Politics

2027: Jonathan pledged active role in PDP, says Turaki

Published

8 months ago

January 7, 2026

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to take a more active role in the activities and affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to the party’s National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki (SAN).

Turaki disclosed this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the former President in Abuja on Tuesday.

Turaki arrived at Jonathan’s Maitama office alongside the entire National Working Committee, former governors, founding fathers, and a few selected state chairmen at about 5:45 pm in six SUVs.

The meeting lasted about one hour and 30 minutes.

Last year, it was rumoured that Jonathan would seek re-election in 2027 after the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South.

The rumoured re-election ambition sparked legal debates on Jonathan’s eligibility to run. The ex-President was, however, mum, neither confirming nor denying the presidential ambition.

Speaking in the company of other party leaders, Turaki noted that not all political crises can be resolved through the courts.

He stated, “We came this evening to visit one of our very important leaders, former President of Nigeria, President Ebele Jonathan. First, to introduce members of the newly elected National Working Committee to him, and then to tell him what we have been doing since our election at the National Convention held last November in Ibadan.

“We briefed him on the state of the party, the challenges, and the prospects. On this visit, we were accompanied by former governors, members of the Board of Trustees, founding fathers and founding mothers, the Forum of State Chairmen, in addition to other leaders of the party, including former ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We solicited, as usual, his support, guidance, and advice. We received his assurance that he is still a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, remains active, and will be even more active in the activities and affairs of the PDP.

“He also assured us that the PDP has done everything for him that can be done for an individual and that he still feels obligated to the party. His remarks and statements were not only reassuring but very encouraging as we prepare for off-season elections in Ekiti and Osun this year, as well as the 2027 general elections.”

When asked about the former President’s recommendations for resolving the PDP crisis, Turaki said Jonathan offered valuable suggestions that would not be made public but would be acted upon accordingly.

The PDP chairman reaffirmed that the party remains the strongest and most credible platform for contesting and winning elections in Nigeria.

He continued, “We remain the leading opposition party in this country, and this new leadership of the PDP is taking the party back to the people, who are the true owners of the party. In doing so, there will be a level playing field, inclusivity, and an end to impunity. We will not allow people to take what does not belong to them. We will listen to Nigerians. Whatever Nigerians want is what we will give them. Whatever Nigerians want is what they will have as far as this leadership is concerned.

“This is the party that belongs to the Nigerian people, and that is why we are called the Peoples Democratic Party. So, we informed the former President about the prospects and challenges facing the party, including the legal battles. As a senior lawyer, I explained to him the details of the matters at the Court of Appeal and the prospects for the party. He is fully informed and still believes, as we all do, that the PDP is the party for Nigerians.”

On the possibility of political solutions to the party’s crisis, Turaki said the leadership would only engage with individuals who are genuinely willing to reconcile.

He continued, “Even when you win a war, you must still win the battle. I believe not every political disagreement should go to court. However, all the cases before the courts were instituted against the PDP, not by the PDP. We have a responsibility to defend the party.

“After the legal processes, we will still engage those who show remorse and willingness to remain loyal party members. When we were sworn in, we stated clearly that we would reach out to all aggrieved members. We need all hands on deck for the task ahead. We will sit down with those genuinely interested in reconciliation. We will reconcile and move forward together as one big PDP family.”

All attempts to get Jonathan to comment on the meeting or state his views on the issues were unsuccessful, as the former President merely escorted his visitors out and returned inside shortly afterwards.

Those present at the meeting included former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu; former Minister of Information and National Orientation and PDP founding father, Prof. Jerry Gana; National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja; National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong; and Deputy National Secretary, Richard Ihediwa.

PDP governors had earlier approved the Ibadan convention, at which Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee were elected on November 16 for a four-year tenure.

However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside his allies, Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Anyanwu, maintained that they continued to occupy the offices of acting National Chairman and acting National Secretary, respectively.

Although the governors oversaw a smooth transition from former acting PDP Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki ahead of the official expiration of Damagum’s tenure on December 9, the Wike-aligned faction proceeded on December 8 to constitute a 13-member caretaker committee, naming Mohammed, Anyanwu and others, with a 60-day mandate.

Since then, both factions have been seeking official recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission. As a result, INEC has declined to recognise any individual as the PDP candidate for the Ekiti election.

Meanwhile, several lawsuits challenging the PDP’s national leadership are currently pending before different courts at various levels.

Despite these developments, the Turaki-led National Working Committee has continued consultations with elder statesmen over the crisis. Beyond Jonathan, the committee had also held meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, and former Minister of Defence, T. Y. Danjuma.

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Politics

Tinubu’s Group Consider Begging Peter Obi To Step Down

Published

2 minutes ago

August 30, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Southeast chapter of the Renewed Hope for Greater Nigeria (RHGN) has launched a political initiative aimed at convincing former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to abandon his 2027 presidential bid and support President Bola Tinubu.

It was reports that the group said it plans to enlist the intervention of prominent Igbo leaders, whom it believes can persuade Obi to reconsider his decision to contest the presidency and embrace what it described as a broader political arrangement between the Southeast and Southwest.

The Southeast coordinator of RHGN, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, revealed the plan in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday after a meeting of the organisation’s members.

Ngoforo said the group would reach out to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, headed by Senator John Azuta Mbata, as well as respected Igbo figures, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and former Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe.

He said the proposed delegation would be asked to meet with Obi and appeal to him to reconsider his decision to seek the presidency in 2027.

According to Ngoforo, the purpose of the intervention would not be to question Obi’s political standing or diminish his influence among Nigerians.

Instead, he said the former governor would be encouraged to consider the Southeast’s long-term political interests and whether postponing his presidential ambition could produce greater benefits for the region.

The RHGN leader argued that the Southeast needed to approach the 2027 election with a longer-term political strategy.

He said rather than concentrating exclusively on whether an Igbo candidate wins the presidency in 2027, the region should explore alliances that could improve its prospects of producing a President at a later date.

Ngoforo identified the Southwest as a potential strategic partner, arguing that the Southeast should consider what it could gain from establishing a mutually beneficial political arrangement with the region.

He noted that if Tinubu wins re-election in 2027, he would be constitutionally limited to one further term. The Southeast, he argued, could use the period to cultivate political goodwill and negotiate reciprocal commitments ahead of the eventual transfer of power.

According to him, supporting the Southwest at the present stage could help create an understanding that would strengthen the Southeast’s claim when presidential power next rotates within the southern region.

Ngoforo maintained that political calculations should not be restricted to a single electoral cycle.

He appealed to Obi to view a decision to withdraw from the 2027 race as a strategic postponement rather than abandoning his presidential ambition.

He said such a move could allow the Southeast to build stronger relationships with other regions and secure commitments that could become useful in a future presidential contest.

“The issue is bigger than one election and bigger than one individual,” Ngoforo said.

He explained that the central concern should be how the Southeast could transform present political alliances into concrete benefits and stronger opportunities to occupy the presidency in the future.

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Politics

Go To Court And Present Evidence Tinubu Is 90 Years Old – Presidency Replies Atiku

Published

15 minutes ago

August 30, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has reacted to claims by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, that his principal is 90 years old.

It was recalls that Atiku, in an interview with the BBC, claimed he had evidence that Tinubu is 90 years old.

Reacting to the allegation, Ajayi told Nigerian Tribune that the former vice president’s allegation was the last kick of a dying horse.

He said Atiku’s claim was driven by desperation to become president.

“For former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, this is the last kick of a dying horse. He will stop at nothing in his desperation for the presidency of Nigeria. He is racing against time in his quest for the fulfilment of his marabouts’ prophecy,” he said.

Ajayi said Atiku’s focus on Tinubu’s personal life was inconsistent with his stated intention to campaign on issues affecting Nigerians.

“We are at a loss as to why a man who said he wants to run his campaign on issues that affect the lives of Nigerians has reduced his chance of ever realising his elusive ambition to the personal life of President Tinubu.

“It is ridiculous to claim President Tinubu is 90 years old. Alhaji Atiku wakes up every day to say whatever comes to his mouth with the hope that his failing campaign will gain traction,” the presidential aide said.

He also claimed that Atiku was using his personal attacks on Tinubu to draw attention to his campaign after failing to convince Nigerians about his position on fuel subsidy.

Ajayi also accused Atiku of using personal attacks against Tinubu to draw attention to his campaign after failing to convince Nigerians about his position on fuel subsidy.

He said Atiku had become “incoherent and flip-flopping on policy issues” while offering different explanations for his proposal to restore fuel subsidy.

“When he could not convince Nigerians of the soundness and workability of his new fuel subsidy prescription, the only way he hopes to remain in the news cycle and keep his floundering campaign alive is to increase the volume of personal attacks on the president.

“Let him go to court to present the evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old. He has failed everywhere against President Tinubu, moving from court to court. He failed in his numerous court cases against President Tinubu in the United States and Nigeria in the last election cycle. He will fail again this time around,” Ajayi said.

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Politics

Adelabu backs down, seeks APC reconciliation ahead of 2027 in Oyo

Published

2 days ago

August 28, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, on Thursday backed down from pursuing legal action over the party’s governorship primary, urging the APC leadership to initiate a comprehensive reconciliation process ahead of the 2027 election.

Adelabu, in a statement released in Ibadan, the state capital, said his decision was not due to a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction, but was taken in the interest of the party’s progress ahead of the 2027 elections.

He explained that the decision followed a meeting with some party leaders and representatives of his loyalists and supporters from across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards in the state.

The PUNCH reports that some Oyo APC governorship aspirants have been at loggerheads with the state and national executive members of the party over the nomination of Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

They alleged that Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was imposed on them.

Adelabu, in his statement, said that as a loyal and committed member of the APC, he had decided not to pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings over the process at this time.

The former minister said, “This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction. Neither should it be interpreted as an act of surrender or an indication that my aspiration to serve as governor of Oyo State is a do-or-die affair.

“Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in the state, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party.

“More importantly, our respected national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo, openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.

“We believe that an acknowledgement or apology, though important, cannot and should not substitute for the necessary correction where the opportunity to address the grievances still exists.”

He expressed concern that many loyal members had invested years of their lives, enormous personal resources, time, energy and political capital in building the APC.

Many of them, according to him, now felt that their sacrifices, votes and preferences had been disregarded and that candidates who did not necessarily reflect the popular choices of party members had emerged without a transparent declaration of the primary results.

“Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant.

“Indeed, many party members are deeply convinced that their own votes, sacrifices and preferences were disregarded, and some may not readily accept appeals from the aspirants they supported.

“Rather, names of selected individuals were subsequently entered on the INEC electronic portal as the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.

“This development has effectively produced candidates without the transparent publication of the actual results upon which such nominations were supposedly based.

“The concerns arising from this process cut across the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly nominations.

“We agreed that the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results has understandably generated serious concerns about the transparency, credibility and integrity of the nomination process.

“We also affirmed that substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence exist which, in our considered view, raise serious questions about aspects of the process and the eventual outcomes.”

He asked the national leadership of the party to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party.

“The national leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants.

“The APC has important work to do to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party in the state,” he said.

The former minister urged the national leadership of the APC to urgently initiate a comprehensive, sincere and credible reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and genuinely engaging all affected stakeholders.

“Members who feel wounded, betrayed or alienated must be deliberately engaged and reassured, not merely through appeals, but through concrete actions that demonstrate that their loyalty, sacrifices and contributions still matter.

“The implications of the present situation must not be underestimated. Electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates.

“Elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots,” he added.

Adelabu insisted that his aspiration to serve as the state governor was driven by a genuine desire to contribute more directly to the development, prosperity and progress of Oyo State and its people.

“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project. By the grace of Almighty God, I have been privileged to serve at the highest levels of both the private and public sectors, and for these opportunities, I remain profoundly grateful.

“However, as human beings, we may propose, but Almighty God ultimately disposes according to His divine will and perfect timing.

“While recent developments may have delayed the realisation of this aspiration, I remain firmly convinced that what may be delayed by human actions cannot be denied by Almighty God. God’s time, indeed, remains the best,” the former minister stressed.

Source: punchng.com

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