Politics
2023: Atiku Absent As PDP Presidential Aspirants Meet In Rivers

As the 2023 general elections draw nearer, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, alongside other presidential aspirants under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party met behind closed doors in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The former Vice President and presidential hopeful under the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, was, however, absent from the meeting.
A media aide to the Rivers state governor said those at the closed-door meeting included the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Others present were the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Dr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The host, Governor Wike, while speaking to journalists after the meeting, said their interest was to ensure the consolidation of unity in the party.
Wike also expressed their interest in making Nigerians happy by developing a formidable strategy that would enable the PDP coast to victory in the 2023 presidential election.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Soludo Sets Up Committee To Unravel Cause Of Agitation In S/East
He said, “Our interest is the unity of the party. Our interest is to make Nigerians happy by making sure that by 2023, PDP takes over the reins of government because Nigerians are patiently waiting.
“And I can assure you that we are going to work as a team to make Nigerians happy,” Wike stated.
On his part, the leader of the delegation, Senator Bukola Saraki said their discussion centred on identifying the best available ways to ensure that all concerned party members embrace unity, as there is strength in unity as proverbially said.
Saraki stated, “We are here to have a discussion and we just finished talking about the best way for us to reunite our party, bring unity among all those who are aspiring to lead this country under PDP.
“We all realise the importance of this and PDP is the only option ready to redirect this country in the right direction and bring progress and provide a better future for our people.
“We have been to some of the other states and today we are here with the Governor of Rivers State – a key stakeholder of this party to discuss frankly. He has given us his views and made some suggestions and we will continue to work with that as we move away from here.
”But the key thing is unity; the key thing is to put the country first and put the party first,” Saraki affirmed.
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Politics
Crisis Hits APC Govs Forum As 18 Rejects Uzodinma’s Removal
A serious crisis is currently brewing in the Progressive Governors’ Forum following the sudden removal of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, as its chairman.
Reports had it earlier that a cross-section of All Progressives Congress, APC, governors removed Uzodinma and installed the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, as its chairman.
Although the Director-General of the forum, Folorunso Aluko, in a statement on Friday, said the reports of Uzodinma’s removal were fake and misleading, sources privy to the matter confirmed to DAILY POST that some governors met on Thursday night and removed Uzodinma.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: APC Governors Forum Splits As Uzodimma, Abiodun Lead Rival Factions
The meeting, according to reports, was led by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and was held at the Ogun Government Lodge.
However, in a swift move to counter the decision of the Abiodun-led group, 18 other governors met behind closed doors at the Imo Lodge on Friday and passed a vote of confidence in Uzodinma.
Some of those present at the meeting included the governors of Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, Benue and Jigawa states, while Nasarawa State was represented by its deputy governor.
READ ALSO:Kaduna APC Aspirant Rejects Consensus Plot, Warns Against Imposition Of Candidate
Speaking on the unfolding events, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said: “All of us woke up to that very unfortunate story, which was virtually in all the media in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum is very united.
“We are stronger now than at any other time. And, of course, we are all supporting the president for what he has been doing.
“We also want to assure everyone that the APC is united, the governors are united, the forum is united, and there is no problem at all.”
Politics
BREAKING: APC Governors Forum Splits As Uzodimma, Abiodun Lead Rival Factions
The Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, has been factionalised.
The rival factions emerged after its chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, was reportedly removed on Thursday.
While Uzodimma insisted that he remains PGF chairman, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are leading a separate faction.
Another bloc within the forum has reportedly aligned behind Abiodun and AbdulRazaq.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Former APC National Youth Leader Dumps Party
The development, which comes amid growing political realignments within the ruling party, marks a significant crack within the ranks of APC governors ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to reports by Arise TV, details surrounding the disagreement remain unclear, but sources within the party said tensions had been building over internal leadership control and strategic positioning ahead of the next election season.
DAILY POST reports that, as of the time of filing this report, none of the factions had officially released a detailed statement on the cause of the division.
Politics
2027: Why We Called On Goodluck Jonathan To Run For Presidency – Ohikere
Supporters of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan have explained why they marched to his office, urging him to run in the 2027 presidential election.
While addressing the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 in Abuja on Thursday, its National President, Tom Ohikere, said the group was motivated by concerns over the state of the country.
Ohikere, on behalf of the coalition, appealed to the former president to “save Nigeria from impending collapse.”
He recalled an earlier visit to Jonathan on April 8, 2026, during which the group first appealed to him to contest the 2027 election.
READ ALSO:‘Bring Back Jonathan’ — Youths Protest Hardship, Block Benin —Lagos Highway
The coalition noted that it had yet to receive a clear response from the former president and expressed concern that he had not picked up a nomination form from any political party.
According to them, Jonathan should commit to the race, obtain a presidential nomination form from any party of his choice, and contest the election, pledging to mobilise support for him across the country.
“Last month, April 8, 2026, the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 paid a friendly visit to Your Excellency to urge you to run in the 2027 presidential election to save Nigeria from impending collapse. Though we did not meet you in person, we believe that our message was unreservedly passed on to you, as it was to the entire Nigerian people through the media.
“Since then, we have had little information as to whether you have yielded to our clarion call, as you have not yet, to our knowledge, picked up a nomination form for the presidential contest in any registered political party.
READ ALSO:2027: You Must Contest — Nigerian Youths, CSOs Tell Ex-president Jonathan
“Because of our genuine fear of a possible collapse of Nigeria, as peace and unity are now gradually eluding all of us, we decided to march to your office again today, hoping you will step out to receive us and make a statement that will gladden our hearts and the entire nation.
“We are asking you to hear our cries and contest the 2027 presidential election, sir. This mammoth crowd that came with us here today is a fragment of your supporters nationwide and represents every tribe, tongue, and religious belief in this country. We, young and old, girls and boys, men and women, are all here crying for your voice to say ‘yes’ to our request,” Ohikere said.
Recall that Jonathan had hinted at the possibility of returning to the presidential race in 2027, saying he would “consult widely” following growing calls for him to contest.
Jonathan made the remark while responding to members of the Coalition for Jonathan 2027 who marched to his office to urge him to run for president in the next general election.
“Presidential race is not a computer game, but I heard you, and I will consult widely. But the most important thing is that Nigeria should have young people who will plan for our grandchildren,” Jonathan said.
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