2023 Presidency: PDP Hints On Zoning Report, Reacts To ‘Crisis’ Over Ticket

Published

3 years ago

April 10, 2022

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said the national leadership was still anticipating the report on the 2023 zoning arrangement.

National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba spoke to DAILY POST in Abuja on Sunday.

The PDP is yet to give a date for the presentation of the report, almost three weeks after the team was inaugurated.

In his remark, National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu noted that zoning would be respected because it’s a part of PDP’s tradition.

The “delay” in submission has raised fears in certain quarters with rumours that the party would throw its presidential ticket open.

Reacting, Ologunagba explained that he could not give a timeframe because there is none yet.

The spokesman also reacted to the alleged internal wranglings in the leading opposition platform due to the zoning issue.

“Number 1, I don’t have a date; Number 2, I like the word alleged because there is no controversy among the leaders.

“As the NWC (National Working Committee), we will wait for their report. When it is delivered to us, we will then call for a meeting of the NEC (National Executive Committee).

“So, no date yet until they submit. We have not received any report. As soon as we do that, we will start the process of convening NWC meeting and transmitting the report to NEC”, he said.

Sources earlier disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the man to beat despite opposition by some chieftains.

His camp already declared they were not scared about an unfavourable zoning provision, insisting there is no infighting over who becomes the candidate.

“We have nothing against whatever the party will decide, but the zoning will not be against us”, said Raymond Dokpesi, head of the campaign technical committee.

Ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed have been going around the country in their bid to select a consensus candidate.

While aspirants like Atiku prefer an open contest, others including Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike are insisting that the South gets the ticket.

Sources disclosed that Saraki and co. as well as Wike put a strong case for the North and South respectively during their separate meetings with Governor Samuel Ortom.

The Benue helmsman, who received them in the state capital Makurdi, is the Chairman of the PDP Zoning Committee.

Meanwhile, the South-East bloc in the party has announced their desire to see someone from the zone emerge as the standard-bearer.

At the weekend, Anyim Pius Anyim (ex-Senate President), Peter Obi (ex-Anambra Governor), Sam Ohuabunwa and Nwachukwu Anakwenze met in Abuja.

Anyim announced that they resolved to work to promote understanding, unity and collaboration.

“We agreed to work together as a team. We will work to ensure that a South Easterner emerges as the PDP flagbearer.

“We intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity.

“It is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate.”

Anyim expressed their commitment to liaise with PDP leadership and members across the nation to ensure that “founding principles and ideals are upheld”.

He assured Nigerians that the PDP “is ready to rebuild, reunite the country” and appealed to them to vote for the party next year.

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INEC Has Not Confirmed ADC State Leaders – Party

Published

5 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed a report claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed a list of its state chairmen across Nigeria.

In a statement on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the circulating report titled “Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide” as “fake news” aimed at creating confusion within the party.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission, to the best of our knowledge and verification, has issued no such confirmation, neither officially nor unofficially,” Abdullahi said.

He explained that choosing and approving state leaders is the party’s internal responsibility, not INEC’s.

“The process of constituting and ratifying state leadership within any political party lies squarely within the party’s constitutional prerogative. INEC only recognizes what the party submits through the appropriate channels after due process,” he added.

Abdullahi urged ADC members and the public to ignore the fake list and wait for official communication.

“We therefore urge our members and stakeholders to remain calm, vigilant, and guided by official communication from the national leadership of the ADC,” he said.

He reassured supporters that the ADC remains committed to discipline, structure, and internal democracy, adding that any genuine updates on party leadership will be shared through verified platforms.

Politics

How Bello Deceitfully Assured Me Of Kogi Guber Ticket For 4 Years — Onoja

Published

16 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Former deputy governor of Kogi State, Edward David Onoja, has revealed that his former principal, Yahaya Bello, assured him for four years that he would succeed him as governor, only to change his decision a day before the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

Onoja made the disclosure during an interview on MIC ON Podcast published on Saturday night, where he recounted his political journey and his relationship with former Governor Bello.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Onoja had served as Chief of State for about four years before becoming deputy governor under Bello until their tenure elapsed.

“For four years before 2023, he (Yahaya Bello) was the one who called me and said, ‘You will succeed me, get prepared.’ And of course, I planned, I worked, and when it was time, he gave all of us the opportunity (to contest),” Onoja said.

According to him, about seven cabinet members at the time, including himself, picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination forms on Bello’s directive, but in the end, Bello’s support was with the current governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“At the end of the day, his heart and his choice was with the current governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he said.

Onoja revealed that Bello broke the news to him just a day before the party primaries, a decision he respected despite his disappointment.

“When he broke the news to me a day before the primaries, I told him, ‘You are the boss, you are over me, what you see is what I see, so let’s go get the job done, but I hope you are not making a mistake.’ There were no issues, and then we went to the field and did our best for our candidate,” he stated.

Onoja, who is now a board member of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), emphasised that despite the turn of events, he remained committed to ensuring victory for the party’s eventual candidate and winner of the last Kogi State governorship election, Ododo, who went on to succeed Bello.

Politics

Alleged Infidelity: Soludo’s Wife Issues Senator Ekwunife Ultimatum To Apologize

Published

16 hours ago

September 14, 2025

Editor

Mrs. Nonye Soludo

…dares her for fidelity oath, paternal DNA test challenge

The wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has issued Senator Uche Ekwunife 72 hours ultimatum to withdraw claims of Infidelity against her and tender a public apology, or face legal action.

She also challenged the senator for both of them to swear an oath of fidelity before the Blessed Virgin Mary or subject their children to DNA tests.

The challenge followed claims by Ekwunife, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, who alleged that Mrs Soludo was once close to former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

In a statement issued on Friday, Nonye Soludo accused the former fenale lawmaker of fabricating allegations and dragging her children into political disputes.

She described Ekwunife’s comments as malicious and said: “Since Uche Ekwunife claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her for both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the Bible.

“I will swear (with my children) that in my 55 years on earth, I have known only one man—Chukwuma Soludo. On your part, you should also swear (with your children or your political ambitions) that since you got married, you have never cheated on your husband,” she declared.

Soludo’s wife also invited Ekwunife to scientific verification through DNA testing.

“I challenge you, Uche Ekwunife, for us to subject our children to paternity tests in three reputable hospitals in London. I will pay all the expenses, including travel for you and your family. If the results confirm that your husband fathered all your children, I will not only congratulate you but also present a cash award,” she added.

The governor’s wife emphasised her Christian upbringing and marital fidelity.

“I married him as a virgin and my fidelity to him in 33 years of marriage and for life is ironclad,” she said.

Declaring that her life has never depended on government patronage, even as First Lady, Mrs. Soludo vowed to sustain her defence “with decency, character, and grace.”

“My weapons are decency, character, and grace. I am a long-distance runner, and I welcome you to the marathon,” she stated.

The confrontation stemmed from Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s earlier questions over Senator Ekwunife’s academic qualifications. The APC deputy governorship candidate responded with sharp criticisms, prompting the governor’s wife to step into the feud.