Politics
2023: Equity forbids us to support another Yoruba for presidency – Afenifere
… Explains reasons for supporting Peter Obi
By Paul Eso
The apex Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has once again, reiterated its reasons for supporting the presidential bid of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, standard bearer for the 2023 general elections.
Addressing the media at Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, leader of the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, explained that their support was based on equity and inclusiveness.
According to Adebanjo, “equity forbids us for presuming to support another Yoruba person for the presidency in 2023”, after the South West has produced a president and a vice president respectively.
A speech titled: “Why Afenifere Supports South East Presidential Candidate For 2023 Presidency”, and delivered by the elder statesman read:
“After the primaries and the candidates emerge with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the South West, APC, Atiku Abubakar on the platform of PDP and Peter Obi on the platform of Labour Party and I announced Afenifere’s support for Peter Obi, not a few Yoruba leaders question why I should be supporting Peter Obi a candidate of Igbo extraction against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba.
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“I took my time to explain that the presidency is not a contest between the Yorubas and the Igbos and to a large extent I was able to convince many. But ever since social media has been filled with comments tending to ethnicize the campaign instead of making it issue-based.
“Afenifere has therefore decided to address you today and through you educate the public on the ideological and equitable principles which have influenced our decision.
“In the countdown to the 2023 General elections, long before the parties conducted their Conventions to elect their National Executives and candidates, we had insisted and still advocate restructuring before the elections proposing a synthesis of the identical Resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and the APC El Rufai 2018 True Federalism Committee.
“We did this as Afenifere and on the wider spectrum of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF). We did this, when politicians, in spite of the monumental crises confronting the nation, carried on as if the attainment of power was all that mattered, the SMBLF unanimously proposed that the minimum condition for a peaceful transition from the disastrous 8years of Buhari’s government headed by a President of northern extraction was to have the next President from the South.
“This position was also supported by all the southern governors, irrespective of their political parties at a meeting held in Asaba, Delta State.
“Incidentally, this North/South consideration which is at the very root of our amalgamated federation is also the most important testament of all political parties in Nigeria. The principle of federal character enshrined in the constitution dictates that the government of the federation or any part thereof shall not be concentrated in any ethnic group or a combination of such groups.
“It is therefore preposterous to adopt this principle for employment in public service admissions in educational institutions, political appointment, the composition of the executive committee of a political party only to jettison it in the most important question of rulership of the federation.
“In this quest for peace, based on equity and inclusiveness, the Yoruba took the first turn at the zoning arrangement in 1999, and that led to the emergence of Chief Obasanjo, the current Vice President is a Yoruba man and equity forbids us for presuming to support another Yoruba person for the presidency in 2023.
“The current President is a Fulani from the Northwest and by virtue of the zoning arrangement that has governed Nigeria since 1999, power is supposed to return to the south imminently. The southwest as I have pointed out has produced a president and currently sits as VP, the South-South has spent a total of 6years in the Presidency, but the Igbo people of the South-East have never tasted presidency in Nigeria, and now that the power is due back in the South equity demands that it be ceded to the Igbo.
“We cannot continue to demand that the Igbo people remain in Nigeria, while we at the same time continue to brutally marginalize and exclude them from the power dynamic.
“Peter Obi is the person of Igbo extraction that Afenifere has decided to support and to back, he is the man we trust to restructure the country back to federalism on the assumption of office.
“We will not compromise this principle of justice, equity and inclusiveness because one of our own Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a frontline candidate.
“It is on this same principle, we condemn the PDP for sponsoring Atiku Abubakar, a Northern Fulani Muslim to succeed General Muhammadu Buhari another Fulani Muslim who will soon complete 8 years of uneventful and disastrous rule. One can imagine such a high degree of political insensitivity.
“On our part, we are certainly not alien to sacrificing personal interests in the quest for a National coalition to put Nigeria on the proper pedestal.
“In this regard, the starting point is Southern solidarity for which we first enacted a handshake across the Niger, which had dovetailed to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum. We enjoin the labour movement, students, youth organisations, women associations, and every institution whose foundation is built on fairness and justice to join hands in this task of enthroning a democratic government by supporting Peter Obi. If we are sincere and honest about keeping Nigeria together in peace, the slogan henceforth should be: ‘To keep Nigeria one, everyone should be Obi/Datti compliant.’
“In the final analysis, let it be said that we have no apologies but due courage of our conviction that Nigeria can only prosper in righteousness.
“For me, in the twilight of my sojourn on earth at 94, it is too late to derail me on the track of true federalism and National inclusiveness on which I have travelled for over 70 years of my life as one of the few surviving initial prophets, I prefer to ascend on a chariot of fire, fueled by justice and equity.”
Politics
2027 Election: Obi–Kwankwaso Group Warns of Plot to Divide NDC in Enugu
The Obi–Kwankwaso (OK) Movement in Enugu State has raised concerns over an alleged attempt to create division and destabilise the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement urged party members and supporters to remain united and disregard directives or announcements that do not come from recognised party leadership.
In a statement issued by its Chief Press Secretary, Ani Ifeanyi Moses, the group alleged that some individuals were working to create what it described as a “non-existent faction” within the NDC.
SEE MORE: “Nobody Forced Obi to Leave Any Party” — APC Chair Fires Back at Critics
It said the alleged plot involved impersonation, unauthorised claims of leadership and the circulation of misinformation intended to cause confusion among party members.
According to the movement, the alleged activities were coming at a critical period when members should be concentrating on preparations for the 2027 elections rather than internal disputes.
The group specifically accused some individuals of impersonating party officials and attempting to undermine the NDC’s structure in Enugu State.
“It is intentional to create division and confusion, knowing that Enugu is the support base of Mr. Peter Obi, and we must resist it,” the statement said.
The movement described the alleged actions as a threat to democratic principles and called on those behind them to immediately stop.
It urged all parties involved in any disagreement within the NDC to rely on the party’s internal mechanisms and legal processes for resolution.
The group also appealed to political actors to respect constitutional democracy and the rule of law, warning against actions that could further deepen divisions within the political movement.
The OK Movement equally cautioned against involving young Nigerians in political conflicts, stressing that individual political ambitions should not be allowed to overshadow the broader objective of building what it described as a credible political alternative ahead of 2027.
It called on NDC members and supporters of the Obi–Kwankwaso movement in Enugu to remain calm, united, vigilant and resolute.
The movement further advised members to disregard any directives that were not issued through recognised party leadership or official communication channels.
It also urged supporters to verify political information before acting on it, particularly information contained in unauthorised announcements or messages circulated through unofficial channels.
Describing the political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections as a “New Nigeria project,” the movement maintained that the initiative was greater than individual political ambitions or the pursuit of public offices.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to democratic values, accountability and good governance, while pledging to continue mobilising support for what it described as a competent and people-centred government in 2027.
The movement concluded by appealing to its members to remain focused and united, warning that internal divisions could weaken their collective political aspirations as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Politics
2027 Race Begins as APC Completes 100% Candidate Upload to INEC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a major milestone in its preparations for the 2027 general elections after successfully completing the upload of all its governorship, deputy governorship and State House of Assembly candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Candidate Nomination Portal.
The announcement was made on Friday by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, in a statement shared via his official X handle, where he congratulated party leaders, members and candidates nationwide on the successful completion of the nomination process.
SEE ALSO: ‘Nobody Forced Obi to Leave Any Party’ — APC Chair Fires Back at Critics
According to Yilwatda, the APC achieved a 100 per cent upload of its candidates across the country, submitting 56 governorship and deputy governorship candidates alongside 1,015 State House of Assembly candidates to the INEC portal ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Congratulations to our leaders, members, and candidates across the country on the successful completion of the nomination process for the 2027 General Elections,” he said.
“I am pleased to announce that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully achieved a 100% upload of all our 56 Governorship and Deputy Governorship, and 1,015 State House of Assembly candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal.”
The APC chairman described the achievement as a clear indication of the party’s organisational capacity and readiness for the next stage of the electoral process.
“This milestone reflects the organizational strength of our great party,” Nentawe stated.
With the nomination process now concluded, the ruling party said it would shift its attention to engaging Nigerians while highlighting the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“With this phase successfully concluded, we remain focused on engaging Nigerians with our vision, and building on the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda as we prepare for victory in 2027,” he added.
The completion of the candidate upload marks a key requirement in the electoral process and positions the APC among the first major political parties to conclude the nomination phase ahead of what is expected to be a keenly contested 2027 general election.
Politics
Why Fubara Couldn’t Seek Re-election — Wike Reveals Inside Story
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has opened up on the political events that led to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara abandoning his bid for a second term, blaming the outcome on poor advice from political associates and external interests.
Speaking during the August edition of his monthly media chat aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, Wike said he repeatedly warned Fubara against abandoning the political structure that brought him to power.
SEE MORE: Fubara Corrected His Mistakes, Returned to the Right Political Family – Wike
“I said, look, don’t derail. I came as governor, I had crisis. When I came as governor, there was nothing. They didn’t even relocate the Government House,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor recalled inheriting an administration with limited resources, revealing that he had to borrow ceremonial vehicles from former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
“When I came, I had to borrow vehicles from the former governor of Ondo, Mimiko, these parade vehicles. Nobody kept any vehicle; I didn’t have one vehicle.
“But before I left as governor, I packed out from Government House one and a half years before. I renovated Government House. I bought vehicles for the governor, the deputy governor and the governor’s wife. I did that,” he stated.
Wike said he expected Fubara to consolidate on the foundation he laid instead of distancing himself from the political family that supported his emergence.
“Somebody had laid a foundation. Look, this is where I stopped. If you continue this way, our dream is to be able to compete with Lagos. What is wrong with that?” he said.
According to the minister, some individuals who had initially opposed Fubara’s emergence as governor later became his close allies and allegedly encouraged him to confront those who backed his political rise.
“Somebody comes, and that’s why you have to be careful. Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.
“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. Your intention was to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Wike said.
Asked whether he still loved Fubara despite their political differences, Wike responded:
“If I don’t love him, why would we support him? That’s the point I’m making.”
The FCT minister disclosed that both camps had at one point considered reconciliation, but political considerations ultimately stalled the process.
“There was a time we all thought, we all agreed, and said, ‘Look, can we allow bygones to be bygones?’ But something fundamental came up in politics.
“They said, ‘Look, if you allow this now, there are those who are here who want to see that we are no longer politically relevant,'” he said.
Wike further alleged that external interests sought to hijack Rivers State for financial gain, claiming some influential individuals advised Fubara to resist his political camp.
“When this thing happened, they were so bitter that they started giving the governor wrong advice: ‘Don’t worry, the law says this, the law didn’t say this.’
“They were sending them aircraft, then they would relax in the jet. To them, they were king. So, for him to continue to be there, they would exert that kind of influence.
“We said no, this cash cow must end now. You won’t have it again. Take as much as you can, but you have to stop,” Wike added.
The political rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023 and later escalated into a prolonged power struggle involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats and a state of emergency.
Although Fubara later obtained nomination forms to contest the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries for a second term, he withdrew from the race in May 2026.
Wike maintained that the political crisis and the decisions taken by the governor during the dispute ultimately cost him the opportunity to seek re-election.





