Senate Minority Leader and prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Abba Moro, has hinted at the possibility of Peter Obi and former President Goodluck Jonathan rejoining the party. The Benue South Senator made this known on Tuesday during an interview on *Politics Today*, a Channels Television programme, where he disclosed that discussions are ongoing regarding their potential return to the PDP. “In the run-up to 2027, I am aware certain individuals have been talking to Peter Obi, ‘Hey, come back home, this is what we are likely to do, and if you come, you stand a chance of being the candidate’,” Moro said on the show. Responding to a question about the possibility of former President Jonathan returning to PDP, Moro said, “Well, some persons are talking to the former president, to come and run, and it’s a possibility. “But [there are] those who fear constitutionalism, based on how many times he has been sworn into office, and those who are warning it might be dangerous, but there’s nothing dangerous there. “You recall that in 2015 when former President Jonathan wanted to run, there were cries all over the case about the constitutionality of his candidature, but eventually it was settled even by the court, that he was qualified to run, and that is why he ran.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Delta State has called on eligible residents to take part in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to secure their right to vote in future elections. Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Umoren, made the appeal on Tuesday in Asaba at the official flag-off of the exercise. He noted that biometric capturing had commenced smoothly across designated centres in all 25 local government areas of the state. ”I advise all eligible voters to come out and register; your voter’s card is your strength. If you have not registered, you cannot vote. ”I implore all and request all those that are yet to register to do so . And for those who have misplaced their cards, there are provisions for us to replace your voter’s card. ”For all those who for whatever reason or circumstances beyond their control could not register earlier, there are provisions for fresh registration. ”And those that have just reached the age of 18, they are eligible to vote. So every eligible voter is allowed to come and register. ”There is also provision for online registration, which makes it easier. “You can sit at home and fill the necessary requirement and by the time you visit the registration centre, within few moments you will be done,” Umoren said. Umoren said although he was impressed with the turnout so far there were some people who were waiting for the closing day to avoid last minute rush.

The Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACON) has faulted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, branding the move as unjust, undemocratic, and a betrayal of the North’s long-standing loyalty to the party. Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna on Tuesday, JACON warned that the PDP’s decision amounted to political marginalization and could have “grave consequences” for the party in the upcoming elections. The group argued that despite being the backbone of the PDP’s electoral victories since 1999, the North has only produced a president for two and a half years, compared to the South’s thirteen and a half years under PDP administrations. “It is undeniable historical fact that the North was shortchanged during PDP’s 16 years in power. While the South dominated the presidency for over a decade, the North barely had two and a half years. To now zone the ticket back to the South in 2027 is a deliberate attempt to permanently sideline the region,” JACON stated. JACON insisted that fairness and equity require the PDP to return the presidential ticket to the North, stressing that the region deserves the chance to complete its share of leadership. “The North can no longer continue to be the political beast of burden for a party that only uses its votes but denies it leadership. If this injustice is not corrected, we will mobilize our entire structures to respond appropriately at the polls,” the statement read. The committee further disclosed plans to convene an emergency meeting of all its affiliate organizations to map out a “comprehensive strategy” against the PDP’s zoning decision. It also urged Northern political, traditional, and religious leaders to resist what it termed “a brazen act of exclusion,” declaring that “the time for silent acquiescence is over.” The statement was signed by Ambassador Sanin Yaya, JACON’s Director of Media and Public Affairs.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zone Caretaker Committee, Emmanuel Ogidi, has warned that the party will not spare any member found engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Ogidi dismissed speculations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had a hand in the recent decision to zone the PDP presidential ticket to the South. When asked about the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other PDP members openly backing President Bola Tinubu, Ogidi stated: “We are watching our members, and of course, any party that does not have discipline cannot succeed. We will discipline any erring members.” He further accused the APC of attempting to destabilise the South but maintained that such efforts had failed. “APC have been running towards the South because they want to destabilise the South; they are trying to weaken us in the South, but they failed,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified Umar Damagum as its substantive National Chairman. The decision was reached during the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday. Damagum, who has been serving as Acting National Chairman for over a year, was formally elevated ahead of the party’s National Elective Convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He was officially sworn in by the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has stated that the party grew stronger following the defection of some of its chieftains to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The Forum, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Emmanuel Agbo, said the defectors resorted to “irresponsible verbal attacks” after discovering they had joined a “one-chance vehicle.” It likened their departure to the Biblical story of the prodigal son, stressing that their exit restored peace within the party. The Forum further noted that while the PDP has become more formidable, its doors remain open to welcome back repentant members who show genuine remorse. “Since their exit, the PDP has become much more formidable and focused, with clear determination to have our eyes on the ball. “The ADC before now, with their inordinate sense of entitlement, constituted a huge clog to the wheel of national unity and harmony. “The security situation in the country was of grave concern to the PDP governors, which took centre stage in our deliberation and resolution as contained in the communique. “That the ADC couldn’t see that much isn’t surprising, as the prodigal son wasn’t known to have any pity on his father’s fortune,” the Forum said.

As Delta State marks its 34th anniversary, renowned peace and environmental rights advocate, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to focus more on addressing infrastructural deficits in riverine communities rather than spending public funds on extravagant celebrations. Mulade, in a congratulatory message to the governor and people of Delta, praised the strides recorded since the state’s creation in 1991, but lamented the continued neglect of oil-rich Ijaw and Itsekiri areas despite their contributions to the state’s economy through petroleum and the blue economy. He said, \*"Permit me to specially felicitate with Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State on this momentous occasion of Delta State at 34, and the giant strides of your governance of our dear Delta State. "It is exactly 34 years today that Delta State was created, and I celebrate not just our 34th Anniversary and togetherness as a people, but the relative peace, unity and progress we have witnessed and enjoyed in the past 34 years. We celebrate our founding fathers and the grace of God that has kept us together as one indivisible state, in spite of our cultural, linguistic, and environmental diversity."\* The Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, however, decried the lack of basic infrastructure in riverine communities, urging the governor to emulate former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, who constructed the Bomadi and Omadino bridges during difficult times in the Niger Delta. Mulade specifically appealed for the commencement of the **Ayakoromo Bridge project and the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Kokodiagbene road**, describing them as vital economic lifelines for Burutu and Warri South-West LGAs. He also called for the upgrading of the Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, into a full-fledged university with a maritime focus to harness opportunities in the blue economy. Rejecting the idea of pomp and pageantry, he advised: *"I wish to strongly advise Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to change the narrative of celebrating the state creation with taxpayers' money in political funfair, which is a waste of resources, but His Excellency should rather use Delta State at 34 to flag-off construction of economically viable projects such as the Ayakoromo bridge and the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Kokodiagbene road, among others alongside the recent approved flyovers at Agbor and Ughelli."* Mulade concluded by saluting past and present leaders for their commitment to statehood while urging the Oborevwori administration to engrave its name in gold by delivering tangible development to the neglected riverine areas.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims that he is desperate to become Nigeria’s president, stressing that his focus is on rescuing the nation from its current challenges. Speaking on Saturday in response to critics who insist he should step aside for younger aspirants, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained that leadership for him is about service, not desperation. Atiku, who has contested the presidency twice under the PDP, has often faced accusations of being overly ambitious. However, addressing a ceremony in Lagos organised to welcome some PDP and Labour Party leaders into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he was the guest speaker, he reiterated that his mission is national redemption. Represented at the event by Prof. Ola Olateju, the Adamawa-born politician said his ultimate vision is to build a country that Nigerians everywhere can be proud of. “It’s not about Atiku having to be president at all costs,” he said. According to him, the African Democratic Congress should not been regarded as a political party but is a movement through which Nigerians have decided to change bad governance The movement, according to him, is aimed at repositioning the country and taking it to great heights.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused the Federal Government of intimidation and anti-democratic practices during the recently concluded by-elections across the country. In response, the Presidency dismissed the allegations as unfounded, insisting that the PDP governors were merely expressing frustration over their losses at the polls. The by-elections, held on August 9 to fill vacant senatorial and House of Representatives seats following resignations and deaths of previous occupants, were marred by allegations of vote-buying, violence, and low voter turnout. At the end of the exercise, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victories in 12 constituencies, while the PDP managed to win only one. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) claimed two seats, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won one. However, the PDP and other opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the NNPP, rejected the results, alleging that the ruling party deployed federal might to manipulate the elections in several states. The PDP governors, while calling on party members to resist efforts to derail the forthcoming convention, described the PDP as the only true democratic institution and credible alternative capable of restoring Nigeria to the path of good governance and development. “The Forum reaffirms its full commitment to the resolutions of the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 2025 regarding the November 15 National Convention. “It urges members to resist all attempts to derail the convention by anti-party forces; but to see the PDP as the only democratic institution and viable alternative for restoring Nigeria along the path of good governance and national development,” the communiqué partly read. The meeting, presided over by the Forum’s Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, focused extensively on national issues, including insecurity, the erosion of democratic values, and preparations for the party’s upcoming national convention. The Forum applauded the resilience of PDP leaders and members in withstanding orchestrated defections, emphasizing that such distractions cannot erode the party’s grassroots strength or dampen Nigerians’ desire for affordable living and relative security, which they said was better guaranteed under PDP-led governments. Reaffirming their commitment to rescuing the country, the governors accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pursuing divisive policies and governance that continue to inflict hardship on citizens. Meanwhile, on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, voiced his displeasure over the South-South Caretaker Committee set up by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), as well as the retention of Ali Odefa as National Vice Chairman (South East). Wike cautioned that a fresh crisis could loom if the PDP leadership failed to recognize the zonal congress that produced his ally, Dan Orbih, as the duly elected National Vice Chairman for the South-South.

The build-up to the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State has thrown the political landscape into heightened tension, as indications emerge that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalists are being sidelined while former Governor Nyesom Wike intensifies his grip on the state’s political machinery. The polls, expected to serve as a litmus test for the two power blocs in the state, are already shaping up as a fierce battleground between the sitting governor and his estranged political benefactor. Sources within the state capital, Port Harcourt, say that while Fubara’s men appear “largely in the dark” regarding key arrangements for the elections, Wike and his allies have been strategically positioning themselves to retake control of the state’s political structure—this time with an eye on delivering Rivers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027. Wike’s Calculated Moves Political analysts note that Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has never hidden his determination to remain relevant in Rivers politics. His enduring influence over the state assembly and his strategic alliances within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) point to an elaborate plan aimed at consolidating his base. Reliable sources confirm that meetings have been held between Wike’s loyalists and top APC figures, with a focus on how to leverage the forthcoming LG polls as a testing ground for a stronger foothold in the state. “Wike is determined to show that he is still the master of the game in Rivers,” one source said. “For him, it’s about controlling the grassroots ahead of national politics in 2027.” Fubara’s Camp in Dilemma On the other hand, Governor Fubara’s camp appears to be grappling with uncertainty. Many of his aides and loyalists reportedly lack clarity about candidate selections, the role of the state electoral commission, and the broader strategy for the polls. Observers say Fubara, though legally vested with executive powers, is contending with “political ambush” orchestrated by Wike’s camp, leaving his men unsure of their standing. The governor’s loyalists fear that without access to full election machinery, they may be outmaneuvered at the grassroots level—a critical base of legitimacy in Rivers politics. Tinubu’s Interest The involvement of President Tinubu looms large over the unfolding drama. Analysts suggest that Wike’s maneuvers are not solely for personal survival but also tailored to assure Tinubu of Rivers State as a secure political stronghold in future elections. By reclaiming control of the LG structure, Wike could guarantee that the state aligns firmly with the presidency, thus increasing his bargaining power within the APC and the national political space. Rising Tensions Among the Electorate Meanwhile, the Rivers electorate is watching with mixed feelings. While some fear that the fierce rivalry between Wike and Fubara could destabilize the state, others see the LG polls as a chance for the governor to prove his independence. Civil society groups in Port Harcourt have already called for a transparent and credible electoral process, warning that manipulation or exclusion could heighten political unrest. What Lies Ahead As the LG polls draw closer, all eyes will remain on Rivers State—the theatre of one of Nigeria’s most dramatic political tussles in recent times. Whether Governor Fubara can break free from Wike’s shadow or whether the former governor will successfully reassert dominance on behalf of Tinubu remains the question. What is clear, however, is that the outcome of the elections will reverberate beyond Rivers, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the South-South and influencing the national political map as Nigeria marches toward 2027.