revered governors of the South-South geo political Zone.”
The leaders described as unacceptable the decision of certain persons to remain in the party with grief to cause indignation with impunity and gross insubordination to the governors and other party leaders.
They added: “It is important to note that no sane person can serve two masters at a time, and this has led to brazen act of anti-party activities which must be checked, with people having the effrontery of wearing two faces in one political party.
“Accordingly, on behalf of the entire party structures in the South-South geo political Zone, from the ward level, the local government, the state and the zonal levels of our great party, we unequivocally declare that Associate Prof. Felix Omemu remains the authentic Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party of the South-South Zone, and accordingly pass a vote of confidence in him.
“We have accordingly thought it wise to pass a vote of confidence in our dear governors of the PDP in the four South-South states for their superlative performance that has brought succour to the good people of the zone and spread development to our doorsteps.
“We have elected and determined to take critical decisions and strategic steps to strengthen our great party in order to maintain our winning streaks at all levels. We are working closely with our leaders in the zone to strengthen our party ahead of the next general elections.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed claims that its Primary Election Guidelines were compromised by forgery.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Ologunagba explained that the party had been made aware of misleading media reports suggesting the Primary Election Guidelines had been compromised by forgery.
“The PDP unequivocally states that its Primary Election Guidelines, as approved by the Party, have not been compromised by forgery, contrary to these reports,” he said.
Ologunagba further revealed that the misleading reports stemmed from certain individuals with resentment towards the party.
He identified these individuals as agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who allegedly aimed to discredit the PDP’s internal processes and cause public ridicule.
Ologunagba expressed shock at the desperation of those he claimed were backed by a top APC official.
He noted these individuals had repeatedly vowed to destroy the PDP and establish a one-party system in Nigeria.
“The PDP is aware that these disgruntled individuals have been causing disruptions in some chapters, along with intimidation, threats, and police harassment of party officials.
“The PDP condemned the scandalous attempt by these individuals to involve the police and a magistrate court in the party’s internal matters, despite higher court rulings,” he said.
Ologunagba referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling, which stated that issues relating to candidate nominations are strictly internal matters of political parties, outside the courts’ jurisdiction.
He reassured PDP members and supporters that the party remained strong and undeterred in resisting any attempts to destabilise it.
He reiterated that the party’s Primary Election Guidelines had not been compromised by forgery and urged all to disregard such false reports. (NAN)
Having lost three electoral wars in a row, and having had to contend with fierce internecine wars to seize control of the ‘commanding heights’ of the party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders may now also seem to have postponed the definitive ‘war to end all wars’ that should ready it for the fateful and defining 2027 electoral war. The party has not produced a philosopher of repute or a lodestar to help chart and define its future, but if it continues to lack such resources in the months ahead, it could lose the 2027 badly and fracture irreparably. It is not certain that they sense the foreboding stalking their future, but as sure as day follows night, unmitigated disaster awaits them if they do not close ranks and fight as one man.
The problem with the PDP is that its leaders seem intrinsically incapable of fighting as one man. The party is populated by too many strongmen, politicians and adventurers pulling the party in different directions all at once. They have former vice president Atiku Abubakar and his petulant crowd; they have former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike and his redoubtable political family of intransigents; and they have the viceregal layer of battle-hardened veterans who swarm the second ladder of the party, men like party chairman Iliya Damagum, Board of Trustees chairman Adolphus Wabara, repentant and Janus-faced defector Peter Obi, and a host of other eager dupes and wannabees. Most times, the battle lines are faintly drawn or altogether invisible. But at some epiphanic moments, the shape of the frontlines becomes visible, with Alhaji Atiku at daggers drawn with Mr Wike, the garlanded Federal Capital City (FCT) minister.
Last week, the frontlines shifted back to the courts. There, Sunday Ude-Okoye, a former national youth leader, was affirmed as the PDP national secretary, a declaration spontaneously sanctioned by the party’s BoT to whom the development was a welcome relief from months of political tedium and anguish. In return, Mr Wike’s allies in the BoT chairman’s state of Abia simply gouged the eyes of the party by suspending Mr Wabara, ostensibly for endorsing the state’s governor, Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP), for a second term barely five months into his first term, an act they summed up as anti-party. Underneath, however, suggested many observers and party apparatchiks, the suspension of the BoT chairman at the state level, which they hoped to escalate to the national level perhaps through the courts, was due to his concomitant affirmation of Mr Ude-Okoye of the Atiku camp as party secretary in place of Samuel Anyanwu of the Wike camp. Justifying Mr Wabara’s suspension, Abia State PDP chairman deadpanned: “If you are in this party, be ready to stand for it, work for it and defend it. We do not need passengers, we need partners in progress.” Almost immediately, however, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), citing the constitution, voided the suspension, describing it as impertinent.
The Atiku camp hopes that with Mr Ude-Okoye in place, it presents them a toehold in the administrative organ of the party, which is at the moment controlled by the Wike camp’s Ambassador Damagum. A battle royale may soon break out. The war front will henceforth continue to oscillate between the courts and the secretariat, and the jousting will retain its fearsome intensity. The Atiku camp will also be relentless, and the Wike camp will be unflagging. Neither side will give up easily, with the courts providing nothing more than corrosive intermissions. On the sidelines, aggressive efforts will be made to see whether one merger or the other could be cobbled, as three electoral defeats in a row have demonstrated that no single party acting alone, not even the former PDP behemoth, can unseat the ruling APC. The merger talks are for now opaque and indeterminate, with no precise idea of what they hope to birth couched in clear terms or altruistic leaders stepping forward to show just how much they are prepared to sacrifice for the common cause. For now, sadly, they seem all propelled by the single-minded desire to recapture power at the centre and to board the gravy train. Worse, none of the proponents of the merger has an idea what the merger would look like, whether it would be an expanded PDP or a mélange of desperate parties masquerading as special purpose vehicles available for hire and all kinds of political harlotry.
What is absolutely clear is that the PDP does not have time on its hands. Its leaders believe they are doing their uttermost to brew a vintage, but every political vintner of modest capacity in Nigeria suspects that PDP leaders are engaged in short-circuiting the process of building a great party or rebuilding a damaged party. The rebuilding will, however, not begin in earnest until the rage and disgust of angry party leaders and members are mollified, starting with Mr Wike who sustained the party when its renascent leaders played the harlot in previous years. Mollifying Mr Wike, however, is a bridge too far. Going by how bitterly some PDP leaders have tried to undercut him in Rivers, including the previously mendicant Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, not to say the unprincipled Alhaji Atiku, placating Mr Wike may be both theoretically and practically impossible. After all, the FCT minister has found rest in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu, where he is untroubled by superficial and rancorous politicians.
Except a number of seismic juridical shifts occur, the stalemate in the PDP may in fact become calcified, and along with it, the endless internal war. Should they lose again in 2027 by a significant margin at the state, presidential and legislative levels, the party may become extinct.
South-South Zonal Secretary suspended over ‘unauthorised’ statement
Former Kaduna gov Yero, ex-Senators, others dump PDP, join APC
Defections from party driven by ‘stomach infrastructure’ – Tambuwal
The Police may have commenced a probe into an allegation that the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was altered by some top members to obtain a court judgment against the embattled National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The police intervention is said to be at the instance of a Wuse Magistrate Court, Abuja, which is currently handling a Direct Criminal Complaint filed by a PDP member and former Minority Whip of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Mike Akwaa-Akwuru Iheanetu.
The Nation gathered that at least two officials of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja were invited by the FCT Police for questioning on the alleged forgery last week.
They are expected to go back this week with authentic copies of the PDP Constitution and Election Guidelines as approved during the tenure of Chief Uche Secondus as PDP National Chairman.
Representatives of the company that printed the document under contention are also helping the police in their investigation.
Anyanwu, who is contesting in the Supreme Court his ouster as National Secretary by a high court and the Court of Appeal, had claimed that the judgment against him was based on altered PDP Constitution and party election guidelines.
Anyanwu told The Nation that forged documents were tendered in court to make it look as if his decision to return to his position as PDP National Secretary after a bid for the governorship position in Imo State was not allowed under PDP Constitution and Election Guidelines.
He said Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who is one of those campaigning against him, returned to pick the party’s governorship nomination form for a second term after losing out at the PDP presidential primaries where he got about 20 votes.
Contacted, Hon Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who was recently endorsed by the PDP Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT) as Anyanwu’s replacement, said he has nothing to fear about any police investigation of alleged forgery of PDP Constitution and Election Guidelines, adding that he was waiting for proof by his accuser.
“The person saying that there is a forgery should justify his allegations; if they say that there is forgery, they should defend what they say,’ Udeh-Okoye told The Nation.
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, promised to reach the FCT Public Relations Officer to facilitate update later.
Iheanetu’s Application For Direct Criminal Complaint was filed by his lawyer Kalu Kalu Agu Esq “pursuant to Section 89 Of The Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”
The complaint claims that the printers were instigated to forge the Election Guidelines of the PDP thus deceiving party members and creating “a lot of crises.”
Iheanetu said he has “suffered irreparable loss as a result of the use of the said forged Election Guidelines by the 1st and 2nd Defendants.”
The law firm said: “Our client has consulted us and we found that the facts disclosed that the offence of forgery has been committed by the Defendants and now have the instruction of our client to file this Direct Criminal Complaint.
“We therefore, lodge this Direct Criminal Complaint against the Defendants accordingly before this Honourable Court, seeking for justice.”
PDP South-South suspends zonal secretary over alleged misconduct, unauthorised statement
Amid the cris, the South-South Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of PDP yesterday suspended for one month its Secretary, Chief Felix Omemu, for alleged misconduct and issuance of an unauthorised statement
The ‘unauthorised’ statement allegedly discredited yesterday’s meeting in Benin, Edo State.
Factional Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, moved the motion for Omemu’s suspension. It was seconded by Representative Godwin Offiono (Ogoja/Yala ).
Omemu had, in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, claimed that the meeting called by National Vice Chairman, Southsouth of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, was illegal.
He said that under PDP’s constitution, the ZEC meeting could only be held with the approval of the Zonal Working Committee’s (ZWC’s) members.
He claimed that at no time did the ZWC’s members deliberate or agree to convene a meeting of the ZEC.
Amaewhule branded Omemu’s conduct a breach of trust aimed at causing division among members.
“Chief Omemu must be suspended and a disciplinary committee should be set up to investigate the zonal secretary,” he said.
“Chief Omemu’s action is illegal and an attempt to cause disunity and dissuade members from attending the South-South ZEC meeting in Benin City.”
The zonal legal adviser, George Turnah, was subsequently appointed as Acting Zonal Secretary.
Orbih, a former Chairman of PDP in Edo State and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in his remarks, hailed the ZEC’s members for Omemu’s suspension, which he described as a step in the right direction.
He said the meeting was called to reposition the party and curb the excesses of some leaders and members of PDP, who attempted to cause disunity.
Orbih said that lack of an internal reward system for loyalty had harmed PDP at both state and national levels, thereby affecting its progress.
According to him, the party’s tickets are often granted to individuals with little or no belief in the party rather than loyal members who truly deserve the tickets.
Orbih said that the ZEC meeting had become vital in addressing the challenges facing the party at the state, zonal and national levels.
“We are here today to tackle the challenges facing the PDP and ensure the South-South zone emerges as the strongest in the country,” he said.
Orbih also said that the party’s constitution, not the party itself, must be supreme so as to ensure that decisions were made according to its provisions.
“I often hear people say that the party is supreme, but I beg to disagree. For me, the party’s Constitution is supreme, not the party,” he said.
The vice-chairman said that restoring internal democracy and addressing issues like loyalty rewards were essential in rebuilding the party.
“The time for change is now; we must focus on putting PDP back on the right path,” Orbih stated.
The South-South ZEC meeting was attended by representatives from Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, and Rivers states.
Awka Ibom State was not represented.
Defections from PDP driven by ‘stomach infrastructure – Tambuwal
The immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said yesterday that PDP members who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were motivated purely by what he called stomach infrastructure.
He said the affected people were not acting in the interest of Nigerians.
Tambuwal, who spoke during an interview on the sideline of a meeting of the PDP leaders in the North West in Kaduna, said: “Defections are not in the interest of the people but based on stomach infrastructure.”
He added:”It is for those of us who believe in this country, who believe in service to people, to continue to come together and work out something that will help us to ease out this administration that lacks focus, that lacks direction and compassion and that is rudderless come 2027.”
The Chairman of the PDP North West Zone, Senator Bello Hayatu, called on party members and supporters to take the lead in providing quality leadership in the country.
He emphasised the need to swiftly resolve conflicts at the national level and highlighted the party’s strong grassroots support despite the outcome of the 2023 election.
Hayatu stressed the importance of unity among party members to address internal issues and achieve success in the 2027 election.
He rallied the Northwest region to work together to take over leadership in their states and in Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have disagreed over the admissibility of an Appeal Court judgment in the ongoing petition before the Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The contention followed the APC and its candidate, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s, attempt to tender in evidence the judgment of the Appeal Court, Akure Division, at the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Saturday in Akure.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Appeal Court, Akure Division, delivered its judgment on Jan. 28, which dismissed a pre-election appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi.
The Appellants had challenged the judgment of the state High Court, which held that Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olayide Adelami, were qualified to contest the Nov. 16, 2024, governorship election.
The PDP and Ajayi had held that Aiyedatiwa and Adelami were ineligible to contest the election on the grounds the latter presented an alleged forged certificate.
The lead counsel to APC at the tribunal, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), argued that the petitioners, PDP and Ajayi, had caused a constitutional impediment by filing an issue of disqualification in its grounds in the petition when an Appeal Court decision had struck it out.
“There is a constitutional impediment created by them, the PDP, and not by us. It will be a sheer waste of judicial resources to open a trial on this matter. If we proceed, it means we are not obeying the Appeal Court verdict.
“Relying on Section 287 Sub-Section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, there is nothing to execute here.
“It is more annoying repeating the same thing here after losing in the Appeal Court. We should not allow the petitioners to convince the tribunal to disobey the constitution,” he said.
The APC’s counsel added that it would either be the petitioners withdraw their petition or wait for the outcome of their appeal at the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the PDP’s counsel, Mr Bankole Akomolafe (SAN), had withdrawn one of their reliefs calling for fresh election, but left that of disqualification of the APC candidate and his running mate, accused of certificate forgery, in the petition.
Akomolafe, who responded to the application of the APC, posited that the cited section of the constitution should not be read in isolation.
He said that the tribunal was bound, stating that he did not envisage any stay of proceeding.
The counsel to the PDP cited Sections 285 and 286 that empowered the tribunal to allow all objections and issues raised for consideration.
The chairman of the panel, Justice Benson Ogbu, said that the tribunal would rule on the application at its final judgment.
He adjourned the sitting to Feb. 20 for a hearing.
NAN reports that five petitions were filed before the tribunal by opposition parties and their candidates, including the PDP, whose candidate, Ajayi, came second in the Nov. 16, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The Justice Ogbu headed election petition tribunal thus concluded the hearing of all interlocutory applications and replies by all counsel in the pre-hearing session of its proceeding.
The Peoples Democratic Party is in the eye of the storm, as the centre is no longer holding. Almost on weekly basis, new chapters of the crises facing the leading opposition party unfold. The divide, which began at the headship, is now affecting all organs of the umbrella political family, and there are fears that the PDP might soon go into oblivion, writes ASSISTANT EDITOR, EMMANUEL BADEJO.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading opposition voice, is in turmoil. The crises rocking the party fester by the day. Leadership of the party is caught up in the internal wrangling, making the centre not to hold.
And there are fears from all concerned that the umbrella party may soon have its party’s insignia into shred. The party, according to sources is digging its own grave, as the differences among the gladiators escalate. Efforts to restore normalcy falters as confusion reigns in the party, and amicable resolution is not in sight.
The Nigerian judiciary has been dragged into the fray. Several applications are in the courts. From Enugu, to Rivers, to Abuja High Courts among mention a few; Court of Appeal, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and now at the Supreme Court, judges and lawyers are having several matters and briefs in their custody.
Political watchers have said the situation is laughable, pitiable, and unfortunate. Fingers have been pointed at the elders of the party, who have obviously taken sides in the rumbling.
Both its Board of Trustees (BoT), headed by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and its National Working Committee (NWC), which Ambassador Umar Damagum overseers are at dagger’s drawn. Members of the two groups of leadership are also divided.
Some state chapters are at crossroads with the national bodies, leading to exodus of its membership to other parties, particularly the ruling party. Some key figures, who are yet to decamp, are threatening to do so, if the tides of sharp differences are not tamed.
The charades, according to political analysts, are making nonsense of the democratic ethos and party supremacy in democratic governance.
Fears are rife that the wars of attrition might erode the stability of the party at the ward, local government and zonal levels. However, the National Working Committee of the party is at the centre of the whole brouhaha.
Many wonder what will become of the party that had once prided itself to be the largest political party in Africa and would rule Nigeria for at least 60 years.
The internal bickering led to its fall in 2015, when former Goodluck Jonathan lost to immediate past President Mahammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the beginning
The PDP founded in Nigeria on August 31, 1998, as a response to the military rule and a call for a return to civilian rule, emerging as a unifying force for democracy and national development. A group of 34 political parties came together to forge a common front that culminated into the party.
Its formation was a response to the military rule that had dominated the country for many years. At the time, Nigeria was under the military regime of General Sani Abacha. The need for a political alternative and a return to civilian rule prompted the formation of political parties, and the PDP emerged as one of them.
According to its’ founding fathers, the party was established for national unity, freedom, social justice, development, overall wellbeing of citizens, among others.
At its emergence, the party swept through the country’s political landscape like a hurricane, winning the presidential seats in Olusegun Obasanjo, eight years; Musa Yar’Adua, two years; Goodluck Jonathan, six years. At the time, the party dominated many states in the federation. The party at the time was a pride to the nation and the envy of many political parties within and outside the country.
Power tussle over chairmanship position
Like other political parties, PDP had shown signs of instability. Between 1999 and 2025, the party was managed by no less than 17 national chairmen all of whom left office in controversial circumstances.
Although Solomon Lar served as its foundation chairman, its first substantive chairman was Barnabas Gemade who was elected at its post-1999 general elections convention. Many observers believed that this convention was rigged by Obasanjo to achieve a predetermined objective.
Audu Ogbeh was later elected to replace Gemade. In 2005, Ahmadu Ali was appointed as the replacement to Ogbeh. The next national chairman was Vincent Ogbulafor who was replaced by Okwesilieze Nwodo in 2010.
After Nwodo resigned in the same year, Halliru Mohammed and later Kawu Baraje were appointed as acting national chairmen. After the 2011 general elections, PDP elected Bamanga Tukur as its national chairman, who was also replaced by Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu in controversial circumstances in 2014.
In 2017, Uche Secondus acted. Ali Modu Sheriff held sway between 2017 and 2018. Also, Ahmed Makarfi, occupied the office in acting capacity between 2018 -2021. In the same year, Secondus came as the substantive chairman and led the party 2023, though with several controversies. Iyorchia Ayu took over in 2023, but left after the party’s woes during the 2024 presidential election. And now Ambassador Umar Damagum came in acting capacity.
Political pundits say that the quick succession at which the party changes its headship underscores lack of internal democracy within the opposition. However, the leadership had managed the situation until the ticket of 2023 presidential election was given to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
2023 presidential race: ‘only a northerner can win’
If Atiku had won the 2023 presidential election, that would have justified his campaign manstra, ‘only a northerner can win’. But, that would have established such a bad and dangerous precedent, causing serious damage to Nigeria’s unity and worsening the country’s already problematic management of diversity.
Atiku ran for the PDP presidential ticket on the basis that only a northern candidate could win. It was not a subtle campaign but a full-throated one, in which Atiku and Aminu Tambuwal, as well as their associates such as Raymond Dokpesi, went on national TV to cite controversial population dynamics as the reason only a northerner could win the presidency.
Gladiators in the South like the former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, Governors Seyi Makinde, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and immediate past governor of Benue, a North Central State, Samuel Ortom.
This led to the formation of the G5 Governors that styled themselves as integrity. These governors refused to support Atiku, the presidential candidate of the PDP, because they believed the presidency ought to rotate from the north to the south. In their view, Atiku becoming President after eight years of President Buhari would amount to two consecutive presidents from the north, negating inclusivity and rotational presidency.
By relying on the strength of the zoning principle enshrined in the PDP constitution, the governors not only refused to support the emergence of Atiku, in the general elections but supported other candidates.
For fear of going into the election with a divided house, Atiku sought to reconcile with them. However, as a precondition, the governors demanded the resignation of the party chairman, Iyorcha Ayu. On the premise that Atiku and Ayu, both presidential candidates and party chairman, are from the northern part of Nigeria, this arrangement also negated inclusivity.
Aware of the powers of just one governor, many felt a collective of five governors was a powerful grouping. And this perception gave them prominence in the public space. Indeed, Atiku lost in their various states in the presidential election, which was a significant blow to his chances of victory. But their dissidence was certainly not without precedent.
In 2013, a coalition of PDP governors known as the G7 governors objected to the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the PDP. Similar to the G5, one reason for their opposition was that they claimed that President Jonathan seeking re-election would disrupt the power rotation agreement between the north and south in the party. Five of the governors eventually decamped to APC, in what was then known as the N-PDP faction, and others stayed back, sabotaging the PDP from within, just like the G5 Governors did. Many analysts believed PDP’s loss in the 2015 election could be traced to this same internal crisis within the party.
Storms over Damagum’s chairmanship
Damagum was brought in as acting chairman through the provisions of the PDP’s constitution as amended in 2017. Some are calling on him to revert to his initial position as the Deputy Chairman, and allow the North-Central to produce the next chairman.
His continued occupation of the exalted position has heightened the internal struggles to control the structure of the party.
Damagum took over from Iyorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman, who was removed by the court due to his failure to implement crucial reforms within the party.
The leadership transition only added to the party’s existing troubles.
The crisis recently worsened due to disagreements on the position of the National Secretary.
National secretary struggle
In 2023, the party’s South-East zone nominated a former National Youth Leader Ude-Okoye to replace Sam Anyanwu, who was selected as the party’s candidate for the Imo State governorship election.
The South-East faction argued that Anyanwu should step down from his role as the National Secretary given his new political responsibilities, which fuelled further controversy and division within the party.
On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, confirming him as the new National Secretary, with the official communication sent to the party leadership on December 24.
However, on January 27, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, instructing Anyanwu to remain in the position until the Supreme Court made a final ruling.
The situation escalated when party supporters loyal to Anyanwu physically removed Ude-Okoye from a meeting of the Board of Trustees.
On January 31, PDP governors distanced themselves from Anyanwu and confirmed Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
Similarly, the BoT, had affirmed former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, as the party’s substantive National Secretary, throwing its weight behind PDP governors amid the party’s lingering leadership crisis. Wabara, made the announcement on Tuesday at the 80th meeting of the Board in Abuja, following months of internal wrangling over the position.
“The BoT, after reviewing all submissions and relevant court judgments, recognizes Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with the declaratory judgment of the Enugu High Court, upheld by the Court of Appeal,” Wabara stated.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis exacerbated by the fallout from the 2023 general elections.
Reacting, Anyanwu insisted that with the stay of execution, he remained the National Secretary of the PDP.
Anyanwu fights back
In a letter dated February 1 and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the Department of State Services, Anyanwu vowed to resist any attempt to remove him from his position.
In a letter titled, ‘Security Alert: The Advice of PDP Governors’ Forum to the National Working Committee of the PDP – An Invitation to Chaos and an Affront to the Rule of Law,” Wike’s ally, Anyanwu, called on security agencies to take appropriate actions to prevent the crisis allegedly being stirred by the governors and Ude-Okoye.
The letter read in part, “There is an urgent need for the police to take note of paragraph 3 of the communique issued by the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum after their meeting, which took place in Asaba, Delta State, on Friday, January 31, 2025.
“In the quoted paragraph 3 of the communique, the forum advised the NWC to set up a mechanism for the implementation of the Enugu Court of Appeal judgment, which favoured the nomination of SKD Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.
“The police should be aware that an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court against the quoted judgment. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja granted an order on January 13, 2025, clearly directing both parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive application. The order was duly served on all parties concerned, including the National Working Committee of PDP and INEC.
“It is a settled matter in law that when a judgment is appealed against to a superior court, all parties should maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is finally determined. The governors cannot claim ignorance of this legal position before issuing their statement, which runs in conflict with the court’s decision.”
Anyanwu accused Ude-Okoye of hiring ‘bandits’ to create disorder during the PDP Board of Trustees meeting.
The letter further expressed disappointment that the PDP governors had “allowed themselves to be deceived by the sponsors of Ude-Okoye,” whom it claimed were under criminal investigation for allegedly forging PDP guidelines to mislead the courts.
It warned that the NWC should avoid implementing the PDP Governors Forum’s recommendation, particularly the directive stated in paragraph 3 of their communique, as doing so would be “an invitation to chaos and an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law.”
NWC affirms Ude-Okoye
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed a former National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as the party’s National Secretary.
The party disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP NWC said that it is bound by the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the matter.
According to the statement, the opposition party would send its resolution affirming Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition, in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, extensively considered the memo dated 11th February 2025 presented by the Acting National Chairman on the issue of the National Secretary of the PDP,” the statement read.
“The NWC, in considering the memo thoroughly examined the attached documents namely; the declaratory judgment of the High Court of Enugu, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division which pronounced and declared Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the National Secretary of the PDP; the legal opinion and advice by Dr. Kabiru T. Turaki SAN as well as that of the National Legal Adviser of the PDP.
“After due consideration of the memo and the attachments, the NWC overwhelmingly recognises, acknowledges and confirms Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP in full compliance with and obedience to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, recognising that there is no subsisting or superseding judgment or order from any court of superior authority or hierarchy.
“The NWC has commenced the transmission of its resolution/decision affirming Rt. Hon. S.K.E Udeh Okoye as the PDP National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for recognition in line with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.”
The crisis festers
Barely 24 hours after the NWC’s pronouncement, Anyanwu said he had resumed as the secretary. He declared that the decision of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Governors’ Forum and a section of the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognise the National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, as secretary was a nullity.
He resumed at the party secretariat in Abuja, challenging Ude-Okoye to show where his own office is located.
In a video call with Lere Olayinka, spokesman of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, Anyanwu said: “As you can see, I’m in my office. These are my people and we are working.”
The conflict between Anyanwu and Udey-Okoye has split the Southeast and Southsouth Zonal chapters of the main opposition party.
A section of Southeast caucus had endorsed Ude-Okoye as secretary, claiming that Anyanwu had resigned before contesting for governor in Imo State.
On December 20, last year, an Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye as secretary.
But, Anyanwu, who had obtained a stay of execution, insisted that only the Supreme Court can resolve the conflict.
Former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal has accused members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being driven by “stomach infrastructure” and national interests.
Tambuwal, who spoke during an interview on the sideline of the PDP National Executive Council meeting, Northwest Zone in Kaduna on Saturday, said the APC lacks focus, direction, and compassion, arguing it has driven Nigeria into economic hardship.
He questioned the integrity of politicians who defect to the APC, saying that they are not driven by a desire to serve the people but hunger and lack of self-control.
According to him: “People leave the party for different reasons. What I have been observing in the past is that defections are not in the interest of the people but based on stomach infrastructure.
“I said that because if we are talking of defection in the interest of the people, I believe you will not go to APC.
“If you are a politician with conscience, with the current policies being driven by APC and current economic conundrum that APC has driven Nigeria into, hardship across the country, there is nothing attractive outside stomach infrastructure.
“So those who defected based on stomach infrastructure are not worrisome.”
He emphasised the need for politicians who genuinely care about the country to come together and work toward easing out the current administration.
