Politics

Saraki Warns Secondus against interfering with PDP reconciliation drive

Published

6 years ago

December 2, 2020

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Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has warned the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, against interfering with the party’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Saraki warned that himself and other members in the reconciliation committee would not hesitate to resign if Secondus and his colleagues in the National Working Committee (NWC) failed to give members of the committee a free hand to operate.

Saraki said: “We are however very clear that our most important partner in this assignment is the NWC. Therefore, we seek your support and cooperation to ensure the success of this committee on its Herculean assignment.

“As members of this committee, we have decided to do only what is right. We do not have any personal interest and will not allow any interest other than of the party and what represents the truth, equity, objectivity, unity and peace to influence what we will do.

“The NWC must also give us free hand to operate. I want to make it very clear that we will put in our best. That is why we seek the cooperation of the NWC.

“However, if we see any sign that the NWC is working to undermine us or that we are not working in sync in the performance of this assignment, with all sense of responsibility; we will not hesitate to tender our resignation. That is what the members of the committee have asked me to convey to you, Mr. Chairman”.

Dr Saraki issued the warning in Abuja on Wednesday shortly after the reconciliation committee was inaugurated by the party chairman.

The committee, which is mandated to reconcile aggrieved members of the PDP across the six geopolitical zones, is chaired by Saraki.

Members of the committee include former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema; former Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo; and forrmer Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.

Others are former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; and a former Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Mrs Mulikat Akande.

Saraki’s warning may not be unconnected with speculations that the NWC, particularly the party chairman, has been taking sides with PDP factions in some states and geopolitical zones where such factions exist.

A party source on Wednesday, alluded to what he described as a disinterested stance of the national leadership of the PDP in the ongoing leadership tussle in the Southwest zone where a faction, led by a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, is at logger heads with another faction led by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said Saraki’s word of caution was informed by the strength of contending interests struggling for the control of the party structure, particularly in states where the PDP does not have sitting governors.

Some party leaders have cautioned that the PDP might witness mass defections in the months ahead, if urgent steps were not taken to address existing grievances among prominent members in many states across the federation.

Recall that the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Dave Umahi, had recently dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) citing “injustice and marginalisation” of the Southeast zone.

But Saraki promised that his committee will pursue genuine reconciliation drive, with a view to strengthening PDP structures and addressing the grievances of members.

Speaking further on the chances of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, he said the party remained the best platform to rebuild and unite the country.

“I am proud to note that PDP is still the best platform through which we can rebuild and unite Nigeria. One indication about the significance of this party is that it is the only political party that has at least a governor in all the six geopolitical zones of our country.

“Our party is also the only party which has members in all the households, streets, polling zones, wards, local government areas, states and across the country such that it is said that any street or community where the symbol of the umbrella is not sighted may not be part of the Nigerian territory.

“It is our belief and that of many members of this party that our chances in the 2023 elections are very bright and we need to unite ourselves to further brighten the chances,” Saraki said.

Addressing the committee members earlier during the inauguration, Secondus said the PDP had carefully chosen men of integrity and those with the best skills in the country to address the plight of the party.

The party chairman said: “We have absolute confidence in them to carry out this assignment. We also believe that reconciliation is a major assignment in our party.

“And as you are aware that the country is falling apart, Nigeria required the leadership qualities domicile in our party to show the path way for the next general election in 2023.

“It is so important at this time that they come on board to serve not only the party, but also to serve the entire country.

“The country is in dire need of men of high integrity who will prepare our party and our people for 2023 general election.

“As you are aware that without any fear, the APC, having failed and with the belief in God Almighty that we have all the experience and we are getting ready.

“We will be setting out various conferences and movement that will engage the youths of our country because they are the future of the country.”

Politics

2027: APC governors reject any form of political alliance, say it’s capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election

Published

5 days ago

September 15, 2026

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The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has said it will not endorse any alliance or political arrangements that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

The forum chairman, Imo governor, Hope Uzodimma, speaking in Abuja after the forum’s meeting, said his colleagues would exclusively support Tinubu and APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections.

“The forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support, or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr president, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels,” Uzodimma, who was flanked by his colleagues, said.

“In other words, the forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate.”

He said the governors’ campaign efforts would focus on all APC candidates contesting under the party’s platform.

“Because our candidates are standing in the election as being sponsored by our party, the governor’s campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates,” Uzodimma said.

He said the forum would not entertain any arrangement that could “create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests” within the party.

Uzodimma also said the APC would adopt an integrated, locally responsive campaign structure ahead of the 2027 elections, with all levels of the party’s campaign architecture aligned with Tinubu’s expectations and the party’s strategic objectives.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is leading the rainbow coalition, a cross-party alliance supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Wike said the coalition is a shift from party politics to a collective political movement focused on advancing the state’s interests.

Politics

INEC clears 18 presidential candidates, running mates for 2027 poll

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2026

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 presidential election.

The final list, titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for Jan, 2027 – Presidential Final List of Candidates”, was signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC secretary.

The list includes major contenders such as Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Atiku is listed with Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, while Tinubu is paired with Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, is listed with Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, as his running mate.

Sowore is paired with Haruna Magashi.

Other presidential candidates on the list are Rufai Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA); Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Yusuf Kabiru of the Allied Peoples Party (APP); Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party (BP).

Also listed are Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA); Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party (LP); Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP); and Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Donald Duke is listed as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), while Adewole Adebayo is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The remaining candidates are Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The document also contains the ages, gender, and academic qualifications of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.

Politics

‘We’ll take care of you if we win presidency’ — Kwankwaso asks Atiku to step down

Published

1 week ago

September 10, 2026

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The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step down from the 2027 presidential race.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano state, spoke at his residence in Abuja during a meeting with members of the Fulani Farmers Association.

According to Thecable, Kwankwaso, who is running mate to Peter Obi, NDC presidential candidate, urged Atiku to reconsider his presidential ambition, citing his age and health.

He added that he and Obi would take care of Atiku if they won the presidency.

“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health,” he said in Hausa.

“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him.”

Abubakar has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

In April, the former vice-president, who will turn 81 next year, said the 2027 general election would be his last attempt at the presidency.

Atiku was conferred the title of Wazirin Adamawa in June 2017 by Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, the 12th traditional ruler of the Adamawa emirate, following the death of Muhammad Abba, the previous titleholder.

Atiku had held the title of Turaki of Adamawa since 1982, which was eventually passed to his son, Aliyu.

The Wazirin Adamawa is a high-ranking traditional title in the Adamawa Emirate, with the holder serving as the emir’s prime minister, most senior councillor, kingmaker and close adviser.

In 2025, Adamawa state government issued a directive requiring all kingmakers and traditional council members to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent.

The policy was said to have stripped Atiku of the Wazirin title, as he hails from Jada in the Ganye emirate.