Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned that politics must not be turned into a playground for unruly conduct, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is being undermined by rising political recklessness. Jonathan spoke on Thursday at the 10th anniversary dinner of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, which also marked his 68th birthday. He said the nation’s democratic stability is being “suffocated” by the escalating trend of aggressive rhetoric and hostile political actions, stressing that leadership must be rooted in responsibility, nation-building and restraint. “Politics is not for rascals. It is for people who want to build, not destroy,” Jonathan said, insisting that civility…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to cancel his planned trips to South Africa and Angola, describing the move as a hollow gesture that fails to address Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation. In a statement issued on Thursday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the President’s action—taken in the wake of national outrage over the abduction of twenty-five schoolgirls in Kebbi State—amounted to “the latest and boldest example of tokenism.” Ememobong argued that while the cancellation may appear sympathetic, it does nothing to tackle the escalating wave of kidnappings, banditry and attacks across…
Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State have rejected the continued stay in office of the acting chairman, Olusola Tokunbo Adekanbi, demanding that he and his team immediately vacate their positions. The members, who made the call during an emergency meeting held in Ibadan on Thursday, insisted that the elected chairman, Jelili Asukuna, and other duly elected officials must be allowed to assume their rightful roles. The meeting, attended by hundreds of APC members from the eleven electoral wards in the local government area, was convened to address what they…
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned its members to desist from anti-party activities, insisting it will no longer tolerate actions capable of breeding disunity within the party. In a statement on Tuesday, the State Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, dismissed as false a report circulating online alleging that aggrieved members from Shinkafi Local Government Area had dragged the party to court over alleged unconstitutional sanctions. The report claimed that three individuals — Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, Kabiru Ibrahim and Ibrahim D. Kurya — had filed a suit on November 16, with suit number ZMS/GS/65/2025, seeking…
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has suspended his scheduled defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the wake of the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Jalingo, Kefas described the incident as “heartbreaking,” saying it would be insensitive to proceed with political celebrations while families and the nation grapple with the tragedy. “My decision follows the deeply saddening kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. I believe the safety and well-being of the children are far more important than any political activity,” the governor said. He extended his sympathy to the families of…
Asorta James, Special Assistant on Social Media to Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has mocked former governor Samuel Ortom following the dramatic clash at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretariat in Abuja. InfoStride News reported that Ortom, who belongs to the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was forced out of a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday after disagreements between rival camps. In a viral video from the scene, members of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction were heard ordering Ortom to leave the meeting hall. Reacting to the incident, Asorta took to his Facebook page…
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the violent takeover of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national secretariat in Abuja, describing the development as a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy and a troubling sign of rising authoritarian tendencies. In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused senior figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of deploying armed operatives to forcefully occupy the opposition party’s headquarters on November 14. The ADC alleged that the action formed part of a broader strategy by the federal government to weaken multiparty democracy and suppress…
The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken full control of the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, following a violent confrontation with expelled members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. InfoStride News reports that the two rival factions clashed on Tuesday as both groups attempted to hold separate meetings within the secretariat complex, leading to chaos and a heavy security presence around the area. Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, alleged that he and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, were tear-gassed by security operatives during the confrontation. After the situation…
The Publicity Secretary elected at the Ibadan national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ini Ememobong Essien, has urged President Bola Tinubu to call the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to order following Tuesday’s violent clashes between rival factions of the party in Abuja. Essien, who addressed journalists after police officers fired tear gas around the PDP national secretariat, said the actions of the security operatives endangered governors, party officials, and members of the press. He alleged that despite a prior meeting between the PDP National Chairman and the FCT Commissioner of Police on Monday—where security…
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has opened up on his ongoing feud with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing the former Rivers State governor of pushing Nigeria toward a one-party system. Makinde spoke while addressing journalists on Tuesday amid the violent confrontation between rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, factions at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The governor said the crisis within the PDP transcends personal disagreements and is fundamentally about safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future. “A message of hope, real hope, is what I want to give to our members all across the nation and Nigerians,”…
A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Fasiu Bakene, has expressed optimism that the ongoing crisis rocking the party will soon be laid to rest. Bakene, a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, gave the assurance in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abeokuta, insisting that despite recent defections, the PDP would emerge stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that internal conflicts were not peculiar to the PDP, adding that the party had the internal capacity to resolve its differences amicably. Reacting to the expulsion of the…
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said it is “over” for the faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, takes a more dramatic turn. This comes as rival blocs, led by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed on one side, and Wike on the other, continue to battle for control of the party’s Abuja national secretariat. Makinde had, on Tuesday, arrived at the secretariat with newly elected National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, insisting that the leadership produced at Saturday’s national convention in Ibadan stands.…
Tension boiled over at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja on Tuesday as rival factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on one side, and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on the other, clashed over control of the party headquarters amid an intensifying leadership crisis. According to ARISE News, security operatives attached to both camps engaged in a heated standoff that escalated into chaos, with teargas reportedly fired around the premises as each faction attempted to assert dominance over the complex. Governor Makinde arrived at the secretariat…
Jalingo, the usually calm Taraba State capital, has erupted with unusual political activity as convoys and chartered flights ferry some of the state’s most influential political figures into the city ahead of what many describe as a defining moment in Taraba’s political history. The heightened movement follows strong indications that Governor Agbu Kefas may be on the verge of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC — a move political watchers say could trigger one of the most consequential realignments in the state in recent years. Across hotels, party secretariats and private residences in…
The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Ajuji Ahmed, has dismissed concerns over the recent wave of defections from the party, insisting that the NNPP remains firmly rooted in Kano and is repositioning to broaden its influence across the North ahead of the 2027 general elections. Ahmed stated this on Saturday while reacting to the exit of two members of the House of Representatives — Abdulmumin Jibrin and Sagir Koki — who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The NNPP chairman said the lawmakers’ departure had no adverse effect on the party. “I have just…
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a party “on the brink of irrelevance” following its factional national convention held over the weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State. In a statement on Sunday, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, said the convention—expected to revive the opposition party—only exposed its deepening internal crisis and dwindling national influence. Oladejo said the event turned out to be “a poorly scripted show of confusion and desperation,” adding that it further embarrassed the political class and confirmed what he called the PDP’s “waning relevance.”…
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has dissociated himself from the decision by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and other senior party figures. In a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Gyang Bere, the governor said the matter was never discussed at the PDP Governors’ Forum nor at the National Executive Committee, NEC, before the motion was introduced during the party’s ongoing national convention in Ibadan. “The Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr. Caleb…
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s decision to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The PDP had on Saturday announced the expulsion of Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, the party’s National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others over alleged anti-party activities. The decision was taken at the party’s ongoing national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where delegates from 17 states are in attendance. InfoStride News reports that the party unanimously voted to expel the members for engaging in acts deemed detrimental to the PDP’s…
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dissolved its structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. InfoStride News reports that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, moved the motion for the dissolution during the party’s national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as part of efforts to validate executives elected through congresses conducted nationwide. Makinde explained that congresses held between 2024 and 2025 produced officers at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels, including national ex-officio members. He noted that the exercises were peaceful and largely compliant with the Electoral Act 2022, the PDP constitution, and internal…
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence that the ongoing national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will mark a major turning point for the party ahead of future political contests. Makinde made the declaration on Saturday while delivering his welcome address at the convention, held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The governor, who is hosting the event tagged Ibadan 2025, described PDP members as resilient and determined, noting that the party overcame a prolonged internal battle to successfully convene the convention. “I want to welcome everyone to this convention, the resilient members of the…