Politics
Exclusive: Real reasons Why Gov. Wike lost at the PDP primaries, and fell out with Party and Atiku
How Rivers State delegates voted for Atiku during the primaries
Why Atiku is silent over Wike’s continued outburst
By Yemie ADEOYE
BARRING any last-minute moves as campaigns officially commence for the 2023 elections in Nigeria, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is bound to go into the general elections a divided party, with different factions, thereby making it easier for the ruling All Progressives Congress, and the fast-rising Labour Party at the polls.
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike
This is due to fresh facts emerging on why River state Governor, Nyesom Wike lost at the presidential primaries of the party in May to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and has since gone on a rampage against the party leadership, especially the national chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
The Governor who arguably governs the richest state in Nigeria’s oil-rich south-south region has since launched a campaign for the removal of the national chairman of the party, who incidentally is from the northern part of the country, just like the party’s flag bearer, Mr Atiku Abubakar.
Wike’s insistence is drawn from the fact that the Party’s Presidential candidate is from the Northeast zone, while the Director General of the Party’s Presidential campaign council, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state is from the Northwest, hence, for the purpose of fairness and inclusiveness the next most important office which is the national chairman should honourably go to the south. It is either this, or the party should be prepared to fail at the polls, as he threatened severally that Rivers state votes is not for charity, and that the support will only come if there is fairness, equity and oneness in the party.
Mr Wike has the seemingly staunch support of the Governors of Oyo, Benue, and Abia states, as well as former governor Donald Duke of Cross River state, and former deputy national chairman south of the party, Chief Olabode George.
However, Biztellers investigations have revealed that the major reason behind Mr Wike’s problems is not just his seemingly rambunctious attitude, but centres around his inability to honour a gentleman’s agreement between him and an array of political leaders in River’s state, especially those of the PDP extraction.
Some of these leaders are powerful in their rights and have their political interests around the state, and at the national level.
A highly placed source within the Governor’s circle informed this writer that the former Minister of Transport Dr Abiye Sekibo, and other leaders like Chief OCJ Okocha, and some other leaders have at different times approached Governor Wike to confirm if he had any candidate for the governorship primaries in Rivers state, and the Governor assured them that he had no candidate, as his interest is solely on his Presidential ambition. However, these leaders, including the Amanayabo (king) of Okochiri kingdom in Rivers state, King Ateke Tom, all tried to appeal to the Governor to make his successorship intentions known, but the governor reassured all of them that he has no such intentions and encouraged them all to sponsor their candidates of themselves if they so desired.
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It was however a rude shock to all these leaders to discover at the very last minute that the governor is not only interested in his successorship, but he is sponsoring the state Accountant General, Mr. Fubara Siminilaye, who was among other government officials recently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, over alleged N117 billion fraud linked to the State Government account. Fubara Siminilaye eventually won Rivers state Governorship primaries.
This move it was gathered, enraged some of these leaders, who not only control some of the party mechanisms in the state, but are also very close to the national leadership of the party, as well as the Presidential candidate of the party, Mr Atiku Abubakar, and they all immediately switched loyalty, directing their followers accordingly.
“This saw a direct blow to Governor Wike’s Presidential ambition, as over 15 of the delegates from Rivers state voted for Mr Atiku Abubakar, even as Governor Wike still won Rivers state votes during the primaries, but lost the total votes to the former Vice President.
After this blow, the Rivers state Governor also made behind the scene moves to emerge the Vice presidential candidate of the party, but these leaders from Rivers state, also joined others from within the party at the national level to frustrate any such moves, and that is part of the reason Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Rivers state emerged as the Vice Presidential candidate of the party.”
The Presidential candidate of the party has seemingly moved on with the presidential campaign and ignored all the outbursts of Governor Nyesom Wike who had threatened that River state votes will not go to the PDP if the National Chairman of the party is not removed for a southerner, the reason behind the Mr Atiku’s silence and ignorance of the Governor’s outbursts is traced to the stoic and unflinching support of these leaders from Rivers state, who have assured the Presidential candidate of the party that Rivers state is a traditional PDP state, and no amount of threats, rantings or outburst of the governor will change the voting pattern of the state in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential elections.
Speaking further, our source stated, “The party has moved on, and the Governor better wakes up and smell the coffee, as no amount of blackmail or outburst will force the party to change all its plans in order to satisfy one man. This could be seen in the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council; the Governor was an ordinary member with his name as number 13 on the list. If that is not enough sign that the party has moved on, then what else do you need to see? He queried.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has demanded the immediate disclosure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s whereabouts and health status following his absence from the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The NDC made the demand in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, on Monday, September 28, 2026, expressing what it described as “profound disappointment and grave concern” over Tinubu’s absence from the gathering of world leaders.
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According to the party, this marks the third consecutive time since Tinubu assumed office in 2023 that the President has failed to attend UNGA in person.
The NDC said Nigerians had for weeks been told by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, that President Tinubu would attend the General Assembly and would be seated close to United States President Donald Trump.
The party, however, said the Presidency announced on September 20 that Vice President Kashim Shettima had been “mandated” to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA.
The NDC also questioned Tinubu’s reported extended stay in Europe, saying the President left Nigeria on August 30 and extended his stay in Paris indefinitely.
The party alleged that the President had spent more than three weeks outside the country on what it described as a “so-called vacation” without formally transmitting power.
The NDC described the situation as “unpresidential, unconstitutional, and unacceptable,” arguing that the country had been left without the President physically present in Nigeria and without the President attending the UNGA.
NDC Raises Constitutional Questions
The party cited Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
The NDC alleged that Tinubu did not formally transmit such a declaration during his extended absence.
The party questioned why, in its words, the President was “always afraid” of transmitting a written declaration to the National Assembly.
It further alleged that at one point Nigeria was effectively on “autopilot,” claiming that the President, Vice President and Senate President were all outside the country.
The NDC therefore called for compliance with Section 145 whenever the President is away or unable to perform the functions of his office.
NDC Questions Diplomatic Cost Of UNGA Absence
The party also challenged the significance of Nigeria being represented by the Vice President rather than the President at the UNGA.
The NDC argued that the annual gathering is more than the formal speeches delivered by world leaders, stressing that UNGA provides opportunities for presidents and heads of government to hold bilateral meetings and negotiate issues affecting their countries.
According to the party, such engagements include discussions on foreign direct investment, debt relief, climate finance, global financial reforms and security cooperation.
The NDC claimed that Nigeria’s absence at the presidential level could result in what it described as losses in direct foreign investment engagements, leverage on global financial reform, strategic security partnerships and Nigeria’s international standing.
The party also argued that the development could diminish Nigeria’s position as the “Giant of Africa.”
It maintained that presidential diplomacy cannot simply be outsourced to representatives.
NDC Contrasts Nigeria’s UNGA Presence With Ghana
The NDC further compared Nigeria’s representation at UNGA with the participation of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
The party said Mahama delivered what it described as a “statesmanlike performance” at UNGA 81, addressing issues including Africa’s position on debt justice, climate reparations and restoring trust in multilateralism.
The NDC said that while Ghana commanded attention at the gathering, Nigeria’s presidential seat was empty.
“Mahama spoke for Africa; Nigeria was spoken for,” the party stated.
NDC Criticises 15-Minute Speech Explanation
The party also criticised comments attributed to Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim concerning the duration of a presidential speech at the General Assembly.
The NDC said the argument that President Tinubu could not travel to New York merely “to speak for just 15 minutes” demonstrated, in its view, a misunderstanding of international diplomacy.
According to the party, every world leader is allocated a limited speaking period at the General Assembly, but the importance of UNGA extends beyond the formal speeches.
The NDC argued that the remaining time is used for high-level bilateral engagements, negotiations and diplomatic interactions, describing these activities as the “corridor diplomacy” through which important international decisions are pursued.
The party said the President’s absence therefore meant that Nigeria could not personally participate in those presidential-level engagements.
NDC Issues Three Demands
The NDC called for the immediate disclosure of President Tinubu’s whereabouts and health status.
It also demanded that the President comply with Section 145 of the Constitution whenever he is proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office.
The party further called for an end to what it described as an “imperial presidency” that treats accountability as an afterthought.
The NDC said Nigeria, with more than 200 million citizens, could not be effectively governed through delegation and press releases.
“A nation of over 200 million people cannot be run by delegation and press release. Nigeria deserves a president who is present,” the statement said.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received political office seekers formerly affiliated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and their supporters from four states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defectors are from Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states.
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The group, led by Mohammed Hassan Mai Solar and Aslan Aliyu, said their decision to join the ruling APC was influenced by what they described as the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
They also cited the political structure of the APC, which they said promotes trust, a level playing field and justice for all.
Receiving the defectors, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, highlighted what he described as major transformations taking place across Northern Nigeria.
Yilwatda pointed to developments in road infrastructure, energy reforms, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and various empowerment initiatives as notable programmes of the Tinubu administration.
He urged the new members and their supporters to rally behind the APC, stressing the importance of continuity and progress.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election, with its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, directing officials to identify and close operational gaps ahead of the polls.
Amupitan gave the directive on Monday in Kaduna during the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.
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The meeting forms part of INEC’s six-zone national readiness assessment aimed at evaluating the Commission’s preparedness, identifying challenges affecting its field operations and developing practical solutions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Declaring the North-West zonal engagement open, Amupitan said the exercise was aimed at strengthening the foundations of the country’s electoral process and ensuring that avoidable weaknesses do not undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
He stressed that the success of any election is largely determined at the grassroots, particularly at the Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres and polling units where electoral officials interact directly with voters.
“The true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman urged staff to use the engagement to present practical challenges confronting election administration in their respective areas and work with the Commission’s headquarters to develop solutions before election day.
He said INEC was building on lessons from recent elections as it prepares for the larger national assignment in 2027.
Amupitan also warned electoral officials against partisan conduct and administrative negligence, stressing that neutrality and professionalism among field personnel would be critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
As part of its preparations for the 2027 elections, the Commission is also scheduled to commence Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection on October 9.
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