Politics

2023 Presidency: Rivers PDP Reveals Amaechi’s Preferred Candidate

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2023

The Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council in Rivers State has alleged that a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is working secretly for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

This is as the state PDP campaign council said it had identified Amaechi as a member of the “wicked cabal” punishing Nigerians with the current fuel and naira scarcity.

The Director of Publicity and Communications, Rivers State PDP-CC, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Nwuke challenged Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, to deny that he was not part of those making life unbearable and a nightmare for citizens.

He further alleged that Amaechi recently reconciled with members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state and has since been working secretly and holding meetings with Atiku and others in the cabal.

The statement partly read, “Nigerians have been forced to go through the eye of the needle in search of money with which to meet their daily needs and feed their families.

“Unknown to most Nigerians, the vicious cabal that has made it a duty to inflict pain and suffering on the rest of us has done so deliberately in order to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections.

“As a political party, we have gathered credible intelligence which supports the view that the leader of the APC, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, is a member of the cabal that has caused the naira crisis as well as the fuel scarcity and brought untold hardships on ordinary Rivers people and other Nigerians.

“Only recently, he reconciled with members of the presidential campaign council in Rivers State as part of the carefully woven plot. We equally know for certain that he has been holding secret meetings with the PDP presidential candidate.”

Continuing, Nwuke said, “We challenge the former Minister of Transportation to deny this fact. Let him deny that he is one of those that are working with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at this time to undermine the genuine aspiration of the people of southern Nigeria.”

He dismissed claims made by the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, that Governor Nyesom Wike was making moves to join his party through the back door.

He said the comment attributed to Cole had portrayed him as a political neophyte, saying if Wike had such plan, he would dished the PDP a long time ago.

“The governor has maintained a principled position that he will not leave a party that he helped to build. The stance of Governor Nyesom Wike since the crisis erupted in the party at the national level is well known.

“He has publicly maintained a principled position that he will not leave a party that he helped to build. That position has not changed.

Thugs disrupt Rivers APC rally, destroy vehicles, canopies
“Wike has insisted that he and members of the G5 would remain in the PDP in order to ensure that the tenets which made the party a destination of choice are not destroyed by power mongers and selfish politicians who have little faith in the unity and stability of Nigeria.”

The statement stressed that Wike was “going nowhere” and had “no plan today, tomorrow or in the near future” to defect from the PDP to the APC “through the front or back door.”

“Given his rabid comments,” the statement continued, “Cole has demonstrated a poor understanding of how politics works. This explains why many in the state, including politicians, think that he is an outsider.

“We believe that the APC candidate is a poor judge of circumstances, permanent interests and intervening variables in the polity which shape the present as well as the future of states and nation-states.

“From all indications, candidates of the Rivers PDP are poised to win on February 25th and again on March 11, 2023. And Rivers people who support our great party and its leadership are working tirelessly to ensure that victory is won.

“We see his comments pertaining to Governor Wike as the product of a political neophyte whose intentions as a Southerner bear huge question marks.”

But in a swift reaction, the Amaechi-led APC in the state described the PDP and Governor Wike as “confused and clueless”.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, pointed out that all their allegations against Amaechi had collapsed like a pack of cards.

Nwauju stated, “Nigerians can now see through the web of lies, evil machinations and sophistry of the clueless PDP administration in Rivers State as the continuous campaigns of calumny against former Governor Amaechi keep falling like a pack of cards.

“Not too long ago, Governor Wike who is the leader of the faction of PDP in Rivers State that authored these false claims, was seen on live television boasting that the former transportation minister no longer has access to Aso Rock Villa.

“Today, the same faction of the PDP shamelessly names the former Governor as a member of the cabal.

“Should we take such persons seriously? Nigerians can easily see through these tantrums as claptraps by failed politicians who have made wrong political permutations and are now struggling to point fingers.

“Even the author of the statement does not believe in what he signed off.”

Related Topics:#Rotimi Amaechi Rivers PDP

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Politics

Coalition Illogical, Driven By Personal Ambition – Bode George

Published

2 hours ago

July 6, 2025

Editor

Elder statesman and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has criticised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President, David Mark for “messing up” the PDP and aligning with the Alliance for Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition. He said the coalition is driven by personal ambition, not the collective interest of Nigeria.

George, in an exclusive interview with Sunday Tribune, described the coalition as illogical, ill-timed, and lacking substance. He questioned the rationale behind their departure from the PDP, especially at a time when the party had resolved its internal crisis.

Prominent politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and their counterparts from Kaduna, Rivers, and Osun States—Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, respectively—formally adopted the ADC as their coalition platform on Wednesday in Abuja.

Reacting to the alliance, George said: “If it is not self-aggrandisement, what are they running away from? If your roof is leaking, would you run away from the house? No. You stay there and repair it. What is wrong with the PDP? We had a crisis in the party, which they were part of. We’ve resolved it, so why are they running? I have appealed to them to have a rethink and return home. If they don’t, let them stay where they are. It doesn’t matter.”

He expressed disappointment over their decision to abandon the PDP and form a coalition to oust President Bola Tinubu, rather than staying to build the party.

“Is dumping the PDP and forming a coalition the right way to send President Tinubu out of office?” he queried.

In addition, he said: “They have divided the house they built, and that means they are pursuing personal ambition, not the corporate interest of this country. What is Atiku looking for in the coalition? What is David Mark looking for? They caused the mess at the last National Convention. You don’t need a degree to see that it’s illogical. What are they seeking? They just want to sack Bola Tinubu, and now they’re congregating. Everybody in that coalition wants to be president—so how will that work? I wish them the best of luck.”

However, he appealed to them to return to the PDP to help rebuild the nation.

“They should all come back and help rebuild the broken walls of this nation. In the PDP, we have resolved our crisis. This isn’t the right time to walk away. These are people who have benefitted immensely from the party. One was the number two man in Nigeria. Another, who claims to be acting chairman, was the number three. What more do they want? I’m disenchanted. I’m angry. What kind of reasoning is this? Do you go to war and surrender to the enemy? Everyone in that coalition, except Rauf Aregbesola, came from the PDP. The PDP made them who they are today.”

“Now that we’ve resolved our crisis and are settling down to build unity, they’re off forming a coalition. An iroko tree doesn’t just sprout and fall in the bush. No matter the storm, the iroko stands tall. Maybe Bola Tinubu has gone to consult a babalawo (herbalist), and that’s what’s disturbing them and making them act irrationally. I don’t believe in babalawo, but maybe he has—and that’s why they’re running around.”

“Our party doesn’t have a single person who owns it. He is just a member like everyone else. He has to redefine his position. Bola has reportedly told him to go and deliver the FCT and Rivers State, and he says he’s still working there.”

“Let the next NEC meeting come; decisions will be made. For me, this coalition is a non-issue. It’s all selfishness and self-aggrandisement. At a time when we should be talking about the corporate existence and livelihood of ordinary Nigerians, they’re not doing that. Nigerians will decide,” he concluded.
(TRIBUNE ONLINE)

Politics

2027: Power Minister Declares Oyo gov Ambition, Begins Consultation

Published

19 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, on Friday, met with All Progressives Congress leaders and stakeholders in Ogbomoso and Oyo zones in Oyo State, respectively.

Addressing party members in Ogbomoso at the residence of one of the leaders of the party, Ayoade Adeseun, the minister said the meeting was part of his consultations across geopolitical zones in the state towards realisation of his governorship ambition in 2027.

He, therefore, allayed the fear of the party stakeholders that APC would not impose any aspirant in 2027, saying, “I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.”

While seeking their supports towards the realisation of his ambition, Adelabu pleaded for forgiveness from aggrieved members, saying they should be concerned of how the party will come back to power in 2027.

He said, “I’m here to tell you that I want to contest for governor of Oyo State in 2027. I’m ready to put to test all experience I’ve gathered from the past two elections.

“I’m not against other zones becoming governor of the state, all I know is that God’s time is the best.

“Ogbomoso is very important in this state election, I’m here to seek for your support and backing, I’m happy to see that all the factions in Ogbomoso are now one.”

He also called on people in the zone to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for more dividends of democracy.

“This is another turn of Yorubas to serve their two terms as President of Nigeria. Nigeria has a lot to benefit if Tinubu is re-elected,” Adelabu added.

In Oyo town, Adelabu pleaded for their supports, saying “I will run all inclusive government where everybody will be involved in governance of the state and no one will be left behind if I become governor of the state in 2027.

“I’m here for people to know that no one can impose anybody, I want to work and prove to our party members that I’m up to the task, I want to show them that I can withstand and survive competition and come out victorious.

“Oyo is like a second home to me, my supporters, followers, associates and allied are all here, they have been supporting me in the past and they are ready to support me again.

“I will give what is due to Oyo. Oyo zone deserves better treatment because it is symbolic, Oyo is historical, symbolic and blessing to the entire state.”

Adeseun and son of former governor, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, urged members of the party to come together and ensure emergence of the APC in 2027.

Politics

JUST IN] 2027: South-South APC Endorses Tinubu, Four Govs For Re-election

Published

20 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress South-South zone, on Saturday, rose from its zonal stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo State capital, with a resolution to adopt President Bola Tinubu as the zone’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The party also adopted the four governors of the party in South-South as sole candidates for the party in the 2027 governorship elections in the four states controlled by the party.

The four governors who benefited from the resolution are Governor Bassey Edet of Cross River State, who doubles as the South-South APC Coordinator, and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

The two others are governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom States, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Umo Bassey Eno, respectively, who joined the APC from their former People’s Democratic Party, a few months ago.

The communique containing the resolutions was read by Chief Victor Giadom, APC National Vice Chairman, South-South, and the motion for its adoption was moved by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and seconded by the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, presiding.

Details later…