Politics
Wike: No apologies for threatening PDP governors with fire
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike declared last night that he had no apologies to offer any one for threatening to put fire in any Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled state undermining his position in the party.
Wike, speaking on Channels Television, also vowed that nothing would ever make him support his estranged political godson and successor as Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara,again.
Anger swept through the governor’s political camp in Rivers State yesterday following the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to hand over the state party’s structures to Wike.
The party’s governors were no less devastated by the NWC’s decision,PDP sources said.
Wike in the television interview said the communiqué issued by the PDP Governors Forum and read by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed in which they pledged their support for Fubara to assume the party’s structure in Rivers State undermined him (Wike), and he only responded accordingly.
He said it did not even matter to the governors whether their position on the Rivers PDP was legal or not.
“I said to the Governors Forum, and I repeat without any apology to anybody anywhere, heaven will never fall,” he said.
“In fact, when heaven falls, everybody will be at peace. As I sit as Minister of the FCT from Rivers State, I was a governor.
“Yes, the only person I can say I have no relationship with is the governor of Zamfara. I don’t know him, all other governors I know them, they know me, we have a relationship; and you mean that you want to violate the processes, the constitution of our party; you came out on national television after your meeting where the governor of Bauchi State, the chairman of PDP Governors Forum, who came out to read a communiqué with his colleagues that they were going to make sure their brother, their friend in River State take over the structure, and it doesn’t matter whether it is illegal or legal.
“And I’m sitting as the Minister of the FCT from that state? You look at it that I am nobody in that state and you make that statement? And you think I should fold my hands because you say you’re a governor, which I was never before? You look at me and tell me that and expect me to fold my hands? And you think everything is well?”
Asked if he regretted his reaction especially because it connoted violence, Wike shot back: “How can I regret it? I did not make any bad statement…. What is fire, it is figurative…. I said you want to cause crisis in my state, you too, you’ll have crisis in your state.
“I never said that Bauchi State would be on fire, or that Oyo State will be on fire. What’s my business? All I’m saying is if you don’t want my state to be politically stable, if you want to illegally, unconstitutionally interfere in a legitimate process, in a legal process that is going on, and you want me to fold my hands and say because you are a governor, because you are chairman of the governors’ forum, you will use your position to say people who have been elected and sworn in, NWC, NEC cancel it. Who told you that I don’t have the capacity to say you too in your state, that crisis will be there?”
On Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark who had asked for Wike’s arrest in response to the threat to put fire in PDP states undermining his position,the minister wondered whether Clark is a member of the party and whether he pays his dues accordingly.
Responding to a question on how some power brokers in the PDP now see him as a mole in the party,the minister said: “Nobody, no governor today in the PDP, nobody born of a woman can say I’m an outsider. Seun (the interviewer) before I took this appointment, I wrote to PDP, I wrote to PDP national, I wrote to PDP zonal and I wrote to PDP in my state. My governor also signed a letter that I should take the appointment, yes, it’s true.
“The zonal wrote that I should accept. Who in PDP did not write or nominate names to President Tinubu for appointment? They did, yes. Let them come to say they did not do it. You see, the problem we are having in this country is that some people think they’re too smart. They want to use people and I’m not that kind of person. I dare anybody to come out and say I’m a mole.
“In 2023, did I not say I would not support PDP for president? Did I not say I won’t support them because it was not fair, that it’s against equity, that it’s against justice. Did PDP not win governorship, did PDP not win national assembly and state assembly elections?”
Asked if he was not worried that supporting an Oyigbo or Ogoni candidate as governor for 2007, could cause crisis in Rivers , Wike replied: “I have not told you I am supporting (anyone). I’ve not said so; what I am saying is that because of what they’re doing, it’s like we made a mistake. Ogoni have a right and the Oyigbo have a right to make the statement they have made – whether it will materialise or not is a totally different thing. The question should be, is it workable?”
Will he support Governor Fubara if push comes to shove? He said: “I will never support Fubara in my political life again.”
Asked exactly what the governor’s offence was, Wike said, “No, it’s not about me. People laboured to put up structures, people laboured to put you where you wouldn’t even have taken the 50th position.
“I sacrificed to talk to the Ogoni, I sacrificed to talk to so many people, let us go this way. You turned it that I am asking for 20billion, hundred billion… you turned it to lies against me. I brought you up, put you there, push you here, today, I turned a villain, Wike is demanding. What’s Wike demanding? In politics, you benefit from other people and people benefit from you. You rose through somewhere…”
NWC’s decision sparks anger in Fubara’s camp
Fubara’s supporters were yesterday burning with anger in reaction to the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to recognize the recent congresses held by the Wike faction of the party and which in effect leaves the party’s structure in the minister’s hands.
Sources close to the governor’s camp told The Nation in Port Harcourt that the NWC’s action was against PDP’s constitution.
It was understood that some of the supporters were putting pressure on him to decide his next political move.
The immediate past state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Sydney Tambara Gbara, said the NWC’s decision was against the norm in the party which he said recognizes incumbent governors as party leaders in their states.
Sydney said: “It is unimaginable that any person or group of persons in their right senses will sit down and even want to imagine that. The tradition has always been that the governor of a state inherits the party’s assets and liabilities.
“The governor assumes the head and the leadership of the party. It has been the tradition in Rivers State. This time around can’t be an exemption unless the National Working Committee of the PDP is clearly making it clear to Rivers people that they don’t want us to continue being members of the PDP.
“If that is the case we will also accept that and chart a new course on how to promote our political aspirations in any other platform”.
Sydney, who is also the Commissioner for Environment in Rivers, said the people of Rivers had chosen to pitch their tent with Fubara and to defend his mandate.
“As a people, we have resolved to support Governor Siminialayi Fubara and we have moved on with him. Wherever he is, that is where we are. If he stays in PDP we will stay with him. If he leaves we leave with him”, he said.
Sydney insisted that the decision would have adverse consequences for PDP and would make the party lose the state unless the NWC reversed its stance.
He said: “You are talking about the people and not a nomenclature. The national working committee should have a proper assessment of their decisions.
“It is definitely not going to go down well with the PDP to lose Rivers. I know what is going on up there. It is like a shopping ground for those who feel they can buy their way through.
“But the reality on ground is that Rivers has pitched their tent with Governor Fubara and have moved on with him whether in PDP or not. Our own party right now is Fubara. Wherever he is is where we will be.
“If the NWC has decided to hand over the structure to whoever they like, there is no problem, 2027 will decide the party that will rule Rivers”.
Sydney said the body language of the NWC justified the governor’s initial statement that the PDP had disappointed Rivers.
He said: “The governor had said it a long time ago that PDP had disappointed Rivers. He said the NWC has disappointed every one of us. We saw the drama that came up when the same NWC said all the party executives should become caretaker committees for the party for three months and that nobody should be removed.
“But every one of us that supported the governor was conspicuously removed from the state exco. We saw the drama and nobody said anything. The governor started seeing the sabotage and compromise since that time.
“But we are talking about the voice of the people and not the interest of one individual, who is playing God. We are resolute, we are ready for the showdown in Rivers comes 2027”.
Sydney noted that Fubara’s support in Rivers was massive and that nobody could wrestle power from him in 2027.
He said: “I can tell you, nobody can wrestle power from the people. We will defend the mandate of Governor Fubara with every strength and every strand of blood in our system. We are Rivers people.
“We are not afraid of anybody. If they like they should go and bring the US Marine. In 2027 the people will come out and we will speak. It is important that the NWC take note of this and use their tongues to count their teeth and ask themselves whether they still need PDP in Rivers. For us, we have taken our position and our position is Governor Fubara or nothing”.
Also, a former member of the House of Representatives, Bernard Mikko, expressed his disappointment over the NWC’s decision and appealed to Governor Fubara to avoid distraction.
Mikko told the governor to continue with governance and wait for the time of politics, adding that the people were with him and would continue to support him.
He said: “The PDP constitution is clear that the governor is the leader of the party in the state. If the NWC can act in lawlessness, it shows that they have no future for the country they intend to lead.
“Let me remind you that the emergence of a leader will determine how he will lead. You come in through corrupt practices and you will be bound by it because you are a product of corruption.
“So, for the governor, the political party is just a platform to lead. He is now elected governor of Rivers and he has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Politics should be out of his way for now.
“He should continue to lead Rivers people according to the budget and the constitution. Parties come and go but Rivers will remain. We have seen NRC, SDP and many others.
“He is our governor and we will support him. When the time of politics comes, we will see how one person who is playing God whether he has all the political parties, God and Rivers people will determine the future of Rivers.”
As the 2027 elections approach, the battle lines between former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and President Bola Tinubu are becoming thicker politically, with fresh predictions on the presidential election showing there are more battles to settle between the two politicians.
Recently, Aregbesola’s public confrontations have reignited tensions, indicating that the underlying issues remain unresolved. Click the link to continue reading.
The former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will lose power in 2027.
According to him as reported by Politics Nigeria, the ADC, “by the grace of God,” will take over leadership at both the national and state levels. Aregbesola made the remark on Saturday in Ilorin while speaking with journalists shortly after inaugurating the Kwara State secretariat of the ADC along Basin Road.
He said the ruling APC has lost touch with the people and is now resorting to intimidation of opposition parties nationwide. “If APC is confident of its strength, it won’t be so hyped and charged as to be hounding and hunting opposition all over the place.”
The former Osun State governor accused the APC of harassing ADC members across the country, citing Lagos, Kebbi, and Kaduna as examples. He said such actions show that the ruling party is insecure about its popularity.
“They themselves know that they are not popular and the party that will harvest their unpopularity is ADC,” he added.
Aregbesola insisted that the ADC would emerge victorious in the next general elections.
“Regardless of the grandstanding, by the grace of God, ADC will take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria and in most of the state,” he declared. Speaking on politicians defecting to the APC, Aregbesola dismissed them as “enemies of the people,” adding that their exit would not affect ADC’s growth.
“The governors that are going to APC are the enemies of the people and people know this. They are hated, so it is good riddance to bad rubbish,” he said. Also speaking at the event, former Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who recently joined the ADC from the PDP, said the party is ready to lead the country.
“The party has been prepared and is here to stay. It’s to demonstrate to us that a new dawn has been set up in Kwara. And it’s you and I,” he told reporters.
In his words, “This is the beginning of a new direction in our political experience and we are poised to take over leadership of the country in 2027.” The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it has lost relevance in Nigeria’s political scene.
Aregbesola, once a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, fell out with the APC leadership shortly before the 2022 Osun governorship election, leading to deep cracks within the party in the state.
The former minister had announced his return to active politics under the ADC platform, vowing to build a “credible alternative” to both APC and PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
As Nigeria’s political transfer window opens, many prominent politicians are taking significant risks by leaving their current political parties to join the ruling party. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing their chances for reelection in the upcoming electoral cycle.
The National Chairman of APC, while apologising for arriving for the meeting late, attributed his lateness to a meeting he held with all APC governors in Kebbi State the previous day to assess the state of the party.
Assuring members that the ruling party was in very healthy condition, he said “there is no viral or bacterial infection. We even took the party to the lab in Kebbi—it came out clean!”
The APC Chairman then revealed that the party would be receiving some new defectors from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) next week.
Yilwatda said: “Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC.
“Some of those who had defected from PDP have reached out to ADC and are now returning to APC.
“Many of them have completed their ‘medicals’ and will be officially unveiled next week.
“In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure who just finished his own ‘medicals.’
“He tried to unveil himself the day before yesterday—you probably saw it in the news. But officially, we’ll be receiving him soon.
“More people are coming. More senators are joining; more governors, more members of the National Assembly. The APC is the bride of the moment.”
Commending party members for the solidarity he enjoyed from them on the death and burial of his mother recently, he thanked them for standing firmly by him during the trying period.
He said: “When I lost my dear mother, the entire APC family and Platin Alcohol stood firmly by me.
“You provided a shoulder to lean on and became a pillar of strength for me during one of the most difficult moments of my life.
“My tears were soothed because you were there to offer comfort and support.
“Thank you so much for all you did—from the very beginning of my loss, through the burial, and even after.
“May God bless and reward you richly.
“I must also extend my deepest gratitude for how you stood your ground when we faced the setback at the Supreme Court.
“Many people thought that was the end of APC on the Plateau; that we had been buried politically.
“But what they didn’t see was the seed that had already been sown.
“That seed germinated, and today, APC is stronger, more vibrant and growing bigger by the day.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our new members.
Some, like “The Masquerade,” are actually among the founding fathers of APC—so this is more of a homecoming than a new beginning.
“You are welcome back home, along with the former treasurer and the former Chairman of Mikang Local Government—also founding fathers of our great party.
“At the state level, I want to welcome others who have returned or joined us from various parties—Labour Party, PRP (like Boni), and PDP (like the one fondly referred to as “The Big Priest from the Dew Shrine”).
“As presented by the leader, you are all welcome.
“The beauty of APC is that it is a party that welcomes people, regardless of when they join.
“You don’t need to have been in APC from the beginning to rise. I am a testimony to this fact—many others are as well.
“If you join APC today, you are a full member with full rights and privileges.
“That is the spirit and the letter of our party’s constitution.
“This is your home. Your room is ready. Your bed is ready. The food is ready. Everything in the house is ready for you.
“And for those of you who were chased out of PDP, be encouraged.
“The Bible says God will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. That is exactly what God is doing for you here in APC.
“Those who rejected you will see you celebrated here.”
Charging party members to remain loyal and dedicated, he said they should think twice if anyone is trying to deceive them to leave the APC.
“Even those trying to lure you to PDP are on my phone daily, asking quietly for a chance to return.
“They are like Nicodemus, reaching out in secret.
“We have set up a dedicated team to prepare and ensure that our members take maximum advantage of this programme.
“This is your label, your sweat—it belongs to you. It is your product, your effort, and your votes that have been harvested.
“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind—especially those who suffered, who voted, and who stood with us.
“Whether you are just joining us today or you’ve been here from the beginning, you are part of the labour.
“This programme is not meant only for early entrants or original members. What we are working on to benefit our people will cover everyone.
“Whether you arrive today, tomorrow or next week, you are part and parcel of the design we’re putting in place to benefit our people at the state level.
“We have received many individuals who have decamped to join us—and more are still coming.
“We are also working on medical support for a lot of our members. As they continue to come in, we will screen and sign, screen and sign, screen and sign.
“We will do our best to ensure that there is a place for everyone.
“It’s like building a football team. We sign and assign—sign players and assign them positions.
“All local governments, all wards, all communities—we need people to come in and inject life into this movement. The more, the merrier.
“That is the hallmark of politics. The more people you have, the stronger the movement becomes.
“We have seen the excitement across the board. I remember vividly—on the day of my mother’s burial, when Mr. President arrived at the church, he turned to me and said, ‘I’ve not seen this kind of crowd in most places I’ve visited.’
“He acknowledged that the APC family on the Plateau is truly strong.
“Now, imagine if only a handful of members—say six of them—had gone to the airport to receive him, and then the streets were empty, the church was empty, and we conducted the burial in silence. What impression would he have taken back to Abuja about APC in Plateau?
“Instead, he left with a clear message: APC in Plateau is strong, organised, and ready.
“All of us here have passed that message to him loud and clear: We have the numbers. We can win elections. We can hold Plateau State. We have the capacity. And all of us here are determined.
“As Governor Lalong said, ‘choice gets back to rescue, rescue gets back to Generation Next.” These three forces—Choice, Rescue, and Generation Next—have now given a new face to APC on the Plateau.
“So now, if you want to name it, you can call it Choice to Rescue Plateau for Generation Next.
“Anyhow you want to call it, the essence remains the same—rescuing Plateau for the future of the next generation.
“We are proposing that OPA Week be held on October 30, 2025, during which all those who have decamped will be officially received into the APC. “
He revealed that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, had agreed to officially receive all the decampees on the APC platform.
“Less than two weeks ago, we welcomed the President. In two weeks’ time, we’ll welcome the Vice President.
“Just yesterday, I spoke with a number of governors, and a good number of them have agreed to be in attendance.
“The Senate President has offered to come, and the Speaker of the House has also indicated his willingness to attend.
“So once again, we will have a full house on the Plateau—just like we did during my mother’s burial.
“And this time, we will elevate the atmosphere, raise the volume, increase the energy, and turn up the dancing steps!”
The upcoming 2027 election in Nigeria is shaping up to be one of the most contentious and violent in the nation’s history. With a heightened atmosphere of political rivalry, many politicians are prepared to engage in ruthless tactics to secure their positions or seize new political offices.
In this charged environment, the governor of Abia State has issued a stark warning to opposing parties, targeting those who may be conspiring to manipulate the electoral process in particular.
Otti, while speaking to journalists in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, said he has no intention of defecting to the ruling APC, despite the wave of defections rocking various Nigerian opposition parties.
He also informed the people of the state that he does not feel intimidated by plots to manipulate the forthcoming 2027 election results across the state.
“I have heard that some people around you are saying they must take over the state and they will write the results. The only advice I have for them is that if they truly want to write results, they should write something else before that time.
“You know what it is? Their will. Because this is our state and nobody can intimidate us but having said that; am I threatened? Absolutely no. Do I bother about that? Absolutely no.
“But I want us to maintain peace and decorum, okay,” Otti noted.
Otti’s remarks come days after the governor was engaged in a war of words with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, over the alignment of the state officials, including the governor, to the power at the centre.
Kalu while speaking to some of his supporters in the state, had claimed that his party, the APC, would take over Abia State from the incumbent Labour Party government led by Otti.
The lawmaker also said that while Otti has constantly received commendations for his good works and delivery of good governance to Abians, it is important that the governor explain to the people where funds for projects carried out in the state emanated from.
Kalu further told his supporters that Otti could not have successfully carried commendable projects in the state without the financial influence of President Bola Tinubu, who is the leader of the APC at the national level.
“I’m not defecting to another political party. Those planning to manipulate the Abia State governorship election results in 2027 should first write their own will, because this is our state and we cannot be intimidated,”
-Alex Otti speaking to Abians last night. pic.twitter.com/jizxlSwgvW
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) October 17, 2025
PoliticsNigeria
By Ifeanyi Chukwu Afuba
At the end of its second plenary summit this year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria expressed concern at the continued weakening of the opposition in the current political dispensation.
In a communique issued September 19, 2025, signed by his lordships Lucius Ugorji and Donatus Ogun, president and secretary, respectively, the bishops cautioned against a turn to a party state.
‘There seems to be suppression of opposition as Nigeria appears to be tilting to a one-party state, the development of which is not a good omen for democracy,’ the release read in part. Interventions of the Church on the state of the nation are often in general, reflective terms, filled with Biblical exhortation. It’s indicative of the seriousness of the matter when such statements are subject-specific and the defect is emphasised with a prophetic ring, as in the instant.
The shrinking of democratic space in the past three years is disturbing and shows no sign of abating yet. If anything, the chances of a constricted race in which President Bola Tinubu contests against no notable presidential candidate are growing by the day.
The opposition remains a fundamental component of democracy, serving as a bridge between the government in power and the electorate. As emphasised in the maxim that absolute power corrupts absolutely, opposition ranks form a protective belt in democratic practice. Active opposition serves to hold government accountable and promote transparency in administration. It bears stating that the opposition is necessary for the sustainability of the system. The opposition should point out the lapses of an incumbent administration and, indeed, question certain decisions and policies. More insights and better perspectives tend to be gained from such exchanges. By generating alternative solutions to problem areas, opposition parties broaden participation in the political process. Good governance is enabled by the opposition’s watchdog role. An active opposition further offers a choice of alternative government to the voter. A thriving opposition is not merely an important part of democracy; it’s essential in strengthening and enriching democratic governance.
Whither then the present democratic dispensation with opposition participation in the 2027 election looking so unviable? None among the potential contenders in 2027 has the experience of Atiku Abubakar. When Atiku debuted in the presidential arena in 1993, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was operating at the senatorial level. Since 1999, Akitu has been juggling the reins of the presidential office, standing as a candidate from 2007.
The veteran presidential candidate, however, is unsure of a platform to contest the 2027 poll because his latest political tent, the African Democratic Congress, is embattled. It’s no ordinary or accidental logjam. The ADC is locked in a curious leadership dispute. If a rival faction led by Ibe Kachikwu, laying claims to the leadership, succeeds, Atiku knows that will be the end of his aspiration. Peter Obi, the candidate of regional and generational anger in the 2023 poll, is caught in a similar bind. Obi is yet to find a secure party where he will run for the next presidential election. His last party, the Labour Party, is also under siege. On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Mr Julius Abure was suddenly acknowledged as the national chairman of Labour Party at INEC’s quarterly interactive meeting with political parties. If Abure’s predictable recognition by INEC persists, Mr Obi knows he cannot emerge as the Labour Party candidate anymore. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is believed to be preparing for a second tenure at the presidency, faces a similarly uphill task. His party, the PDP, had long been a target of destabilisation plots. The Abuja super minister’s agents in PDP, who have so far done a good job of undermining the PDP from within, now face the titanic battle – denying Jonathan a stable and cohesive PDP on which to vie.
Expectedly, the Presidency rejects allegations of subverting opposition parties. In two comments in quick succession, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed perceptions of the government’s efforts at derailing major opposition parties.
In a release, April 28, 2025, Onanuga stated that ‘no policy, official action or directive from the presidency seeks to “dismantle democracy” or “weaken opposition or create a one-party state.” Returning the blame, the disclaimer submitted: ‘The opposition cannot blame President Tinubu and the governing APC for their poor organisation, indiscipline, and gross incompetence in managing their affairs. It is certainly not part of President Tinubu’s job to organise or strengthen opposition parties.” Onanuga was also on hand to aver that the Presidency was not involved in the opposition crisis when ADC’s relaunch met with difficulties in July this year.
While freedom of speech may not be under threat, the mainstay of opposition relevance, freedom of political association, has become problematic. Today, the environment necessary for the opposition to flourish hardly exists. The government has a responsibility in this regard.
Leadership succession is a major issue for Nigeria, as it is for many other countries. It should be obvious that the management of transition processes impact on the stability of the polity. Our experience harps on the need for a credible electoral process, inclusive frameworks, plural political choices and participatory decision-making. Alienation of the opposition has often come with serious consequences. Regime authorities, by their agenda and priorities, have the choice either of aggravating or ameliorating the challenges of democratic succession. Military termination of the Second Republic was facilitated by the political rift arising from the conduct of the 1983 election. A bitterly disputed general election left in it’s wake a tense polity, which softened the ground for ambitious soldiers. A different form of opposition suppression affected General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition programme to the Third Republic.
A sweeping, generational ban on experienced politicians from participating in the transition cast the exercise in suspicion of a hidden agenda. The restrictive nature of the programme seemed designed to get rid of opposition to self-succession by the political elite. General Sani Abacha similarly began a transition process with an exclusion agenda. The junta succeeded in staving off prospective presidential aspirants with the punitive failed banks and failed contract decrees. Mercifully, divine intervention stopped the tearing of an already broken country. Much of the power game in the Fourth Republic has seen the ruling parties using instruments of authority to put the opposition at a disadvantage. Perceptions of selective use of such bodies as the EFCC to ensure political compliance are rife. The ruling party has, on occasions, been seen to have sponsored the impeachment of opposition and independent-minded governors. In the immediate past administration, executive excesses left a climate of intimidation hovering over the judiciary. What is the worth of democratic rights without a free judiciary?
It’s therefore very important that the opposition has the room to operate and effectively play its complementary role. Beyond Onanuga’s protestations, the government’s weakening of opposition parties need not be by direct means. The PDP’s loss of four governors to the APC in 2025 alone is unprecedented. In just a space of four months, Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, Enugu State’s Peter Mbah, and Bayelsa State’s Duoye Diri publicly defected to the APC. The fourth, Rivers State’s Simnalaya Fubara, is considered to have joined the ruling party quietly for tactical reasons. The illegality of Fubara’s suspension as Governor was clear enough. No one among the defenders of the ridiculous action has cited the constitutional provision defining a state of emergency as a power to abort constitutional order. Only a state House of Assembly and a court with requisite jurisdiction may intervene on the mandate of an elected Governor. The bullying represented by Fubara’s experience can serve as an indirect message to the opposition. You either play ball or get beaten.
Many Nigerians are still struggling to understand how the Supreme Court, in all of five months, was unable to hear the PDP Governors’ suit challenging the constitutionality of Rivers State emergency rule. Where lies the confidence that litigations on party leadership tussles will be justly addressed? How can opposition parties stand strong, free from the ruling party’s underhanded tactics?
And while the ruling party finds the defections into its fold fair and square, she says nothing about the illegitimately inherited mandates therefrom. Electoral mandates belong to political parties whose logos appear on the ballot papers. What right do defecting politicians have to transfer the mandate from their originating parties to another party? Defections rob the electorate of their authority, their values, and their self-esteem. Rewarded mandates from defection transactions are a potential source of instability.
A scenario in which major opposition parties and candidates are not on the ballot in 2027 is not far-fetched. That would be an unprecedented, costly development. A situation in which opposition parties are adopting the incumbent as their candidate amidst protests from their members would be unhealthy and counterproductive in the long run.
With no provision for independent candidates, no lawful efforts should be spared to ensure that parties give expression to the yearnings of their membership, as well as the mood of society.
Politics
Nnamdi Kanu: Full List of Individuals Who Opposed Nationwide Protest for Detained IPOB Leader
Despite numerous appeals from various groups nationwide urging President Bola Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), without conditions, new challenges have emerged regarding the planned protests aimed at showing solidarity for the Southeast indigene.
Kanu has been in detention since 2015, and as the calls for his release grow louder, the organization and execution of demonstrations in his support have encountered significant obstacles. Click link to continue reading.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has distanced itself, alongside South-East governors and Igbo Ministers, from the nationwide protest scheduled for October 20, 2025, demanding the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Ohanaeze, in collaboration with the region’s governors and ministers, said it holds “a grave sense of responsibility and a profound commitment to the well-being of the zone and the stability of the country.”
The group specifically condemned the planned protests, describing them as orchestrated by political actors including Sowore and Atiku, and said such demonstrations were not in the interest of the South-East or the nation.
The statement was issued on Thursday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Chief Chinyereze Thompson Ohia, the organization’s National Spokesperson, and was made available to journalists.
Ohanaeze said, ”We view this purported demonstration with extreme suspicion and firmly believe it to be a thinly veiled attempt at fomenting unrest, destabilizing the government of President Bola Tinubu, and exploiting the legitimate concerns of Ndigbo for nefarious political ends.
”Our considered assessment, informed by credible intelligence and meticulous analysis, reveals that this proposed action is nothing more than a cynical ploy designed to instigate a repeat of the EndSARS riots, ultimately aimed at undermining the current administration.”
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It noted that this scheme, allegedly funded by elements associated with Atiku Abubakar and his cohorts, seeks to exploit the genuine desire for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release and draw unsuspecting Igbo citizens into a dangerous and destructive venture.
“In light of these grave concerns, we unequivocally reject the deception and Advocacy for Peaceful Resolution: The pursuit of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release through political solutions and the established judicial processes is paramount. We vehemently denounce any attempt by politicians, particularly those with a demonstrable history of acting against Igbo interests, to utilize the situation for their political gain.
“The sudden and unsolicited display of “uneasy affection for Igbo caused by individuals previously indifferent or even hostile to our community raises significant red flags. We, the Igbo people, are too astute and discerning to be ensnared by the Atiku-Sowore booby trap.
“We call to denounce and avoid planned unrest. We implore all Nigerians, particularly those who cherish truth, justice, and democracy, to distance themselves from the planned protests, riots, and acts of civil disobedience scheduled for 20th October 2025.
“Ndigbo must not be used as pawns in any political game orchestrated by Atiku Abubakar and his allies, the ultimate aim being to destabilize the Tinubu administration. We emphatically state that this planned disruption does not serve the interests of Ndigbo, nor does it contribute to the cause of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The Atiku-Sowore scheme will undoubtedly undermine the ongoing judicial proceedings and the ongoing political discussions and negotiations, which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has wisely entrusted to a team led by Hon. Obi Aguocha.
“Concerns Regarding Public Safety and Security: We are deeply concerned that the planned protests and riots will endanger the lives and property of Nigerians, a tragic scenario we witnessed during the EndSARS riots. The potential for widespread violence, looting, and the destruction of critical infrastructure is a grave concern that cannot be ignored.”
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John Chuma Nwosu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State, has officially committed to serving only one term if elected.
Nwosu, a resident of Nnewi in the Anambra South Senatorial Zone, is running in a race that includes the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is also from the same zone and is seeking re-election.
Anambra State follows an unwritten zoning arrangement, which entails the rotation of the governorship among its three senatorial zones. As part of this tradition, Nwosu has promised to complete the remaining term for the South, which is part of the ongoing rotation cycle.
To formalize his commitment, Nwosu visited the High Court in Awka on Thursday, where he swore an affidavit affirming his intention to govern Anambra State for a single four-year term.
The move has been hailed as a bold and exemplary step, reflecting Nwosu’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and selfless leadership.
Speaking after signing the affidavit, Nwosu said leadership should not be about holding on to power but about achieving tangible results within a set timeframe.
He stated, “I came into the race to serve, not to rule. I have publicly made this commitment before and have now legally sealed it before the court. Four years is enough to transform Anambra if there is sincerity of purpose.”
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