Politics
2023: G-5 PDP Governors Agree To Support Tinubu For Presidency
The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors have demanded the support of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, for the PDP governorship and senatorial candidates in their respective states, according to a PUNCH report.
It was gathered on Thursday that this was part of the conditions presented to Tinubu during his meeting with the PDP governors in London, United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
In attendance at the meeting were Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states.
The governors alongside Donald Duke, Jonah Jang, Olusegun Mimiko, former governors of Cross River, Ondo and Plateau states, respectively, as well as a Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George, are defiant in their call for the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.
A reliable source disclosed that the five governors were concerned about their political careers and sought assurances from Tinubu.
Though Wike is not contesting for any position in the 2023 elections, he was said to be concerned about his protégé, Siminalayi Fubara, who is the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate and the PDP senatorial candidates in the state.
On the other hand, Makinde is running for a second term while Ortom will be contesting as the Benue North-West Senatorial District candidate in the polls.
Also, Ikpeazu is the PDP candidate for Abia South Senatorial District and Ugwuanyi is running for the Enugu North Senatorial District.
However, there are different accounts of the final decisions of both the governors and Tinubu on the demand.
A source close to Tinubu told newsmen that a final agreement could not be reached as a result of the ‘complex demands’ by the governors.
According to him, the PDP governors made an overture to Tinubu to guarantee both the senatorial and governorship seats in their states, a demand the former Lagos State governor could not grant immediately as he needed to consult with his advisers and loyalists.
The APC chieftain confided in our correspondent that Tinubu may not be willing to concede to the demand with less than two months to the 2023 elections.
He said, “The G-5 governors do not hold the four aces. As it stands, they are actually seeking shelter. The major hitch we have is that all the members of the G-5 demanded for the governorship and senatorial seats in exchange for the big prize.
“Now, the question is, are we going to throw our people in Rivers, Plateau and Benue under the bus? I am worried about Benue, where we have low-hanging fruits. Of course, it is obvious we are set to win Benue with Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, who we are sure will sweep the governorship poll.
“There is also the APC governorship candidate (Teslim) Folarin who is prominent in Oyo. These are complex situations we are still grappling with and I can tell you that is where we are. The PDP governors are astute people who are very good in politics.’’
The source also noted that there were increasing pressures on the APC presidential candidate to call the bluff of the Integrity Group by not conceding any positions to them.
Except for Rivers, the party chieftain said it had been projected that Benue and Oyo would fall because of the volume of mobilisation campaigns that had been carried out in the two states.
“Whether Makinde likes it or not, Oyo will fall. Abia has never been our ground. We also lost in Enugu and Benue in 2019 where we failed to get 25 per cent. Yet, we still won the presidency.
“I can tell you without Ortom, we have a very good chance of winning Benue in 2023 with Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia. But we know Rivers State is where we are very vulnerable and may need Wike to push up. These are the five states that we lost yet won the presidential election in 2019.
“The truth, however, remains that Asiwaju knows that these five states are not the tipping points to win. It is just to make his victory double sure that we have to pitch tent with them. But as I told you, they are not in a position to stamp their feet, draw the line and impose conditions on Asiwaju. Their support is inevitable because these governors really have nowhere else to go,” he said confidently.
On whether there is a chance Tinubu might meet the group again in January before they announce their preferred candidate, the politician disclosed that the negotiation had not ended.
He said, “It is an ongoing conversation. The point is that Asiwaju must carry the people (candidates) within those states along with our internal structures. Asiwaju must consider these factors before opting for a pyrrhic victory. He will talk to other leaders of our party.”
But a source in the PDP governors’ camp confirmed the demand they placed before Tinubu. He, however, said that a decision had been taken regarding the governors’ support for the APC standard bearer.
“Agreements have been reached and decisions have been taken. The announcement will be made in January. The people will be informed on the decisions that have been made,” he said.
On his part, the Media Director of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, declined comments on the issue.
Onanuga stated that aside from knowing that the governors were backing his principal, he had no idea about their alleged conditions.
“I don’t want to speculate on this issue. I don’t know what was discussed. But I know that the G-5 governors are backing Bola Tinubu. I can’t go further than that.
“After all, the governors said they will announce their preferred candidate in January. Why not wait for them?” he stated.
Also, a presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, in a tweet on Thursday, stated, “The offer put forward by the five governors was fantastically positive. That will definitely help us seal our victory. Let us do it together.”
The spokesman for the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, also shied away from discussing the G-5 demands.
Instead, he blamed the leadership of the PDP for the woes in the party.
Keyamo disclosed that he had always known long before now that collapsing the zoning process to accommodate the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would lead to the implosion of the party.
He stated, “The PDP has turned to a caricature that people now laugh at. We always knew the PDP implosion will come even before the primaries. We were waiting for it to happen.
“When it was very obvious to zone the presidency to the South, the PDP was too scared to take the bold step. Whereas, this same thing could have happened to us if the Northern APC governors had not risen to the challenge boldly and zoned the presidency to the South.
“Even when the ruling party was dilly-dallying on the issue, the governors took the bull by the horn and zoned it to save the APC from this kind of implosion the PDP is having. This is what they should have done. They actually met and agreed the presidency should come to the South in Asaba but (Delta State governor, Ifeanyi) Okowa stabbed them in the back.’’
Meanwhile, there are indications that the aggrieved PDP governors would arrive in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday (today) after their meeting with Tinubu in the UK.
The PUNCH gathered that they equally met with a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who has been in detention in London for alleged involvement in an attempted organ harvesting since June.
A close aide of one of the governors dismissed the threat by the PDP leadership to sanction the governors, saying they did nothing wrong to warrant the invocation of relevant provisions of the party constitution on the discipline of members.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity stated, “They will brief the press tomorrow (today) as soon as they arrive in Port Harcourt. They may speak on their preferred candidate of course but their stand is that the party cannot sanction them because they have not done anything wrong.
‘’As it is, they believe they are championing a cause backed by the PDP constitution in matters of fairness and equity. So, their argument is that they are on track in demanding that after eight years of Presidency in the North; the South should be supported to have a shot at it.’’
In his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba told newsmen that the PDP would not address the issue until the governors speak on their preferred candidate, saying, “Ours is a party of order and rules. Until we get to the bridge, we won’t cross it.”
On his part, the immediate past National Secretary of the party and member of NEC, Ibrahim Tsauri said the leadership of the party would act at the appropriate time.
Politics
Rivers By-Election: Police Restrict Movement Across Seven LGAs, Warn Against Violence and Vote-Buying
The Rivers State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles across seven local government areas ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The affected local government areas are Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo, and Opobo/Nkoro.
The election, which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is being held to fill the vacant senatorial seat following the death of former representative Barry Mpigi, who passed away in February.
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In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the restriction will run from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, as saying the measure forms part of comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process.
According to the police, the restriction is aimed at enhancing public safety, protecting electoral officials and materials, preventing electoral malpractice, and ensuring voters can exercise their civic duty without fear, intimidation, or harassment.
The statement read in part: “The Rivers State Police Command hereby notifies members of the public, particularly residents of Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, of a temporary restriction on movement ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District By-Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”
“As part of comprehensive security measures put in place to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process, the movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles within the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, 19th June 2026, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”
The command warned that anyone who violates the order or engages in electoral offences such as vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery, or any act capable of disrupting the election will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”
The police urged political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected LGAs to remain peaceful and cooperate fully with security agencies.
“CP Olugbenga Adepoju calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected Local Government Areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies to ensure a successful electoral exercise.”
The command assured that adequate security personnel have been deployed in collaboration with other agencies to protect lives, property, and electoral materials throughout the exercise.
“The Command wishes to reassure the public that robust security arrangements have been put in place, in collaboration with other security and relevant agencies, to ensure the protection of lives and property, safeguard electoral materials, and guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.”
Residents were also advised to stay alert and report suspicious movements to security authorities.
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it will not participate in the proposed local government election scheduled for December 26, 2026, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of attempting to retain political influence after leaving office.
The opposition party described the planned poll as illegal, ill-conceived, and designed to install individuals loyal to the governor in local government councils ahead of the end of his tenure on May 29, 2027.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) had initially fixed January 2027 for the election but later moved it to December 2026 following the release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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The rescheduling has drawn criticism from political stakeholders, who questioned the need for fresh local government elections barely six months before the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors expires across the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by the APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party announced its decision to boycott the poll and vowed to work with other stakeholders to stop what it described as an attempt to waste public resources.
According to the APC, the proposed election is part of a broader plan by Governor Makinde to maintain control of local government administration after leaving office.
“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House, and he knows he cannot do this after the conduct of the 2027 general elections, the outcome of which would strip him of all political power and influence,” the statement said.
The party also accused the governor of opposing local government autonomy and interfering with grassroots democracy.
“The whole world knows that Gov. Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy, and when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” APC stated.
The opposition party further alleged that local government funds had been mismanaged under the current administration, citing Oriire Local Government as an example.
“Or how can one explain the situation whereby a local government council like Oriire receives over N550 million in monthly allocation from the federal government, and there is nothing to show for it because a governor sits on the money in the name of Joint Account operation with his own office?” the statement queried.
The APC also linked the issue to insecurity in some rural communities, claiming that poor local government administration had left some areas vulnerable to attacks.
“It is sad that Gov. Makinde wishes for the continuation of the system that exposed Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area and other rural communities in the state to bandit attacks,” the party alleged.
Describing previous local government elections in the state as fraudulent, the APC insisted that residents would no longer tolerate what it called manipulated electoral exercises.
“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 are the last that the good people of the state would witness,” the statement added.
The party urged OYSIEC to halt preparations for the December election, maintaining that the exercise lacks legitimacy and would neither strengthen democracy nor address challenges facing local councils across the state.
APC further insisted that the people of Oyo State are demanding genuine local government autonomy, transparency, and democratic governance at the grassroots level.
A major political development has emerged in Kano State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, son of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, officially entering the race as the running mate to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
The announcement was disclosed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Kwankwassiya Movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, who confirmed that Mustapha Kwankwaso had been selected as Gwarzo’s deputy governorship candidate for the upcoming election.
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“Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been unveiled as the running mate to His Excellency Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo for the 2027 governorship election,” Mohammed stated.
Mustapha Kwankwaso, a businessman and politician, is widely recognized as one of the prominent figures within the Kwankwassiya political movement, a powerful political bloc founded by his father and known for its strong influence across Kano State.
His emergence on the NDC ticket is already generating discussions among political stakeholders, with many viewing the move as a strategic attempt to tap into the widespread support base associated with the Kwankwasiya movement.
Political observers believe the partnership between Gwarzo and Mustapha Kwankwaso could reshape the political dynamics in Kano as parties begin positioning themselves for what is expected to be a fiercely contested governorship election.
The development also signals the growing involvement of a new generation of political actors in Kano politics, while highlighting the enduring influence of the Kwankwaso political family in the state’s affairs.
With more than a year before campaigns fully gather momentum, the Gwarzo-Kwankwaso ticket is already attracting attention and could become one of the most closely watched political alliances in Kano ahead of the 2027 polls.
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