The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has firmly stated that he will not step down from his role, despite mounting pressure from certain party leaders. He specifically accused Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State of spearheading a coordinated effort to oust him before the end of his term. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Anyanwu described the ongoing crisis as politically driven and lacking any constitutional basis. “There is no vacancy in the office of the National Secretary of the PDP. I remain the duly elected National Secretary, with my tenure valid until December 2025,” he declared. Anyanwu clarified that he had only taken a leave of absence to contest the 2023 Imo State governorship election and had formally informed both the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “I sent official letters to the party and to INEC before going on leave, and they were acknowledged. My deputy simply held the fort in my absence. At no point did I resign,” he said. He emphasized that the office of the National Secretary is zoned to the South and further micro-zoned to the South-East, with Imo State specifically designated to produce the nominee. He questioned the legitimacy of moves to install a replacement from Enugu State. “If the zoning principle is to be respected, any replacement must come from Imo State, not Enugu. Governor Mbah is pushing for a replacement that violates the PDP’s own zoning formula,” Anyanwu stated. He alleged that Hon. Ali Odefa, a former South-East National Vice Chairman, was behind the campaign against him, using false information to mislead Governor Mbah and others. The party leader stated that Odefa had been expelled and no longer had any legal standing within the party. “Odefa’s tenure expired in March. He was expelled from the party and the High Court confirmed it. He has no business attending or convening any PDP meeting,” he explained. Citing a High Court judgment from January 26, 2025, Anyanwu emphasized the legal weight of the decision, which he said rendered any action taken by Odefa or his allies illegal and invalid. He also rejected reports of an impending coalition or merger involving the PDP, asserting that the party is not part of any alliance talks. “There is no coalition. PDP is not merging with anyone. Other parties can join us if they like, but we are not surrendering our identity,” Anyanwu declared. The PDP secretary further expressed frustration over internal sabotage during the last governorship election, alleging that some party leaders withheld support despite his longstanding commitment to the party. He explained, “I contested that election without a kobo from the party. None of those now calling for my resignation helped me. Yet they want me out?” Anyanwu warned that any action aimed at removing him could legally invalidate all PDP activities conducted under his watch since November 2023, including congresses and candidate nominations. “If my office is nullified, then every action I’ve taken, every congress and nomination, is also null and void. That means PDP has no structure nationwide,” he cautioned. Anyanwu appealed for calm and unity ahead of the party’s next convention, urging leaders to put aside personal ambition for the collective good of the PDP. He said, “Let us go in peace. We came into this as a family. Let’s not destroy the house because of selfish interests.”

The Labour Party (LP) on Monday clarified that no automatic ticket will be given to any aspiring presidential candidate. This was stated by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, in response to former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi’s comment that he might seek the party’s ticket again. Speaking at an event in Abuja, Obi said he would consider running on the LP platform “for now.” In reaction, Ifoh said the party did not celebrate the report but emphasized that it has no objection to Obi contesting. The statement reads: “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to the news trending in the media that the party is “celebrating” that its candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has declared his intention to run on the platform of the party in 2027. “I want to state emphatically that I was quoted out of context and therefore, the impression conveyed by the news was erroneous, inaccurate and does not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party. “First, while we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general election, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge and automatic ticket is not one of the routes. “Recall that at the party’s National Convention in 2024, the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former Presidential candidate and the only governor of the party, however, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that it is not bound by any agreements involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stressing that such arrangements are personal and do not represent the party’s official position. This clarification comes amid an escalating internal crisis that threatens the party’s unity and cohesion. According to the PDP’s National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyengikuro, the party had no role in any deals made by Wike. “What agreements are we talking about? Wike had agreements with his friends, not with the party. “Those names he mentioned — are they the party? The party was not involved in any agreements he made. We have no knowledge of such agreements,” he stated. Woyengikuro stressed the need for the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, which is its highest decision-making organ apart from the convention — to convene and address the growing disputes. “The NEC will address any issues. This isn’t a physical fight or a man-to-man confrontation. All this unnecessary drama is uncalled for,” he added. He also dismissed Wike’s public accusations, advising Nigerians to seek official party positions from the appropriate authorities.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday dismissed recent endorsements of President Bola Tinubu by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and stakeholders, describing them as signs of panic and desperation. Atiku expressed confidence in the opposition coalition’s ability to unseat the APC in the 2027 elections, while the PDP cited growing public discontent over Tinubu’s leadership and economic policies. Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, said the coalition remains unshaken by the endorsements, comparing their preparedness to that of a well-prepared student heading into an exam. 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.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced his withdrawal from all previous agreements aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), declaring his determination to “fight on until justice is served.” Wike revealed that he had told Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that he holds him responsible for the current troubles in the party. According to Wike, he informed Governor Makinde that the party’s crisis stemmed from a consistent failure to honor agreements, identifying Makinde as the chief violator of such accords. He expressed his stance in a personally signed statement titled, “PDP Crisis: My Position,” released to Vanguard on Sunday. The Minister maintained that all parties must respect the agreements reached—namely, the affirmation of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary in line with the Supreme Court ruling, the withdrawal of all legal cases involving Rivers State by the National Legal Adviser, and the discontinuation of the state of emergency lawsuit—emphasizing that no party should stray from these resolutions. The statement read: “Since after the 2023 general election, 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. “To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements with a view to stabilizing the party and moving it forward. “To this end, a meeting of the G5 was held in Lagos. “In that meeting, I made it clear to the Governor of Oyo State, H.E. Seyi Makinde, that he was the architect of our problems, pointing out to him that non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly. At the end of the meeting, we resolved to bury the hatchet and make progress. “As a follow-up to the aforementioned meeting, there was an expanded meeting in Abuja involving H.E. Seyi Makinde, H.E. Umaru Fintri, H.E. Bala Mohammed, H.E. Bukola Saraki, and in Saraki’s guest house. In that meeting, I made it clear that I had no personal problems with H.E. Bala Mohammed, except that he hides under the facade of Chairman of PDP Governors Forum to serially renege on agreements. The resolutions “Tensions rose mightily in the meeting and it took all concerned to calm frayed nerves. At the end of the meeting, we came to some resolutions, including: “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. “In the light of the foregoing, they pleaded with me to attend the stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge, regardless of my many engagements. I attended the meeting and clearly reiterated my earlier concerns, and to this end and in order to resolve all other lingering and pending issues, a committee was formed, headed by H.E. Bukola Saraki. “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. Seyi Makinde “To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba 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. I have since granted an interview to the effect that, that resolution of the South-East leaders cannot hold. “Again, 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. To attempt to give credence to this farce, a letter was written by the Deputy National Secretary, calling for a meeting of the NEC of the party. “Furthermore, the letter confirming the candidacy of the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra State, duly signed by the National Secretary, Senator Anyanwu and the acting National Chairman, was portrayed as rejected by the party through a rebuttal letter signed by the National Publicity Secretary, acting on the orders of Seyi Makinde and Peter Mba. “All these actions are in complete violation of the agreements reached and would not do the party any good whatsoever. “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 of the party. INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognized by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was not a signatory to the invitation notice. “This is undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, to say the least. “I have painstakingly put out all these facts so that PDP members and the general public would know the truth. I have been in this party since 1998 and have worked tirelessly for the survival of this party with all my strength and it is on record that none of these persons have done anything close to what I have done to sustain this party. “What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so. “Most importantly, 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.” Vanguard

The Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has confirmed he will run in the 2027 general election under the LP banner. He gave this assurance in a 7-minute, 16-second video shared on the party’s WhatsApp platform on Saturday while addressing a group of young supporters. Obi told his audience that the perceived internal crises within the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bear clear signs of government interference. In response to a question on which platform he intended to contest the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.” While answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the LP’s crisis, the former Anambra State Governor said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere. “We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.” “But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity. “Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.” He charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count because, even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.

Former governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State have been appointed by the League of Northern Democrats (LND), a newly emerging political movement, to lead crucial coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections. Their appointments come just 48 hours after key opposition figures agreed to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their preferred platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. The roles were formally assigned to the former governors on Thursday during an expanded meeting of the LND held in Abuja. Umar Ardo, the meeting's convener, disclosed the appointments at the conclusion of the session. However, he did not reveal the political allies or broader movement the LND intends to collaborate with in its efforts to thwart Tinubu's second-term ambition. Ardo noted that the LND would finalize its strategies and unveil its operational roadmap at a follow-up meeting scheduled for May 30, 2025, in Abuja. Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, Ardo said “we just finished our deliberation and we have resolved basically eight issues. First, we approve our constitution as an association of Northern Nigeria. We approve the leadership of the LND. “The committee for fusing into another political party was headed by Governor Lyel Imoke. “The committee for registering a new political party was chaired by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Ardo was the secretary of that subcommittee”.

Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly backed President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, despite his father’s recent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Bello, who represents Kaduna North in the House of Representatives, was present at the APC National Summit in Abuja, where Tinubu was officially endorsed as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. His endorsement comes shortly after his father left the APC in March 2025, stating that the party no longer aligned with his principles. Nasir El-Rufai joined the SDP and vowed to rally the opposition to unseat the APC in 2027. Bello’s stance has sparked mixed reactions. Activist Reno Omokri took a jab, saying, “If El-Rufai can’t convince his son to leave Tinubu, how will he convince Nigerians?” The El-Rufai family’s political rift intensified last year when another son, Bashir El-Rufai, launched online attacks against Tinubu and Kaduna Governor Uba Sani. He predicted their loss in 2027 and dismissed the N423 billion corruption probe against his father as politically driven. He tweeted, “Nobody is too big to be ‘elected out of office’ by the people. It will happen & wallahi nothing will happen. So forget all these intimidations flying up and down. Let us be patient.”

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday expressed confidence that more politicians would join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the APC Renewed Hope Agenda Summit held at the State House Conference Centre, Tinubu said he was pleased with his administration’s progress and the party’s achievements so far. He remarked that he couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to stay on “a sinking ship without a life jacket,” suggesting that defections were a natural part of political dynamics. The event, attended by party leaders, the APC National Working Committee, National Assembly leadership, and the Progressive Governors’ Forum—comprising 22 governors—also saw a unanimous endorsement of Tinubu for a second term. According to a statement from his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized that his administration’s commitment to economic reforms aimed at long-term benefits continues to receive praise both domestically and internationally. “A one-party system is not suitable for democracy. We are one party ruling and carrying on with the aspirations of Nigerians. “You don’t expect people to remain in a sinking ship without a life jacket. I am happy with what we have accomplished and expecting more people to come; that’s the game,” he was qouted as saying. The President said citizens have the constitutional right to choose between associations. “I thank every one of you. I am thoroughly inspired. We are just halfway through the journey that started 24 months ago,” he said. The President thanked members of the Federal Executive Council for courageously pursuing the vision of a better Nigeria and the party leadership and National Assembly for their support. “Together, we pledged to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding the trust, fostering prosperity and restoring our nation’s economic quest.

Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has confirmed that his principal, along with other prominent politicians such as Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, are in discussions about forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. He made this known on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, affirming reports of a potential alliance aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Well, you and I know that there have been ongoing discussions between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders: Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai,” Ibe said on the show. “Yes, it’s out there in the open. Discussion is still ongoing, and at the end of that discussion, they will come out with a position and the direction that we’re going to follow based on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.” In 2019, Atiku and Obi contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the presidential election. The ex-vice president was the party’s candidate then. Although they lost the election to Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there have been speculations that both heavyweights will fly the same ticket in the next presidential election. When asked if both men would be on the same ticket, Ibe said, “What I’m saying, in effect, is that that ticket was viable in 2019, and it’s still viable today. “But it is left to the individuals to be able to come to a determination as to how they proceed. So, let us not go ahead of them. They are talking,” Ibe said. Talks about a coalition have gained mileage in the country owing to what many attribute to the crisis rocking the major opposition PDP and other parties. El-Rufai, who served two terms as governor of Kaduna State under the APC, exited the party earlier this year, citing a mix of personal and political reasons. He has since aligned himself with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which many believe could serve as the base for the emerging coalition. Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has downplayed the idea of joining a political coalition. The former Anambra governor maintains that his focus is on forming a coalition to tackle poverty and other pressing challenges facing Nigeria.