Politics
2027: Peoples Democratic Party PDP factions seek alliances for stranded aspirants
Blocs loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, within the Peoples Democratic Party have stepped up moves to secure alternative political platforms amid uncertainty over candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Sources in the party told Sunday PUNCH that the blocs were weighing the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress as possible platforms for aspirants in the PDP.
The development follows growing concerns that the PDP may be unable to field candidates for the 2027 elections due to ongoing court cases over the legitimacy of the party’s two factions.
The fear was further heightened by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s rejection of the party’s Ekiti governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede, for the June 20, 2026 election.
Oluyede emerged in a primary conducted by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the PDP, loyal to Governors Makinde, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).
The Turaki leadership emerged during the November , 2025 convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State. The PDP faction backed by the FCT minister did not conduct a primary for the election.
The two factions have been claiming legitimacy of the party’s leadership, while INEC insists they must resolve their crisis.
Meanwhile, INEC also said it will not recognise the Turaki-led NWC.
The commission said it could not recognise or update the list of PDP leaders because of the existing court orders of the Federal High Court in the cases filed by Nwachukwu and Lamido.
Unending litigations
Findings by Sunday PUNCH show that there are five ongoing court cases that will determine the leadership and future of the party, with two judgments currently at the Court of Appeal.
One of the cases, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, resulted in a judgment that suspended the party’s convention until it complies with the requirements of its constitution, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
This suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party: Austin Nwachukwu (PDP Chairman, Imo State), Amah Nnanna (PDP Chairman, Abia State), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South). The case is now pending in the Court of Appeal.
Another notable case was filed by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
Justice Peter Lifu had issued an order restraining INEC from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any PDP convention that excluded Lamido as a contestant. That matter is also pending before the Court of Appeal.
The remaining three cases, including one from the Oyo State High Court, challenge the legitimacy of the November 15–16 convention and others in Abuja are still being heard in the lower courts.
Overall, the two cases currently before the Court of Appeal are crucial and will decide the leadership of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led NWC, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the five cases were pending in court.
Ememobong, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, expressed confidence that the Turaki-led NWC would obtain justice.
He stated, “We have two matters before the Court of Appeal and about three at the Federal High Court, but the most important ones are those at the Court of Appeal because those are appeals against final judgments.
“Our party is optimistic that we will get justice for all. We are doubly optimistic about it because even in the SDP case, the Supreme Court has reiterated its time-tested position that political matters, leadership of political parties, and how they conduct their congresses are matters that are non-justiciable, meaning that the courts do not have jurisdiction over them.”
Factions seek refuge in APC, ADC
Sunday PUNCH gathered that PDP factions, unsettled by unresolved leadership disputes, protracted court cases and INEC’s decision in Ekiti, are exploring options outside the party.
A member of the Turaki-led NWC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party was already considering an alliance with the ADC.
He acknowledged that the crisis facing the party might deny it the opportunity to field candidates for the 2027 general elections, lamenting that INEC had demonstrated its resolve to “stop the party’s chances.”
Speaking with one of our correspondents on Saturday, the PDP chieftain said, “With what INEC has done to our candidate in Ekiti State, we should not deceive ourselves; our chances of having candidates for the 2027 general elections are very slim.
“We are already taking steps so that even if some of us remain in the PDP, our candidates will be able to contest under other parties, especially the ADC.
“We may not even have a presidential candidate because, yes, we have the structure, but with the current situation, we cannot go anywhere. That is why we are already in talks with ADC leaders, and negotiations are ongoing. We cannot afford to be stranded.
“If you say we are in a dilemma, that was in the past. Now we have a clear direction, which is to form an alliance with the ADC to protect the interests of our candidates. In a short time, our negotiations with the ADC will produce a defined structure.”
Confirming this to Sunday PUNCH, a top official of the ADC said some leaders of the PDP and the ADC had met over the proposed alliance.
According to the official, the PDP leaders were from the Turaki-led faction and were willing to work with the ADC.
However, the party chieftain said no decision had been taken and no formal negotiations yet.
“The discussion is still at an early stage; nothing concrete has been decided,” he added.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, simply said, “We are open to every Nigerian willing to be part of the rescue mission.”
He declined to comment further on the matter.
Also speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a member of the NWC loyal to Wike’s bloc, Timothy Osadolor, expressed fear that even if the PDP produced a presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, the party would perform poorly.
He said the PDP would need to collaborate with a stronger opposition platform to have any real chance.
Osadolor blamed the crisis in the party on what he described as the arrogance of the governors under the platform.
“We have seen that the early Christmas party (national convention) that some of the governors went to have in Ibadan has led to nowhere. The other group has also successfully made a point that it is going to wrestle the governors to the ground if need be, and that they have done.
“For me, 2027 is already a closed matter for PDP. It is closed because whoever is thinking he is going to run on the PDP platform now must either be Jesus Christ or be more popular than Coca Cola because the damage that these governors have done to PDP will not put anybody, no matter how strong or how popular the person is in a good position to win election in 2027. But to say the PDP wants to go into the election alone is like looking for a needle in a haystack,” he said.
Osadolor suggested that the party’s best option was to seek an alternative platform that could produce a formidable candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu.
He, however, dismissed the APC as a viable alternative.
“APC is not a platform; anyone supporting it is just promoting hunger, hopelessness, and frustration. On the other hand, the ADC has shown signs of being ready to take over power. With collaboration and steadiness, it could become a platform for a viable opposition.
“The best bet for the PDP or for the progressive-minded people in PDP is to seek an alternative platform for collaboration where a formidable candidate can be produced to give President Bola Tinubu a run for his money and possibly defeat APC in the next polls. I’m not close to the APC. If they (Wike bloc) are close to the APC, that is fine for them,” Osadolor added.
When contacted, the APC’s Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, said the party had not decided to accommodate candidates from the Wike-led faction of the PDP.
He, however, suggested that the matter was under consideration.
Ibrahim said, “If you can wait maybe on Monday, the party will decide on it. I am not a member of the National Working Committee. When the NWC meets and takes a position, then I can tell you.”
PDP will unite, field candidates – Anyanwu, Ememobong
But the National Secretary of the PDP loyal to Wike, Samuel Anyanwu, dismissed claims of any negotiations with the APC, describing them as “mere speculations”.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Anyanwu said the party was on the path to resolving its crisis.
He said, “The PDP will soon resolve its crisis. I believe we are going to agree very soon and then move on with one voice. People will come back to the party, I assure you. In the next few days now, from March, APC will start having their problems because they will have their convention and congresses.”
Anyanwu reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, adding that he would continue to fight for the unity of the party.
“I’m very close to the FCT minister, but he has made it so strongly clear that he’s going to support the PDP,” he said.
Also, a factional spokesperson for the PDP, Ememobong, dismissed the fear that the party might not field candidates for the 2027 elections.
He insisted that the party would not only field candidates but also win the elections.
Ememobong said, “PDP will field a presidential candidate and others, you can take that to the bank. I’m assuring you 100 per cent that the PDP will fully participate in the 2027 elections. We are not just going to field a presidential candidate, we will field a candidate that will win.”
He noted that the party still had time to take steps to ensure its candidates were recognised before the elections.
Ememobong expressed optimism that the party would win its court cases, adding that a favourable ruling from the Court of Appeal would confirm that the decisions taken at the Ibadan convention were valid and compel INEC to recognise the PDP’s candidates.
He, however, said the PDP remained open to working with other opposition parties.
According to him, while the immediate focus is on preparing the party and its candidates, opportunities for alliances or coalitions will be considered closer to the elections to enhance their competitiveness against the APC.
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Politics
Kano State Commissioner of Science and Technology resigns, cites deviation from founding political ideals
Kano State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Yusif Ibrahim Kofar Mata has announced his resignation from office, citing what he described as a departure from the political principles upon which the current administration was established.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The resignation was disclosed in a statement posted on his official Facebook account.
In the statement, the former commissioner said his decision was guided by conscience and loyalty to the original vision that informed the formation of the government.
“I stepped down from my position as commissioner in order to distance myself from a political direction that deviates from the ideals and struggle upon which this government was founded,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to God and to key political leaders for the opportunity to serve, specifically acknowledging the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“I thank Almighty Allah, our revered leader, Sen. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, as well as the good people of Kano, for the support and cooperation extended to me during my tenure,” the statement read.
The former commissioner noted that he served in the Ministry of Higher Education and later in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, where he contributed to several key initiatives aimed at advancing education and innovation in the state.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Kano through the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and other critical assignments entrusted to me,” he added.
He concluded the statement with a note of appreciation and resignation to faith, saying, “Alhamdulillah.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Government has not issued an official response to the resignation.
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A federal commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has described godfatherism as a Nigerian invention that must be consciously dismantled.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Idahagbon said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, “I believe that the concept of godfatherism is a uniquely Nigerian invention. Maybe it’s one of Nigeria’s negative contributions to the development of democracy.”
He noted that all over the world, including the United States and most developed democracies, there are very influential political leaders whose views go a long way in determining election outcomes.
“But there is nothing that can be compared with the Nigerian concept of godfatherism. That is why I said it’s a unique Nigerian creation, a Nigerian invention.
“In Rivers and Edo, we have seen and are still seeing the negative impact of godfatherism. Those two states represent perhaps the worst species of godfatherism in Nigeria.
“At the peak of the Obaseki and Oshiomhole imbroglio, we saw Obaseki practically declaring Oshiomhole a persona non grata in a state that he governed for eight years.
“I remember we had to arrange for private security to escort Oshiomhole from the airport just to get to his house.
“On many occasions, his cars were stoned, but for the fact that they were bulletproof, he would have been injured. And I happened to be the only person who was in his house the day thugs came to attempt to burn down his house.
“And the same thing is playing out again in Rivers State. We have the Minister of the FCT, who keeps breathing down the neck of Governor Siminalayi Fubara because he brought him to power.
“So it’s something that the Nigerian political class has to consciously dismantle,” he said.
Idahagbon, who was a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice during Oshiomhole’s administration, emphasised the need for governors and presidents to disengage from power after leaving office.
“When governors and presidents leave office, they should leave for good. They should not be engaged in the process of determining their successors.
“In my opinion, political actors want to determine who succeeds them because of two factors. They want protection when they leave office.’
“So if governors do well, like I believe Gov. Alex Otti of Abia is doing in his state now, you don’t need to determine who succeeds you. Anybody can succeed you if your records are clean.
“So we should consciously, like Oshiomhole during his campaign and tenure said, say no to godfatherism and embrace one man, one vote; one governor, one vote.
“I think that mantra should become a national mantra — one man, one vote — and let us say no to godfatherism because it has negative implications for our polity,” the federal commissioner added.
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Former federal lawmakers, under the auspices of the National Forum of Former Legislators, have adopted President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 general election and called for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to sustain national unity beyond 2031.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NFFL 2026 National Summit, themed “National unity and nation building beyond 2031,” held on Saturday in Abuja.
Presenting the communiqué, the forum said its deliberations were guided by the need for national cohesion and the integration of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
“We adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate for the 2027 general election.
“We reaffirm that dialogue, consultation and peaceful engagement must always remain Nigeria’s primary tool for resolving political, social and regional challenges.
“Nigerian issues must be resolved by Nigerians through dialogue, constitutional and democratic means,” the communiqué read in part.
On power rotation, the former lawmakers resolved that the presidency should return to the North in 2031 in line with the principles of equity, inclusion and national balance.
“In keeping with the spirit of fairness and national balance, we affirm that the presidency should return to the Northern region in 2031, after the completion of the Southern presidency,” the communiqué added.
To eliminate uncertainty and recurring political tension, the forum urged that the principle of rotation be clearly embedded in the Constitution.
“We call for the constitutional entrenchment of rotational presidency to promote fairness, strengthen national unity and provide clarity for future generations,” the communiqué stressed.
The forum also passed a vote of confidence in the Tinubu-led administration, resolving that the President should be supported to complete two full terms in office.
“In order to consolidate ongoing reforms, strengthen national unity and deepen democratic governance, we collectively resolve that the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be supported to complete the full eight years,” it said.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria and called on political leaders and citizens to uphold democratic values and national cohesion.
“We call on all political leaders, institutions and citizens to uphold the values of democracy, justice and national cohesion in the collective interest of our great nation,” the communiqué concluded.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, warned that Nigeria’s survival and relevance in a rapidly changing global order depend fundamentally on national unity, describing cohesion as a “strategic necessity” rather than a moral option.
Gbajabiamila told former lawmakers from across the country that global instability has made experienced leadership and internal cohesion more critical than ever.
“We meet at a moment when the world appears unsettled and uncertain of its direction.
“Yet, it is precisely in moments such as these that leadership is most needed. Your willingness to convene and contribute once more to national discourse speaks volumes about your enduring commitment to the idea of Nigeria,” he said.
He conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill to the forum, describing the NFFL as a reservoir of experience that continues to guide the administration’s policy direction.
“President Tinubu has asked me to convey his profound appreciation to the NFFL for your sustained dedication to nation-building.
“He continues to draw strength, insight and guidance from the depth of political judgment, legislative experience and administrative wisdom that this Forum embodies,” Gbajabiamila said.
According to him, the institutional memory of former lawmakers must be leveraged to deepen the nation’s economy.
“The institutional memory represented in this room is a national asset of immense value.
“It must be deliberately harnessed to inform present choices and illuminate future pathways,” he added.
Gbajabiamila stressed that nation-building transcends electoral cycles and individual administrations.
“Nation-building is not an event, nor the exclusive responsibility of any single administration. It is a continuum,” he said.
Citing the opening words of the 1999 Constitution, the Chief of Staff noted that Nigeria was never intended to exist as a collection of rival groups.
“Those words affirm that Nigeria was never meant to be a collection of rival camps, but one people bound together by a shared hope and a common future,” he said, adding that unity was “a solemn duty we owe to one another.”
He warned that internal divisions would weaken Nigeria’s capacity to navigate an evolving global order.
“In a world that increasingly rewards scale and strategic clarity, internal disunity weakens national capacity.
“A divided nation struggles to project strength, negotiate effectively or protect its interests,” Gbajabiamila said.
Prolonged disunity, he added, would expose the country to economic and security risks.
“Disunity at this moment does not merely delay progress; it multiplies risk, magnifies vulnerability and transmits insecurity across generations,” he warned.
Describing rotational presidency between the North and South as a stabilising political mechanism rooted in national wisdom, Gbajabiamila cautioned against allowing personal ambition to undermine national balance.
“The principle of a rotational presidency stands as one of the clearest expressions of principled compromise in the service of our national interest.
“No personal aspiration should be allowed to endanger the hard-won balance that sustains our country,” he said.
He also warned against identity-based politics, noting that ethnic and religious mobilisation for political gain erodes trust and weakens the state.
“When political competition amplifies ethnic suspicion or religious fear, it corrodes trust and weakens the foundations of the state,” he said.
Earlier, the NFFL National Coordinator, Mr Raphael Igbokwe, said the forum’s position on power rotation followed extensive consultations across the country.
“Following our Northern and Southern dialogue sessions, we collectively agreed that in the interest of unity, peace and national progress, the South should complete its eight-year term,” Nnanna said.
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