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Nigerians Made Grave Mistake Voting Tinubu As President, He's Burying Nigeria Faster Than Buhari – Sowore
AFOLABI
As Nigeria approaches another Democracy Day, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, cautioning that Nigerians made a "grave mistake" by electing him.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and convener of the Revolution Now movement said Tinubu's leadership has accelerated Nigeria's decline, surpassing even the widely criticised administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“My position on this government is not a thought—it’s a clear stance I’ve held long before the 2023 elections. Nigerians made a grave mistake voting Bola Tinubu into office,” he said.
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: when Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era. He has done irreparable damage—economically, socially, politically. He has crippled institutions, education, and democracy. Buhari killed Nigeria in eight years; Tinubu came, in two years he is burying it.”
According to Sowore, Tinubu's policies have deepened poverty, crippled institutions, and eroded democratic values.
He lamented that the country now teeters on the edge of a full collapse, as citizens lose faith in both the electoral process and the very concept of democracy.
“What Nigerians are whispering—dangerously—is that they no longer believe in democracy,” he said. “The promises of democracy—free speech, credible elections, freedom to choose—have been destroyed. Today, people celebrate military dictators just to express their frustration. But to be clear, I don’t support military rules. What we have now is a shambolic democracy.”
Sowore, who has contested presidential elections and led mass protests against bad governance, was unequivocal in his stance against the current electoral system. He said he would continue to resist a proposed law by the House of Representatives to make voting compulsory, describing it as an attempt to manufacture legitimacy through coercion.
“If you have to use threats to force people to vote, then democracy is dead. Democracy is about choice. You cannot force people to participate in a system they no longer believe in,” he said.
“That proposal is not about participation; it’s about forced legitimacy. They’re panicking because fewer people are voting, so they want to cook up numbers and call it turnout. The people making these laws already know I will stand against them.”
When asked whether he intends to run for office again in 2027, Sowore responded that he does not believe in the current electoral framework while he never stops "running"—through protests, campaigns, or legal advocacy.
“But if you’re asking about elections, I don’t believe in the current ballot system. The 2027 results are already written,” he said. “The only thing that can change Nigeria is rebellion against the system, against another sham election, not against democracy, anyway.”
Sowore distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party 2023 presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, insisting that Nigeria’s political problems cannot be solved by switching candidates within the same broken system.
While many believe Nigeria’s opposition has become increasingly muted since the 2023 elections, Sowore argued that what currently passes for opposition lacks ideological clarity and conviction.
“That’s because what you call opposition isn’t opposition. Most of them are former APC or PDP members. They share the same ideology—or lack of one. Real opposition means clear ideological difference. What we have are political mercenaries looking for the best-paying camp,” he said.
“Most of these defections are transactional. They’re not about values or service. If you dig deeper, you’ll realise they’re just fighting over how to share the loot, not about how to serve the people.”
Sowore also provided an update on his ongoing campaign to oust the Inspector General of Police, claiming some results have already been achieved.
“Over 1,000 illegally retained senior police officers have been forced out. Police officers who haven’t been promoted in 20 years are now getting promoted. It has created a shift. But the ultimate goal is to get the IGP to resign—he’s overstayed. We haven’t given up,” he said.
Asked about former Vice President Atiku’s continued relevance in Nigerian politics, Sowore dismissed him outright.
“Atiku is a man whose time has passed. But he’s still hanging around, hoping to be President. That’s all he cares about. Everything else is irrelevant to him.”
Addressing concerns about his radical views and criticisms from some quarters that he is excessively radical, Sowore stated, “I don’t think I’m radical enough. People who say that haven’t studied history. Every meaningful change in this world came through so-called radicals.
“I will not water down my convictions to please those who want me to fit into a box. The louder voices online don’t represent the majority of Nigerians. Those who truly suffer in this country know what I stand for—and they agree.”
Sowore criticised economic policies under Tinubu—particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira—as anti-people and disastrous in their outcomes.
“They are being deceived. There’s nothing good coming from this. Removing fuel subsidy, floating the naira—none of it benefits ordinary people,” he said.
“The naira is still collapsing. Prices are rising. If they say this is the “hard road to prosperity”, I say it’s a road to destruction.”
As Nigeria marks another Democracy Day on June 12, Sowore’s warning offers a sobering counter-narrative to official celebration. For him, the current administration is not laying a foundation for progress—it is digging the nation deeper into ruin.
“When Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era,” he said, noting that it shows how bad the situation is getting.
Matthew Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, said the election of a Catholic pope is not based on the ideology of ’emi lokan’.
Kukah spoke on the subject during a Channels Television interview that aired on May 21.
‘Emi lokan’ is a Yoruba phrase which means ‘it is my turn’. President Bola Tinubu popularised the phrase in June 2022.
Tinubu, then an APC presidential candidate, had said it was his turn to become president after his political support for former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The phrase has since become common in the country’s political discussions.
On May 18, Pope Leo XIV became the leader of the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.
Before the new pope’s election, social media discussions focused on the possibility of an African becoming the pope.
Asked for his take on the discussion, Kukah said human calculations do not determine a pope’s election. He added that Africa should first win the World Cup.
“I think we still have a long way to go. I did write an article in the course of all of this, and I remember remarking on something that happened when Pope John Paul II died and the speculators thought that Cardinal Arinze came very close,” he said.
“But as you know, electing a pope is not like that, it’s not an ’emi lokan’ scenario in which you say, ‘these people have had their turn, now it’s our turn’.”
“No, it doesn’t work like that. And then the pundits who think that this is like betting on a horse or whatever. You always notice that by and large, when people begin to make their speculations, they are using human parameters of their calculation, and very often, most of those who make these calculations simply accumulate their data and suggest this is where it’s going to go.”
“But always, people are shocked in part because the election of a pope is not like any other election anywhere in the world.”
Kukah said the Catholic Church believes that the Holy Spirit chooses the cardinal who becomes pope.
He added that, unlike African politics, there are no special benefits given to the pope’s home country.
[BusinessDay]
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has mandated telecom licensees in Nigeria to inform consumers of major service outages on their networks through media channels, stating the cause(s) of the service interruption, and the area(s) affected by the service interruption/outage, as well as the time that would be taken to restore service.
Consumers must also be informed one week in advance where operators have planned service outages.
This development, contained in the “Directive on Reportage of Major Network Outages by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs),” is part of the Commission’s drive to ensure timely resolution of outages, enhance quality of experience for telecom consumers, and keep consumers informed.
In the directive issued late yesterday, signed by Ag. Head, Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, MNOs, Internet Service Providers and other operators that provide last mile services will also provide proportional compensation, including extension of validity, as may be applicable and in line with the provisions of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, where any major network outage continues for more than 24 hours.
NCC identifies three types of major outages to include: Any network operational condition such as fibre cut due to construction/access issues/theft and vandalism and force majeure that impacts five per cent or more of the affected operator’s subscriber base or five or more Local Government Areas (LGAs); having an occasion of unplanned outage of, or complete isolation of network resources in 100 or more sites or five per cent of the total number of sites (whichever is less) or one cluster that lasts for 30 minutes or more; and lastly, any form of outage that can degrade network quality in the top 10 states based on traffic volume as specified by the Commission from time to time.
In furtherance of this, the Commission has further directed that all major outages are to be reported by operators through the Commision’s Major Outage Reporting Portal, which is accessible to the public through the Commission’s website, www.ncc.gov.ng. The portal additionally discloses the identity of the culprit responsible for the disruption.
Commenting on the Directive and the Major Outage Reporting Portal, the Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Edoyemi Ogor, stated that, “The Commission has trialled the reporting process and portal with operators for some months now before issuing the directive.
“By providing consumers and stakeholders in the telecommunications industry with timely and transparent information on network outages, we are entrenching a culture of accountability and transparency. This approach also ensures that culprits are held responsible for sabotage to telecommunications infrastructure.
“This also aligns with our broader commitment to the effective implementation of the Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which designates telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). It reinforces the need to safeguard these assets, given their centrality to national security, economic stability, and the everyday lives of Nigerians,” Ogor, an engineer stated.
[Guardian]
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi is set to leave Portuguese club, FC Porto this summer.
According to Portuguese news outlet, A Bola, FC Porto are willing to listen to offers for the left-back.
Sanusi suffered an ACL injury in February 2024 and only returned to action in the second half of the current campaign.
The 27-year-old made just two appearances for Porto in the 2024/25 season.
The player reportedly has suitors in Portugal and Europe.
Sanusi linked up with the Dragons from another Portuguese club, Santa Clara in 2020.
[Leadership]
Even If All 36 Governors Join APC, It Won’t Affect Coalition’s Momentum - Babachir Lawal Says
AFOLABI
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has dismissed the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term by some governors, calling it “irrelevant.”
Lawal spoke in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday.
On May 22, all 22 state governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal, a member of the coalition of opposition leaders looking to displace the ruling APC, dismissed the governors’ influence.
He said the coalition is “targeting” voters, not political officeholders.
“Look, the way we are going, eventually, it is to voters at the polling booth that we will appeal, not any political party,” he said.
“Let the governors continue to defect, we don’t care. If we wake up one morning and heard that all the 36 states governors and the FCT are in APC, we don’t care.
“It is immaterial. They have only 37 votes; maybe we can add their families. Maybe you get 1000 votes. The voter is what we are targeting, and the voter is the victim of the system we are against.”
Lawal added that the coalition is “very serious” about its chances of upsetting the APC in 2027 and will soon announce its plans.
“I have been hooked up in this town for the past five months, participating in this. If I knew it wouldn’t succeed, I would be on my farm. I started farming since the season, but I stayed back. So, I must be an idiot if I leave my most important vocation to take coffee and snacks,” the former SGF said.
“Whoever says we aren’t serious doesn’t know who the people are, because they don’t know who they are, because we don’t take photographs. We don’t take minutes of meetings. We take time to make sure that information on strategies doesn’t leak.
“I am sure that is the reason for all the speculations. But I can tell you that the coalition is very serious; we are experienced and we know what we are doing. At the appropriate time, we will go public with what we are doing.”
TheCable had reported that opposition leaders are finalising plans to adopt the African Democratic Party (ADC) as the platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, on Saturday, said he would contest the next election on his party’s platform, dealing a blow to the coalition’s plans
The announcement of the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) otherwise known as Port Harcourt Refinery by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has continued to generate angry reactions from industry stakeholders and analysts who reiterated calls for a full privatisation of the government-owned refineries to achieve efficiency and optimisation in the operation of the refineries.
On Friday, the NNPCL announced the shutdown of the refinery with effect from Saturday for scheduled maintenance.
This is coming six months after the refinery commenced truck loading of petroleum products following a rehabilitation programme that gulped $1.5 billion.
Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, who confirmed the shutdown in a statement, added that the shutdown was part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility.
The statement reads: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025. We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure that the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.
“NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security.”
What to know about the refinery?
When the refinery was revamped in November 2024 after the rehabilitation programme, there were doubts about the operation of the refinery amidst allegations that it was a mere blending plant.
But the NNPCL insisted that the 60,000 barrels per day Old Port Harcourt Refinery was up and running, with loading operations in full swing, contrary to insinuations in certain quarters.
The Port Harcourt Refineries consist of two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.
The refinery was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the review of the refinery complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.
The Port Harcourt refineries are among the four refineries operated by the national oil company, which has gulped billions of dollars in turnaround maintenance (TAM). The other refineries are the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The Port Harcourt refinery, which was shut down for maintenance, had gulped over $1.5bn for rehabilitation.
In fact, the federal government had spent billions of dollars on the refineries amidst calls for privatisation to reduce the amount of public spending on the refineries.
In May 2023, the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the State of Refineries in the country said the federal government spent over N11 trillion on the rehabilitation of the refineries from 2010 to 2023.
Case for privatisation
Daily Trust reports that the debate over the privatisation of the refineries had raged over the years. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had sold the refineries to a group of private investors led by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at $750m, but the money was refunded to them by his successor, late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua.
An investment analyst, Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, said the government should stop wasting money on the refineries, saying billions of naira had been sunk into the four state-owned refineries without results.
According to him, the decision by former President Obasanjo to sell off the refineries was the best and shouldn’t have been reversed.
In an interview on News Central monitored by our correspondent, he said, “We keep on wasting our time in this country, we keep on romancing and praising the incompetence and inefficiency in the public sector. We keep on wasting our precious time as a nation.
“The truth is, and I dare repeat it again. We wasted billions of dollars, trillions of naira, trying to fix these refineries since 1999. Obasanjo did the right thing in 2007 when he privatised the refineries to the team led by Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola and the rest of the corporate czars.”
He claimed that N4 trillion was wasted under the last NNPC leadership on the refineries.
He added, “Of course, it has always been said that the thing (Port Harcourt refinery) was not revived; they only did it to be a blending plant. The truth is that those refineries will never work under the public sector control of the NNPC. For those refineries to work, we must do what we did at the Eleme Petrochemical Plant. The federal government must sell 80 per cent of the NNPC shareholding in those refineries to deep-pocketed private sector investors who would take 30 per cent, then the rest to Nigerians.
“Sell 50 per cent to Nigerians, list on the floor of the exchange and I tell you this, within the next one year, those refineries would begin to operate at optimum capacity.
“Dangote started its own refinery in 2015 and today, it is the largest single train refinery in the whole world, moving efficiently, no stories, no games.”
According to him, Kaduna Refinery should be scrapped and turned to a depot because the gas supply channel has been compromised.
He said both Warri and Port Harcourt would “Become an investors’ delight to buy those refineries.”
“Those refineries have existing facilities. To collocate a brand new 160,000-barrel-a-day refinery would take about $8bn. Because of the already existing facilities within Warri and Port Harcourt, it would cost that amount of money.”
Shutdown unexpected
On his part, former Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mike Osatuyi in a chat with our correspondent described the shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery as an embarrassment to the government and Nigeria as a country.
In a chat with our correspondent, Osatuyi stated that the NNPC needs to come out openly and explain what led to the shutdown.
He said, “It is an embarrassment to the government and Nigeria. We felt it was brand new. We didn’t expect it to be shut down like that. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. After postponing the opening more than six times, they need to come and explain to Nigerians what the problem is.”
According to him, the amount spent on turnaround maintenance is enough to build two brand new refineries at a time naira still had value.
“This amount is more than what we can use to build two refineries when the naira still had value. This is where we are. Because it is government property and government business, people do what they like. If it were a private business, it would not be like this. Only God knows how much they would come up with to bring it back again.
“We don’t have a conscience. If we have conscience, we cannot spend $1.5bn and then, you come back to complain. This wasn’t how it was in the 70s.”
Osatuyi stated that the coming of the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, was the saving grace for Nigerians.
“With Dangote coming up, we are self-sufficient in terms of local consumption. Dangote can load 2,800 trucks per day with two gantries. He has the capacity and what it takes to meet up with our demands,” he added.
‘Incompetence behind shutdown’
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said the real reason behind the shutdown of the refinery after spending $1.5 billion on its rehabilitation is incompetence.
The National President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, said, “The shutdown of the state-owned refinery showed that the managers of Port Harcourt Refinery are incompetent and insincere all along,” he said.
It would be recalled that the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers of Port Harcourt refinery Depot through its Board of Trustees’ Chairman, High Chief Sunny Nkpe had earlier raised an alarm over what it called “sinister motive” to shut down the refinery.
[DailyTrust]
Several candidates who sat for the recently rescheduled 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have taken to X to share their excitement and testimonies about their improved scores.
Recall that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Sunday released the results of the recently rescheduled 2025 UTME.
JAMB shared the statement announcing the release of the results on its official X account.
About 379,000 candidates sat the rescheduled UTME.
The development came after widespread public outcry over mass failure during the initial UTME.
Recall that the examination board had claimed that over 1.5 million out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME scored below 200 marks out of a possible 400.
The disclosure prompted widespread concern among stakeholders.
However, JAMB later admitted to technical and human errors and said that the development negatively affected candidates’ performance.
Sharing a result of one of the candidates via official X handle @winexviv, Alex Onyia, chief executive officer at EDUCARE, stated that students have been vindicated.
Onyia disclosed that an unnamed candidate who had gotten 170 in the initial exam now scored 301 in the rescheduled 2025 UTME.
“This is the first JAMB resit result I woke up with. This youngster was wrongly graded 170 due to the error and now 301 in just 48 hours of preparation.
“Finally, our students have been vindicated,” Onyia said
Reacting, David Busola posted: “Yes oooooo! I am soooo happy!! My daughter scored 302 in the resit exam!!! All glory to God! Thank you @winexviv”.
Also, Dumem #DubemSylvia wrote: “From 151 to 307. God is awesome”.
Another candidate with the name Ezubelu Valentine @EzubeluValrnti2 wrote: “First Jamb result 154. Resit Jamb result 333”.
Yusuf Ademola @Alqiblly also said: “I got 152 at first. With a little preparation now I got 278.”
Meanwhile, Samuel Olusanya @BigSam_Olusanya said: “My student that was given 146 now scored 332!
The one that was given 160 now scored 305! The one that was given 170 now scored 308! I’m the happiest teacher on Earth!”
Another X user Engreb @Engreeeb posted: “Thank you for all you did, my niece was wrongly credited with 161 previously and after the resit, she scored 285. JAMB nearly shattered her dreams of becoming a Nurse.”
Obiim @ Odogwuobi wrote: “@winexviv “Thank you sir, from the initial 172 to 313. I’m so happy”.
As the coalition drive to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 continues to gain momentum across the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress seems unsettled.
DAILY POST reports that some bigwigs in the opposition political parties and aggrieved members of the APC are currently teaming up ahead of the election, aiming at sacking the present administration.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal are among notable opposition figures spearheading the coalition talk.
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ralphs Okey Nwosu is also one of the key personalities in the coalition movement.
Obi and Atiku candidacy
There are reports that Peter Obi may deputize Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.
The duo had contested for the nation’s number one seat in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the then incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Opposition figures, who believed that the election was rigged by the ruling APC, had challenged the outcome, insisting that Obi and Atiku won the election.
However, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Obi and Atiku (PDP) won 18 states, while the ruling party won 19 states, respectively.
INEC declared that PDP garnered 11,262,978 votes, losing the position to Buhari, who scored 15,191,847 votes.
In 2023, Obi and Atiku contested the “election on solo”. While Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Atiku had the PDP ticket.
Although President Tinubu won the election with 8,794,726 votes with Atiku and Obi scoring 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes each, the election was challenged up to the Supreme Court.
According to some political analysts, if Obi had contested the election as Atiku’s running mate, the duo may have scored over 13 million votes to sack the ruling party.
APC fidgets
DAILY POST gathered that the alignment of the opposition forces is not seating well with the ruling party.
It was gathered weekend that APC has formulated more cogent strategies to attract more governors and lawmakers into the party in a bid to have a stronger structure that would resist the coalition.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said APC has resolved that “all first-time governors will have automatic tickets” to run for the 2027 elections”.
According to him, “the decision is that all first-time governors will be given automatic tickets and it’s not just a ticket, the party will fight for such a governor to ensure his re-election.
“So, most governors from the opposition parties, who are not sure of their victory are joining our party.
“For example, Akwa-Ibom and Delta State governors would have lost their re-elections if they remained in the opposition parties.
“In Delta for instance, Tinubu had settled for Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo as the next governor of the state.
“The governor knows that he cannot beat Keyamo, especially when backed by Tinubu so he decided to defect to APC.
“Regarding Akwa-Ibom State, if the Governor had refused to join APC, Akpabio could flush out his government by 2027. At the end of the day, it is all about personal interest”.
According to the source, the governors have also been allowed to handpick candidates for the national assembly.
Coalition faces setback
Some setbacks have started creaping into the proposed coalition particularly due to the choice of political party to be used as umbrella for the coming election.
DAILY POST gathered that following viral reports that the coalition adopted ADC, the party secretly amended its constitution to grant equal rights and privileges to incoming members.
The move was interpreted by insiders as a strategic step to accommodate high-profile defectors like Atiku, Obi and others ahead of the coalition.
However, the decision sparked resistance among some powerful stakeholders, especially from states, vowing that they will not relinquish their positions to new entrants.
Also, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in a recent interview, ruled out the possibility of him stepping down for another candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In another confusing development, Peter Obi in a viral video on Friday said he would contest the 2027 election on the platform of the Labour Party, fueling speculations that the coalition may adopt LP.
However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh told DAILY POST weekend that the Labour Party is not aware of any coalition going on.
He insisted that the LP has no plan to accommodate other political parties.
According to him, “we are contesting the election on solo and we have said before that there would be no automatic ticket for anybody.
“If Peter Obi chooses to contest via the party, he will follow due processes right from the primary election. We have said earlier that there will be no automatic ticket for anybody.”
On Obi deputizing Atiku, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, told DAILY POST that Obi is yet to decide.
“What I know is that Peter Obi has not told anybody that he is going to be a vice presidential candidate. He stands to contest as a presidential candidate.
“What we are having now is politicians who have a common interest coming together to plan ahead of the 2027 election”, he said.
[Daily Post]
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has explained why he may not be able to contest for presidency after 2027.
He said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.
Obi confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform and hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.
He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that has since gone viral. Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed the video saying “it was recent.”
Obi explained that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.
He said: “I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65.
“If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything”
Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.
“Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.
[TheNation]
The growing conflict between the factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has intensified the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, threatening the planned 99th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for May 27.
In a statement released on Sunday, Wike announced his withdrawal from the reconciliation efforts, blaming Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for the crisis within the PDP.
Anonymous sources within the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that due to the ongoing crisis and the threat to the NEC meeting, the party’s Board of Trustees called for a meeting on Monday (today) in Abuja
Multiple sources disclosed that recognising the potential harm a postponement could cause to the party’s future, the reconciliation panel led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders on Sunday night.
The PDP has been struggling with internal political turmoil before and after the 2023 elections.
Issues such as the political crisis in Rivers State, disputes surrounding the South South Zonal Congress, the position of National Secretary, and now the North Central Zonal Congress have further complicated the party’s stability.
Wike, backed by Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Taraba), and others, angered that decisions made by the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum — largely influenced by Governors Makinde, Mbah, and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) undermined the political structure of the Minister Federal Capital Territory.
Despite interventions from key organs like the NWC, the Board of Trustees, NEC, and the Governors’ Forum, attempts at resolving the disputes have only widened internal rifts across states and zones. This ongoing discord has delayed the NEC meeting and hindered the party from making critical decisions about its direction.
The 98th NEC meeting, held on April 18, 2024, failed to resolve major issues, further fueling disunity. Though the 99th NEC meeting was initially scheduled for August 15, it faced multiple postponements—to October 24, then November 28—before being put off indefinitely.
Under increasing pressure, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to convene the NEC no later than February 2025. This was reiterated during a meeting on January 31 in Asaba, where March 13 was suggested as the new date. However, the meeting was again postponed on March 8 to May 15, after further internal consultations.
Eventually, during a governors’ meeting in Ibadan on April 11, a new date of May 27 was set. To ensure it goes ahead, the serving and former governors seven-member committee led by former Senate President Saraki was formed to tackle remaining challenges.
On May 18, Sunday PUNCH exclusively reported that the South East, led by Governor Peter Mbah, along with governors like Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, as well as the PDP Board of Trustees, are opposing the Saraki-led committee’s efforts to reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
In response to their refusal to acknowledge his allies, Anyanwu, as Secretary and yield to his demands, Minister Federal Capital Territory, Wike on Sunday officially withdrew from all prior agreements aimed at resolving the PDP’s internal crisis.
The former Rivers State Governor citing repeated violations, accused Oyo State Governor of being the “chief culprit” behind the party’s troubles.
In a personally signed statement on Sunday titled “PDP Crisis: My Position,” Wike declared that the PDP has been plagued by “dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders,” and vowed to “fight on until justice is attained.”
“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders,” the minister stated. “To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements.”
Wike disclosed that during a G5 meeting in Lagos, he directly confronted Governor Makinde over what he described as a betrayal of trust, adding that there had also been a subsequent expanded meeting held at the Abuja residence of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, also attend by Governors Umaru Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, and where certain resolutions were reached.
Among the resolutions were “that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement, all legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser, the suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith, and nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached,” he noted.
However, the former Rivers State Governor lamented that those resolutions were soon violated.
“It is disheartening to note that even before the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee began its work, the gentleman’s agreement we reached at Saraki’s Guest House was already being crudely violated,” Wike said.
He specifically accused Makinde of working with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to undermine the agreement.
“Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mbah of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as secretary, they would pull out of the PDP.”
“Seyi Makinde organised some people in the National Secretariat to insist that the Deputy National Secretary should act as National Secretary, in violation of the agreement earlier reached,” he added
According to him, this led to confusion within the party’s leadership and affected official communications, including a situation where a letter properly signed by the National Secretary and Acting National Chairman confirming a gubernatorial candidate in Anambra was undermined through a rebuttal allegedly ordered by Makinde and Mbah.
“On the 24th of May 2025, in Jos, for instance, a well-publicised and properly attended zonal elective congress of the PDP was aborted because the letter inviting INEC to the congress was signed by the Deputy National Secretary… INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognised by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was not a signatory to the invitation notice,” Wike said.
Decrying the situation as “undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, Wike asserted that his commitment to the party since 1998 has never wavered, unlike those he accuses of “playing games to the detriment of the party.”
“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” he concluded.
Attempts by our correspondents to obtain reactions from Governors Makinde and Mbah regarding Wike’s accusations were unsuccessful, as their Chief Press Secretaries refused to comment.
Responding to the renewed tensions, former Senate President Bukola Saraki pledged to persuade the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to rejoin the negotiation process.
Speaking through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki gave this assurance during an exclusive phone conversation with our correspondent on Sunday.
He said, “Wike’s pulling out of the arrangement is not really a setback as you inferred. It’s just an indication that we still need to do more work and intensify more efforts.
“A mediator cannot be seen reacting to every issue arising conflicts otherwise in the process of speaking, he may say something that the various parties may misintepret.
“Even in the first statement issued by Wike, you can see where he referred to his position in the reconciliation committee.”
The former Senate President also warned that Nigerians, including stakeholders of the PDP, could not afford to allow the opposition go into oblivion, stressing that the development would see the country evolved into a one-party state.
“The alternative to PDP is one party state. The PDP goes beyond party. That is the only legacy party that is remaining. Out of the three parties with which we started this democracy, AD is gone, APP is gone.
“So, this is the only legacy party. Allowing it to die will be a major setback for democracy” he warned.
A source in the NWC who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, revealed that the Saraki-led panel summoned an emergency meetings late Sunday night.
He said the meeting was to pacify all leaders and to see if there was a way the NEC meeting could hold without complicating the crisis.
He stated, “As of now, with the latest developments, it is uncertain whether the NEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday will hold. However, the Saraki-led panel is meeting with some party leaders tonight.
“Those expected to attend the meeting, either in person or virtually, include Governors Seyi Makinde, Peter Mbah, Caleb Mutfwang, PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, among others.
“This meeting is critical—it will determine whether the NEC meeting will proceed, how peaceful it will be if it does, and, by extension, the future of the party.”
Another reliable source told The PUNCH that while Wike’s faction is resolute in its efforts to prevent the NEC meeting from taking place, the group aligned with Makinde is equally determined to hold the meeting in order to legitimize their actions and proposals.
Another source told The PUNCH that the PDP Board of Trustees was scheduled to convene in Abuja on Monday to address the ongoing crisis within the party.
He stated, “Wike’s camp is doing everything possible to prevent the NEC meeting from taking place. With the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring a court order tomorrow to stop the NEC.
“I also know that Makinde and some other governors are making efforts to ensure the NEC meeting can hold peacefully. The Board of Trustees is expected to meet on Monday. So, the next few days will be critical for the future of the PDP.”
In a meeting notification signed by the party’s National Director of Publicity Chinwe Nnorom and obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday, the PDP confirmed that the Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for today.
The notification read in part, “The above subject refers, please. The leadership of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has scheduled a meeting to hold as follows: on Monday, May 26, 2025 (tomorrow) at The NEC Hall (Ground Floor), PDP National Headquarters, by 3:00 PM.
“Please endeavor to attend and punctually.”
In a related development, the PDP state chapters voiced differing opinions regarding the crisis affecting the major opposition party.
The Ekiti State PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dare Adeleke, stated that the behaviour and statements of Wike indicated that he was acting against the interest of the party.
Adeleke said the action and utterances of the FCT minister and former River State governor showed that “he has a hidden agenda.”
“I think he is working against the interest of his party, PDP. It is a devilish act for anybody that has reaped from the PDP, that has benefitted immensely from the party, to now turn around saying that the party must be dead. It is quite unfortunate. This is not democracy.
“We should condem this act – it’s an attempt to turn Nigeria to a one-party state. Forget whoever is involved. You said you don’t like Siminalayi Fubara, (the River State Governor under suspension), you said you are not happy that Fubara was not impeached, you are now the one bargaining with the governors to withdraw their case from the Supreme Court.
“To me, I think that is undemocratic and highly condemnable that the likes of Wike should not be part of democracy in this country.”
Additionally, on Sunday, the Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Sunday Solarin, described Wike as a disengaged member of the opposition party adding that he was free to leave the party.
Solarin said, “For the past two years, what significant thing has Wike done to suggest that he is still a member of the opposition party, the PDP?
“What constructive criticism has he offered to this terrible government of the APC? What plans has he rolled out to bring the opposition back to power? Rather it has been unnecessary noise here and there.
“The truth is that Wike knows what he’s doing, he is only acting a script, he is looking for excuses to declare for APC but with or without him, the PDP will overcome its challenges.”
On his part, the Chairman of Gombe PDP, Mamman Kwaskebe, on Sunday said the party was unperturbed about what it described as the “antics” of the FCT minister.”
He said, “When Wike joined PDP he didn’t join from Gombe; he joined from his own Local Government Area in Rivers State. Whatever he is doing now is to dance to the tune of APC, we as a party will not succumb to that it’s is not part of our commitment and loyalty to PDP as a party.
“The PDP has a constitution, whatever is the level, he has done something extraordinary that no one can talk to him. We in Gombe are a PDP state.”
In Bayelsa State, PDP Chairman Solomon Agwanana stated that they had been anticipating Wike to quit the party.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, Agwanana said Wike had been working for the APC and had openly said he wanted President Bola Tinubu to return in 2027.
He added, “Though I do not know the details, the NEC is meeting on Tuesday and they will definitely address the matter.
“He is not a member of the PDP. We have been waiting for him to go and leave us alone. We know who he is working for.
“He is working for the APC and has stated publicly that he wants to return President Tinubu in 2027. That is not the only issue; he has threatened to seal our Wadada House. You can understand that he is working for his master.”
Furthermore, the PDP Sokoto State chapter spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, declined comments on the latest development.
“We cannot talk anything about his (Wike) withdrawal at the state level, the committee was set up at the national level, so it is only the national headquarters that can talk about the development,” he added.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dayyabu Ciroma, declared that Wike’s time in the party is limited.
Ciroma, while stating that Nigerians were aware that Wike might not submit to reconciliation, noted that “Everyone knows that Wike is out to destroy PDP.
“All I can say is his days are numbered in PDP once the NEC meeting is conducted. The final decision is made on the party’s crisis at the office of the national secretary.”
On his part, Chief Osita Madu, former Deputy Publicity Secretary and a senior PDP figure in Anambra State, alleged that Wike was working to keep the PDP weak in order to justify maintaining ties with the APC.
He said, “Wike is an APC member in the day and PDP at night.
“The FCT minister is the real architect of the party’s present predicament. He is happy about the present state of the PDP because he knows that if PDP stabilises today, he will not have any justifiable reason to continue in the APC government, except he resigns.
“There are no two ways about it, Wike is the problem of the PDP and he should be bold enough to announce his resignation or defection from the party and stop being an APC in the day and PDP at night. Since 2023, what has he done to convince the people that he is still a member of the PDP?
“How is it possible that he is a member of this anti-people government of the APC and still claims to be a PDP member? He knows that he stands to lose out if the PDP stabilises today and that is why he is fighting tooth and nail to ensure the party remains weak.
“Truth be told Wike and the President knew what they are doing, they are looking for an excuse to perpetrate some scripts, especially in Rivers State with the 2027 elections as their aim.”
[Punch]
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Former Governor of Rivers State and influential figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, has openly declared that he will no longer abide by any previous peace agreements made within the party. Wike said he has been pushed to the wall by what he described as persistent betrayal and political backstabbing by key figures in the PDP.
In a strongly-worded statement released over the weekend, Wike named Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Peter Mbah of Enugu State as the key actors behind the party’s deepening internal crisis.
“Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been stumbling from one crisis to another. At the heart of this is dishonesty and a complete lack of trust among some of our leaders,” Wike said. “I’ve done my best to hold things together, but I’ve had enough. I will fight this fight to the end, and I will not rest until justice is done.”
Wike revealed that in an earlier meeting of the G5 governors in Lagos, he confronted Governor Makinde directly, accusing him of being the source of many of the PDP’s troubles due to his refusal to honour prior agreements. Although the meeting ended with a pledge to reconcile and move forward, Wike said that promise was short-lived.
A follow-up meeting in Abuja—attended by Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Adamawa Governor Umaru Fintiri, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki—produced a list of resolutions. These included affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment, withdrawal of all legal cases related to Rivers State, and the halting of a suit calling for a state of emergency.
Wike said he was persuaded to attend another stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge despite his busy schedule, where the group reaffirmed those resolutions and appointed Saraki to head a reconciliation committee.
But before the committee could even begin its work, Wike said, the agreements were already being violated.
“To my shock, Seyi Makinde and Peter Mbah were already working behind the scenes to sabotage everything we agreed on. They engineered a meeting of selected South-East leaders where they threatened to pull out of the PDP unless Ude Okoye was installed as National Secretary,” he alleged.
Wike also accused the two governors of manipulating party structures at the national level to undermine Senator Anyanwu’s authority, even pushing for the Deputy National Secretary to act in his place—actions he said were both illegal and provocative.
He pointed to the recent failed PDP zonal congress in Jos on May 24 as a clear consequence of the internal confusion. The congress, Wike said, was aborted after INEC refused to attend because the letter inviting the commission wasn’t signed by Anyanwu, the legally recognized National Secretary.
“This is frustrating and completely avoidable. What they’re doing is not just unlawful, it’s insulting to all of us who have built this party from scratch,” Wike said.
Reflecting on his long history with the PDP, Wike reminded Nigerians of his loyalty and sacrifices for the party since 1998, noting that many of those now undermining him had benefitted from his support.
“I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party, as is the case in the current debacle in the North-Central zonal elections, I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained.”
Ralph Nwosu, the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says coalition talks between opposition leaders will be finalised in a few weeks.
Some influential members of opposition parties have been spearheading a coalition aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
TheCable had reported that opposition leaders are finalising plans to adopt the ADC as the platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Nwosu said the party constituted committees that have met with those involved in the talks, including the civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens’ groups.
“ADC has started a process in the last 16 months, and what we have been doing is that beyond all the political talks about political leaders, we needed to touch the grassroots because the situation in the country will either one day call for a citizens’ revolt or a patriots’ coalition,” he said.
“Dr. Bamidele Jamilu Jade, one of the deputy national chairmen, is coordinating some arms of the political parties.
“Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad is also dealing with stakeholders in political parties.
“So, what I can tell you as the chairman is what we have done with the citizens and civil organisations.
“They have met a lot more. They have met Rotimi Amaechi, they have met almost all those who ran for president in 2023 either as aspirants or candidates. Dr. Ahmad have also met all the political parties.”
Nwosu said ADC would not be used as a “multipurpose vehicle” to be used and dumped by politicians after the party has served its purpose.
“We made it clear that any politician who thinks that ADC is a ‘molue’ for going to where they want to go, a multipurpose vehicle, must think again because that has made parties the weakest link in the chain of our democratic system,” the ADC national chairman said.
“That is wrong because the weakest link cannot create leaders that can create the kind of transformation that we want. ADC is certainly not the vehicle.”
[TheCable]
Popular Lagos-based cleric and spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has declared that Labour Party’s Peter Obi alone does not have what it takes to stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking in a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the prophet said it would take more than Obi or the current opposition coalition to unseat Tinubu, who, according to him, has done relatively better than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
“Peter Obi alone cannot weaken President Tinubu’s ambition,” Ayodele said. “He can’t win the presidency by himself, and the opposition doesn’t yet have the people it needs to truly challenge Tinubu.”
While Ayodele didn’t reveal names, he claimed there are three individuals who could significantly alter the political equation if they decide to run or join the opposition movement.
“If any of these three key figures enter the race or align with the coalition, Tinubu should forget about 2027,” he warned. “Their involvement would shift everything.”
The cleric acknowledged Tinubu’s performance so far, saying the president has shown more effort than Buhari and has the potential to do better in a second term—if Nigerians give him the chance.
However, he advised that Tinubu must tread carefully, particularly in northern Nigeria, where betrayal could come from unexpected quarters.
“He must work on the North,” Ayodele cautioned. “If he doesn’t put the right people in key positions, his ambition could be cut short. There are people around him who might betray that trust when it matters most.”
The prophet added that the president would need to take three specific actions—though he did not disclose what they are—to secure a second term.
“2027 will be nothing like what we’ve seen before,” he said. “It won’t be a walk in the park. The presence or absence of these three mysterious figures will make all the difference.”
FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, dismissed recent endorsements for President Bola Tinubu by governors and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, calling them a sign of panic and desperation.
While the former Vice President expressed confidence in the coalition’s ability to defeat the APC in the 2027 elections, the PDP pointed to widespread dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s governance and economic policies.
Mazi Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, stated that the coalition remains unfazed by the endorsements, likening the situation to a student who has prepared thoroughly for an examination.
He said: “When you’ve prepared diligently for an exam, you can sleep soundly the night before, waking up assured of success. That’s the position of our coalition.
“Nigerians are the ultimate judges. Their endorsements will determine the outcome, not the political manoeuvrings of the ruling party. The recent endorsements reveal the panicked state of this administration. Insecurity is at an unprecedented level, with territories being reclaimed by insurgents in Borno State and other regions. The cost of living is unbearable. Families struggle to feed themselves, access healthcare, or send their children to school. As school fees are due, many are weighed down by these burdens. Yet, the government has done little to address these challenges, choosing instead to focus on political games.”
He also accused Tinubu’s administration of using anti-corruption agencies to pressure opposition figures into joining the APC.
“These defections are not driven by ideology or preference for the APC. Politicians are being held hostage and compelled to defect. Some of these individuals are being targeted for corruption, both by former governors and the current administration. They are being pressured to pay a ransom, which manifests as defections. This is what happened in Delta State and elsewhere. Even the so-called ‘quiet bomb’ that has been hinted at is a result of crimes committed by their predecessors. These are being used as leverage to shake them down, hold them hostage, and negotiate their defection to the ruling party.”
On his part, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Umar Bature, said endorsements don’t guarantee victory.
He recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had the endorsements of 21 governors in 2014 but still lost the election.
Bature said: “Tinubu has 22 endorsements. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a matter of time. The issue isn’t endorsement; the issue is whether you’ve done the right thing for the country. Endorsements are merely cosmetic. People resort to them when they know they’re not serving the interests of the people they claim to represent.
“There is no crisis. Members are simply expressing their views. If they say they want to leave the party, time will tell. These matters will resolve themselves.”
[Vanguard]