The representative for the Ideato Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has asserted that the departure of his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would significantly impair the party’s viability in Imo State.

Ugochinyere made this statement during a press conference held in Owerri on Thursday, following the tragic killing of approximately 26 individuals in the Arondizuogu communities within his constituency two weeks prior.

As the sole national lawmaker from Imo State affiliated with the PDP, Ugochinyere expressed his discontent with certain individuals in the state who have treated him unjustly. He cautioned that he would not hesitate to disengage from the party should the unjust treatment persist, emphasizing that he possesses a robust support structure that the PDP in the state cannot afford to lose.
“I have a structure that has a member in every family in Ideato Federal Constituency. I won my election while in exile. If there is anyone that should be begged, it is me. If I pull my structure today, PDP will collapse in ten seconds and I’m not boasting about it.

“Have we been treated fairly? No. Are we worried about them? No. Are we going to move? Yes, if they don’t treat us fairly”, he stated.

Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere

Further, he said “I have not been treated well despite my loyalty to the party. If they continue to treat us unfairly, we will move because we are the beautiful bride. I’m still in the PDP and we are not making a decision to move out but if you don’t treat us well, we will move because I will not go through that crisis that we passed through the last time. We will move to anywhere we will have peace. If I pull out, PDP will collapse in Ideato in ten seconds”, Ikenga said referring to himself and supporters.

According to him, insecurity had worsened in Imo and called for funding of vigilante groups by the state government as part of measures to tackle the situation in Ideato.

Ikenga disclosed that he had rallied financial support from friends to assist the bereaved families of those killed in Ideato, after donating N5 million to them as aid.

He said “security and protection of lives is the primary responsibility of the government. By now I expected that the state governor would have come to Ideato; we expected there would have been relief materials by now; you don’t need to like my face before you come”, he submitted.

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However, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Strategy, and Public Orientation, Chief Declan Emelumba in his reaction denied the allegations.

Emelumba said “they are not true, but at any length, he should start with account of what he has attracted to his federal constituency. He was elected to attract federal roads as a legislator, how many has he attracted. He is not even qualified as a federal lawmaker to talk because he is yet to attract any project, he is just grandstanding.

“The Government is doing everything we should do to ensure that the people are taken care of. The erosion at Umuchima, it is the state government that is doing it. Let him show us the one he has attracted”, Emelumba said.

By Yarima Haruna, Birnin Kebbi

Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is anticipated to emerge as a prominent candidate opposing incumbent President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, as confirmed by a close associate of the Bayelsa-born politician in an interview with Vanguard.

The associate, who is also affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), indicated that the efforts to nominate the former President for the PDP platform have progressed significantly, and he has expressed his willingness to participate in the election.

The informant noted that a coalition of influential Nigerian leaders and elders is spearheading this initiative, driven by a belief that Jonathan successfully stabilized both the country and its economy during his six-year tenure in office.

The advocacy for Jonathan’s candidacy arises from a shared desire to rehabilitate the nation’s declining economy and restore Nigeria’s status on the global stage. PDP leaders and elders have reportedly been actively urging him to consider running against Tinubu in 2027.

Some observers suggest that permitting Jonathan to pursue a single four-year term could represent a viable strategy for facilitating a return of power to northern Nigeria by 2031, thereby ensuring an uninterrupted eight-year tenure with minimal contention from the southern region.

Given that Jonathan has already completed one four-year term, he would be eligible to serve a maximum of another four years if victorious in the 2027 election, similar to the conditions applicable to Tinubu, should he secure re-election.

According to the source, Jonathan has engaged in private discussions with several prominent figures both within and outside the PDP to garner support for his 2027 presidential campaign. Notably, he recently conferred with former military leader General Ibrahim Babangida at his residence in Minna, Niger State, to communicate his aspiration to seek a single term in the forthcoming election.

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While the source did not disclose General Babangida’s response, there remains an optimistic outlook regarding the proposal’s reception in northern Nigeria.

The source indicated that Jonathan is currently engaging in consultations with key stakeholders in the South-South region to advocate for his candidacy and to secure their unwavering support.

At the time of reporting, the specific individuals Jonathan’s team was meeting within Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, remained undisclosed; however, it is believed that he will not encounter significant challenges in securing support from his established base in the region.

The ally, who is also in the People Democratic Party, PDP, as Jonathan, told Vanguard that the plan to draft the former President to contest on PDP’s platform had gone far, and that he had accepted, adding that the former president was going into the race to find ways of addressing Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship and the general suffering that had gripped the citizenry in recent years.

What the law says on Jonathan’s eligibility
Amid the push to get Jonathan to run, there is division in the polity on his eligibility, following a 2018 Constitutional amendment that bars those sworn-in twice in the past from running for presidency or governorship.

The sections of the Constitution that address the issue of presidents and governors being sworn in more than twice are Sections 137(3) and 182(3). These sections state that a person who was sworn in to complete the term of another person as President or Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term

*Section 137(3) applies to the President and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as President, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

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*Section 182(3) applies to Governors and states: “A person, who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor, shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”

These sections aim to prevent individuals from serving more than eight years in office, either as President or Governor, even if they assume the role due to the incumbent’s inability to serve.

The amendment, now referred to as the Fourth Alteration Act, became effective on June 8, 2018, when it was signed into law by then President Muhammadu Buhari.

Currently, lawyers are divided on the issue. While some are of the view that Jonathan could no longer contest any presidential election, having completed the unexpired term of the late President Umar Yar’Adua and concluded another term in 2015, others contended that the new provisions cannot be applied to Jonathan who started his tenure before the law took effect.

In light of renewed speculation regarding a potential presidential candidacy in 2027 against President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan recently convened a private meeting with former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

Details of the discussions remain confidential; however, sources with knowledge of the meeting indicate that the dialogue focused on the evolving political landscape in anticipation of the upcoming 2027 general elections.

According to an aide to General Babangida, during the meeting, IBB directly inquired whether Jonathan intends to pursue another presidential bid. The former president reportedly indicated that he has yet to reach a definitive decision.

Analysts suggest that Jonathan’s prospects may be constrained by the public position expressed by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, who has been a significant influence in his political journey.

In May, the former First Lady explicitly ruled out any aspiration to return to Aso Rock and conveyed her support for President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu for the 2027 elections.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, Patience said: “There is only one president at a time. I believe in turn-by-turn. When it’s your turn, I will support you. When it’s not your turn, step back; so that the country can move forward.”

She also praised Remi Tinubu, describing her as a longtime friend and political ally dating back to their time as wives of deputy governors and later as First Ladies.

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“I’ve known Oluremi Tinubu for many years. Even when my husband was vice president, she and her husband supported us. So, I have a conscience. I cannot abandon my friend. I’ve told her I will campaign with her. I’m not running. I won’t return to the Villa,” she said.

Her remarks were widely interpreted as a definitive signal that the Jonathans are not seeking a return to power, with observers citing her influence in her husband’s political decisions.

Beyond the former First Lady’s posture, the role of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a key PDP power broker with known sympathies for President Tinubu, has also emerged as a factor.

A senior party source told Daily Trust: “From what we are seeing, over Wike’s dead body will Jonathan get the PDP ticket if Wike thinks it could derail Tinubu’s re-election.”

Bala Mohammed’s hints and party dynamics

For many political observers, the PDP’s internal push for either Jonathan or Peter Obi as its 2027 presidential candidate is unsurprising.

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum and is seen as a likely contender himself, has on multiple occasions acknowledged the appeal of a Southern candidate.

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In August 2024, he hinted at stepping aside if Jonathan decided to contest.

“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as leader of the opposition. I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan,” he said.

“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country, unless he decides not to run. If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood.”

Mohammed, who served as FCT Minister during Jonathan’s presidency, praised his former boss’s leadership style, citing initiatives such as the Almajiri education programme and youth empowerment schemes as examples of inclusive governance.

He added: “His recruitment of leaders was exemplary. We need people like him—young, energetic, with foresight and vision.”

In March 2025, Governor Mohammed further stirred the political waters by declaring Peter Obi as the de facto leader of Nigeria’s opposition, signalling openness to an alliance.

“Whether we like it or not, Peter Obi is the leader of the opposition in Nigeria now because of his position and pedigree. I’m ready to work with him to bring good governance to the country,” he said.

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While dismissing questions about Obi’s possible return to the PDP as “semantics,” he stressed the need for unity: “Coming together is not about party, region or religion. It’s about service to the people.”

Analysts weigh Jonathan’s potential candidacy

Reacting to the latest developments, Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, told Daily Trust that while the push for Jonathan’s return may not materialise, its implications are significant.

“I do not think the overture will succeed. President Jonathan is now happy playing at the global stage. His wife has also crossed over the rubicon. I doubt that he would be willing to risk all at this stage although there are many who want him to come. I will also like him to come back. But it looks unlikely to happen,” he said.

Amadi added that the North may see a Jonathan candidacy as a strategic choice.

“The North stands to gain more with Jonathan’s return. It is a case of the devil I know is better than the angel I do not know. Jonathan was a good president to the North even better than Buhari. He will do one term because of constitutional limitations. So it is a bankable option for a North that wants a guarantee of power returning to the region in 2031.”

However, he warned that Jonathan’s entry could split the opposition and weaken the ADC’s momentum.

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“It means that there would be a split in the support base of the Obidients and the ADC. Jonathan will be the most formidable opponent to Tinubu because the North will find him a good alternative to Tinubu. But Peter Obi will remain the choice of the youths and that may reduce the prospect of victory for Jonathan. I think he will not run,” he concluded.

On his part, Professor Abubakar Umar Kari, a political analyst based in Abuja, told BBC Hausa that Jonathan’s return would significantly alter the 2027 contest.

“It would be a very competitive race. As a former president with a strong support base, his entry could revive the PDP, which many now consider comatose.”

He added that Jonathan’s candidacy would pose a direct challenge to both the APC and the ADC coalition.

“If he accepts to run, it could deal a serious blow to the coalition, which currently positions itself as the main alternative to Tinubu’s re-election.”

Additional reports from Daily Trust.

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Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have expressed significant concerns regarding perceived imbalances in political appointments within the party.

The dissatisfied members, organized under the designation “Concerned APC Stakeholders,” submitted a letter to the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, alleging that the Secretary to the State Campaign Council, Patrick Okah, has prioritized his own constituency—Ward 7—over others.

The stakeholders contend that nearly all positions designated for Oredo LGA have been predominantly assigned to appointees from Ward 7. They have cautioned that such an inequitable distribution of appointments could potentially lead to unrest if not promptly addressed.

“The growing dominance of one ward over others is causing discontent and weakening party unity. We urge you to intervene before this festers into a full-blown crisis,” the letter read in part.

They called on Senator Okpebholo to ensure fairness and inclusiveness in future political arrangements to prevent further alienation of loyal party members.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, articulated that the South-East region should not anticipate the emergence of a presidential candidate from the area in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, Umahi urged the South-East to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election, emphasising that the President has demonstrated equity and commitment to the region, particularly in terms of infrastructure development.

Umahi’s comments were a direct response to an online publication that he characterized as an effort to misinterpret the Tinubu administration’s engagement with the South-East.

“I understand that politics is now in the air and the chosen path by some persons is to deceive unsuspecting members of the public,” he said. “They want to look like heroes while ignoring the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing across the nation.”

The regional directors within the Ministry of Works have been directed to revisit project sites in order to document the progress of both existing and newly initiated projects. This initiative aims to provide citizens of Nigeria with a comprehensive understanding of the administration’s efforts, irrespective of political affiliations.

According to Umahi, President Tinubu is driving national unity through equitable infrastructure distribution. “Only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria,” he added.

On the question of a South-East presidency, Umahi advised the Igbo to focus on forming strong political alliances with other regions rather than pursuing the presidency in 2027.

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“We must not be deceived again,” he said. “President must have the votes of the South-East up to 90% to cement this relationship.”

He cautioned against misinformation and divisive politics, urging the South-East to shun political bitterness. “If we want to be president, we must avoid the politics of hate and sentiments,” Umahi said. “We must support other regions, and with God, one day, other regions will support us.”

He insisted that President Tinubu must be allowed to complete his eight-year tenure, adding: “One day, we will be number one — but not in 2027.”