Politics

2023: Group Storms APC, PDP Secretariats, Demands Southern Presidency

Published

4 years ago

May 4, 2022

Human and vehicular traffic was on a standstill for a hour plus on Wednesday at both national secretariats of the governing party, All Progressives Congress and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party.

A group, under the auspices of Concerned Nigeria Citizens, barricaded both secretariats demanding that the parties must zone their presidential tickets to the South.

CNC, which has representatives from the six geopolitical zones, said the principles of justice, equity and fairness demand that executive power be zoned to the South after the tenure of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

According to a letter signed by the CNC convener, Femi Osabinu, and secretary, Sidi Ali, dated April 4, 2022, and addressed to the National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, and his counterpart in the governing party, Abdullahi Adamu, the group lamented that the parties were yet to reveal their zoning arrangements to Nigerians few weeks to their Presidential primaries.

According to the letter sighted by The PUNCH, CNC said the rotation of power in Nigeria went beyond mere aspiration of political parties, but also a tool, towards ensuring national unity and stability, and in this regard, candidates from the southern Nigeria must be allowed to occupy the position of President in the country come 2023.

“We also wish to remind you, that the established convention is that power must rotate between the North and the South. Hence a President of northern extraction follows that of Southern extraction and vice versa. Any consideration outside of this is foul and may destabilise the polity.

“It is only fair that, after President Muhammadu Buhari, power must come to the south. Any argument against this is inimical to the unity and stability of our nation.

“It is equitable that once the above stands and power is conceded to the south, we will not only be respecting this established convention of power rotation, but we will also be contributing to the dire need to restore stability and national cohesion into our polity,” the letter partly read.

After its 95th National Executive Committee meeting on March 16, the PDP constituted a 37-member zoning committee headed by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

Since the zoning Committee submitted its report on April 12, the party had yet to disclose the actual recommendations of the committee even as its NEC failed to hold its meeting earlier scheduled for Wednesday, May 4.

In the APC, the Chairman, Adamu, told State House Correspondents last Friday that the party had yet to reach a zoning arrangement.

This came shortly after his visit to the President at the Villa and three days after it began selling nomination and expression of interest forms for various electoral offices.

Other members of the group at Wednesday’s protests included Okpanachi Jacob (North-Central), Femi Lawson (South-West), Ibrahim Mohammed (North-West) and Uzoh Chukwuemeka (South-East) and hundreds of supporters

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.