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

Published

4 years ago

April 10, 2022

Editor

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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Crisis Hits APC Govs Forum As 18 Rejects Uzodinma’s Removal

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

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.

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.

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.”

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BREAKING: APC Governors Forum Splits As Uzodimma, Abiodun Lead Rival Factions

Published

9 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

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.

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

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Editor

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.

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.

“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.