Politics
2023: Details Emerge as PDP G5 Meet In Ibadan, Take Decision on Presidential Candidate to Support
A report by Nigerian Tribune indicates that the G5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have finally abandoned their attempt to endorse a single presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
According to the newspaper, members of the G5, Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) arrived in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Wednesday, January 4, for the flag-off of the re-election campaign of the host governor, Seyi Makinde.
G5 Governors reportedly opted out of endorsing just one presidential candidate at the Ibadan meeting.
The governors were said to have conceded that local political realities in different states may make it impossible for members of the Integrity Group to back only one presidential candidate.
Nigerian Tribune stated that its findings showed that Governors Wike and Makinde are not leaning towards the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, contrary to the previous speculations that they may back the flagbearer endorsed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Also, both Okezie and Ikpeazu have allegedly resolved to keep their preferred candidates to their chest for the time being.
Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has not hidden his support for Obi as he backed Obasanjo for endorsing the former governor of Anambra state.
A source cited by Nigerian Tribune said the goal of Wednesday’s meeting was for the aggrieved PDP governors to encourage each other to take a position that is consistent with their state’s political reality in order not to jeopardise their personal ambitions.
It was gathered that the Ibadan meeting would produce a common stand where the governors will be allowed to stick to their individual preferences.
The source said Wike and Makinde will be able to openly canvas support for their choice whenever they choose to come out with their position.
As for Ikpeazu and Uguanyi who are yet to indicate their preferred candidates, the meeting alleged resolved to encourage them to silently back their choice should it be other than the presidential the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The governors are expected to continue to manage the situation since they would not want to create the perception of a crack within their ranks.
“So, they will keep on managing the peculiar circumstances because they don’t want to be divided. They won’t want the division to spill over,” the source was quoted as saying.
Earlier, it was reported that Governor Wike said he would not change his mind about working for his preferred presidential candidate despite abuses. The Rivers state governor who is the arrowhead of the G5 said this while kicking off the construction of Akpabu-Egbeda-Omoku Link Road in the Emohua local government area on Wednesday, January 4.
Wike said he would concentrate on mobilising support for his preferred candidate instead of taking issues with his detractors, who, according to him, had already lost focus.
Sir Jude Idimogu, a former two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has strongly stated that there will be “no vacancy” in Aso Rock come 2027, reaffirming his commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Idimogu, who served as the representative of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II from 2015 to 2023, shared his views during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
His comments followed the recent declaration from an opposition group promising to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
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A steadfast member of the APC and deputy leader of the Ndigbo socio-cultural group in Lagos, Idimogu dismissed the opposition’s chances of defeating President Tinubu in 2027, asserting that no coalition of opposition leaders could pose a significant challenge to the president’s second-term aspirations.
“The ruling party has strong leadership and unwavering grassroots support that will carry us through to victory in 2027,” Idimogu stated, branding the opposition’s efforts as “futile.”
He further noted that power rotation between the North and South made it clear that it was the South’s turn to complete its eight years in office.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027, and I am appealing to all Northerners in the APC to support the president in completing his eight years,” he added.
In his assessment of the current administration’s progress, Idimogu lauded President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, citing positive developments such as better power supply, the strengthening of the naira against the dollar, and the implementation of policies that have helped reduce food prices and boost agricultural output.
“With the restoration of the naira-for-crude deal and the export drive, we are seeing tangible results. I don’t see any opposition candidate who can present a policy better than what Tinubu’s administration is already doing,” he explained.
Looking ahead to 2027, Idimogu expressed his firm belief that he would be among those advocating for President Tinubu’s re-election, given the progress already made under his leadership.
Idimogu concluded by urging the opposition coalition to reconsider its stance, suggesting that they join forces with the president for the greater good of the nation.
The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) under Julius Abure has been vindicated by the content of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgement between Nenadi Usman and the party.
This was contained in a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Wednesday night.
According to the National Publicity Secretary
Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh
As promised earlier, we warned that Senator Nenadi Usman and her cohorts have been in the voyage of misleading Nigerians with wrong interpretation of the judgement of the apex court.
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There is no where it stated that the leadership of Barrister Julius Abure led executive has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her National Caretaker Committee has been directed to take over the leadership of the Labour Party.
The Supreme Court emphatically stated that issues within the political party are internal affairs of the party and that party supremacy must be observed.
It is pertinent for us to state clearly that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. The highest organ of the party, the national convention has in March 2024 elected its leaders in line with the constitution of the party and electoral act and their tenure is subsisting.
Consequent upon that, any meeting convened in disregard to the constitution of the party is illegal and the outcome null and void. We are therefore warning all those involved in the illegal meeting holding in Abuja to refrain from further factionalising the party and respect the constitution of the party as we will not fail to activate the provision of the party on disciplinary actions.
Okai Austin, a key figure in Kogi State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his associates Okpanachi Jacob and Peter Onuma, has issued a formal apology to Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo after a media claim accusing him of diverting N13.4 billion from the state’s funds.
In a press conference held in March, the trio had made the explosive allegation, demanding that the funds be refunded.
However, on Tuesday, they withdrew the accusation and publicly apologized in a letter addressed to the governor.
READ ALSO: Isanlu-Fulani Crisis: Gov Ododo Holds Emergency Security Meeting
The letter, issued by Okai Austin on behalf of himself and his co-signatories, stated: “Upon further review and diligent comparison of the relevant facts, particularly those provided by the State Government concerning the disbursement of funds intended for local government development, I came to the realization, after much briefing and clarification, of the significant discrepancies in the information upon which the previous statement was based.”
The trio admitted that their earlier claim was based on inaccurate information and clarified that the funds in question were actually ₦3 billion, not ₦13.4 billion.
They also included documentation detailing the approved distribution of these funds, which was provided by the state government.
“We have no personal animosity, hatred, or ill feelings towards your government, personality, tribe, or any member of your family.
“We hold Your Excellency, Governor Usman Ododo, in high regard as the duly elected Governor of our esteemed state,” the letter continued.
Furthermore, they emphasized that their actions were not motivated by partisan differences or tribal bias, but rather from a genuine desire to participate in the democratic process and hold the government accountable.
The apology letter concluded with a full acceptance of responsibility: “We take full responsibility for any damage or inconvenience our assertions may have caused.”
The trio expressed sincere regret for any distress their earlier remarks might have caused the governor, his administration, or the people of Kogi State.
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