Politics

2023: Why Soludo, Obaseki, Nnamani, Others Are Ganging-up Against Obi

Published

3 years ago

November 19, 2022

In the last couple of months, it is emerging clear that Peter Obi and his supporters, the Obidents, are not going to fizzle out as predicted by several political pundits.

In the South-east and South-south geopolitical zones, the spread of the popularity of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party has redrawn the political map ahead of the general elections as campaigns thicken.

Instead of fizzling as predicted by many, Mr Obi and his supporters have grown significantly since May when Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In the last couple of days, several political players in the two regions have intensified attacks on the candidate of the Labour Party. In the past, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and his counterpart in Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi have both taken slings at Obi, however, the pushback was swift, prompting both to recount their statements.

“We will not vote for the Labour Party, we will only vote for the APC. Our vote is for APC and not for the Labour Party. Our agenda is Ebonyi agenda. We will vote for our Presidential candidate in the person of Tinubu. We must strive to liberate Ebonyi State and that is our agenda,” Umahi had said in June.

However, in the past couple of weeks, the attack on Obi has intensified. It would be recalled that Chimaroke Nnamani, a former governor of Enugu State and Senatorial candidate on the platform of the PDP, had in a series of tweets in August warned his supporters not to risk voting Obi.

“Our party and platform is PDP. We must stand firm. We must not be swayed by the Obidient sentiments and vote Labour Party. If we blur the distinction, it will be difficult to reverse,” the tweet read.

Last week, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State joined the fray by denying the Obidient movement the use of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Although the movement held a rally in the city with thousands on the street, Mr Obaseki in an interview, insisted that Mr Obi supporters may control the virtual world, but PDP controls the political structure.

During the week, the biggest attack against the presidency of Obi came from his State, when Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State launched a fierce attack against him.

Soludo even implied that Obi’s candidacy is a tactical support for the candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu.

“Indeed, if I were Asiwaju Tinubu, I would even give Peter Obi money as someone heading one of the departments of his campaign because Obi is making Tinubu’s pathway to victory much easier by indirectly pulling down PDP. It is what it is,” he stated.

Why are politicians in the South-east, South-south against Obi?

The choice of Labour Party and the appeal to youths pose a significant threat to established political parties in the regions, Kelechukwu Eni-Otu, a member of the APC in Ebonyi State told DAILY POST.

According to him, “the fact that presidential elections and the National Assembly elections are on the same day, these politicians are just trying to avoid a tsunami.

“If the politicians in APC, PDP and APGA don’t react, there is a possibility that they will be affected by the Obi tsunami. We saw it in 2015 and 2019 in the North, where Buhari’s wave allowed several people to win the seats in Reps and Senate.”

Soludo is believed to be working to reduce the influence of the PDP in the State, because since 2015, APGA has performed poorly at National Assembly elections. In the current 9th Assembly, APGA has no single Senator but has about three Reps members.

This could be attributed to the fact that often, APGA does not present candidates for the presidential election. With Victor Umeh now in Labour teaming up with Obi, APGA may go into the election fighting against two formidable forces, PDP and Labour.

In Edo State, Governor Obaseki has been in a long battle with Dan Obih’s faction for the control of the PDP structure. He was ridiculed by Governor Nyesome Wike for not having control of the delegates at the last PDP presidential primaries.

Many believe that most people supporting Obi are people who ordinarily would have voted PDP. If Obi wins Edo State, it could have an effect on senatorial and House of Reps seats. In addition, there is the APC effect in Edo North, where Adams Oshiomhole is on the ballot.

Hence, Obaseki and the PDP in Edo will be going up against the APC and his former political mentor, Oshiomhole, while the Labour Party is also pulling votes.

The same could be said of Enugu State. For the very first time in 1999, Obi’s popularity among the youths presents the first serious litmus test for the party. And Chimaroke appears to have been spooked by the political calculations in the State.

As the campaigns progress, it is expected that many political gladiators will speak out more against Peter Obi as they struggle to hold on to their respective political structures.
DAILY POST

Politics

Ward Leaders Suspend Nasarawa APC Chairman Over Anti-party Activities

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

The leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Gayam Ward of Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, have suspended the state’s chairman of the party, Aliyu Bello, over alleged anti-party.

The ward leaders who converged in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Tuesday said Bello’s action had caused embarrassment to the party and undermined the credibility of its collective effort to take the party to greater heights.

Speaking with newsmen while announcing his suspension from the party, the chairman of the ward, Ibrahim Iliyasu, narrated that his action constitutes a serious breach of party loyalty and discipline.

He said, “We, the undersigned Executive Members of the All Progressives Congress, Gayam Ward in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, hereby write to formally suspend you, Hon. Aliyu Bello, from the party (All Progressives Congress) with immediate effect.

“This decision arises as a result an investigation of complaints by ward members of your anti-party activities contrary to Article 21 of the APC Constitution (as amended) which outlines the conduct expected of members and the disciplinary measures to be taken against infractions.

“Specifically, we have credible evidence and reports that you have openly promoted and campaigned for a member of another political party, in direct violation of Article 21 (i), (ii), and (vii) which prohibit; (a)Engaging in acts that tend to bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute; (b)Engaging in anti-party activities; (c) Membership, promotion or support of rival political parties.”

He added, “Your actions have caused embarrassment to the party, undermined the credibility of our collective efforts, and constitute a serious breach of party loyalty and discipline.

“In line with the powers vested in us as ward executives under Article 21 (D) (i)-(iii) of the APC Constitution, and having consulted widely with stakeholders within the ward, we have resolved as follows; That you, Hon. Aliyu Bello, are hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect pending further investigation and disciplinary action by higher party organs.

“That this resolution shall be communicated to the Lafia Local Government APC Executive Committee, Nasarawa State Executive Committee, and the National Working Committee (NWC) for ratification and further necessary action.

“We urge you to refrain from parading yourself as a member of the party pending the conclusion of this process. Accept the assurances of our highest esteemed regards as always.”

Other leaders of the Gayam Ward who were present during the press briefing and approved his suspension include the Ward Secretary, Ibrahim Kwande; Ward Legal Adviser, Adamu Musa Alkali; Ward Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Dahiru; Ward Women Leader, Fatimah Ibrahim, among others.

Meanwhile, the suspension of the APC Chairman came barely 24hours after the state’s Publicity Secretary of the party, Douglas Otaru, issued a statement alleging plots by a governorship aspirant to remove Aliyu Bello from his position.

“For clarity, the ward officials lack the constitutional authority to pass a vote of no confidence, suspend, or expel a State Executive Committee Member. We strongly caution that any party official found to be involved will face disciplinary action in accordance with the party’s constitution,” Otaru said in his statement.

Politics

2027 Coalition: Atiku, Secondus, Other PDP Leaders Meet In Abuja

Published

7 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a former Senate President, David Mark, a former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and several other prominent figures of the Peoples Democratic Party have commenced a high-level, closed-door critical meeting in Abuja.

The strategic gathering, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, is part of ongoing consultations ahead of the formal unveiling of a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

In addition to Atiku and Lamido, other PDP stalwarts present at the meeting include a former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, ex-Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).

Sources at the venue confirmed that the meeting presided over by Mark is focused on determining whether the PDP leaders will fully integrate into the proposed 2027 coalition party or maintain their positions within the party while forming an electoral alliance.

Earlier reports by The PUNCH revealed that the coalition has chosen the African Democratic Congress as its political platform and has selected Senator Mark to serve as interim chairman, with an official unveiling scheduled for Wednesday.

Other PDP figures in attendance include Senator Ben Obi, former PDP National Women Leader Josephine Anenih, former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and former National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira, among others.

Details shortly…

Politics

INEC Unveils 2025-2026 Election Timetable, Resumes Voter Registration

Published

10 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled a comprehensive electoral timetable for 2025 and 2026, including five major elections and the nationwide resumption of Continuous Voter Registration.

This announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The electoral body, in a statement on its official X handle, said it is gearing up for a busy period, with a series of crucial polls scheduled across various states.

In the statement, the INEC Chairman said, “The five major elections highlighted in the new timetable include bye-elections in 12 states, slated for August 16, 2025, followed by the Anambra State Governorship election on November 8, 2025. Looking into 2026, the schedule includes Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 21, 2026, the Ekiti State Governorship election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun State Governorship election on August 8, 2026.”

Yakubu also announced the nationwide resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. “Online pre-registration will commence on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration across the country from August 25, 2025. For Anambra State, ahead of its governorship election, the CVR will begin earlier, next week, and will be conducted simultaneously in all 326 wards to ensure the compilation of a new voters’ register at least 90 days before the election, as required by law”, he said.

During the meeting, Yakubu welcomed two newly appointed National Commissioners, Professor Sunday Aja and Abdulrazak Yusuf, as well as six recently sworn-in RECs attending the meeting for the first time.

He emphasised the critical role of RECs in election management, urging them to proactively implement policy and procedural issues without constant prompting from the Headquarters.

Addressing concerns regarding the interpretation of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the review of election results, the INEC Chairman stated that the Commission is working on a supplementary regulation and guidelines to provide clarity.

He assured that this document would be uploaded to INEC’s official platforms for public information as early as this week.

“I wish to remind you that your work does not begin as the General Election approaches. You are full-time Commissioners,” Professor Yakubu remarked, underscoring the continuous nature of electoral duties and the need for sustained commitment from all officials.

“You can only effectively discharge your responsibilities when you are knowledgeable and committed”, he said.

The meeting, which followed extensive consultations with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and election security agencies, aimed to address key issues arising from these engagements and strategise for improved electoral service delivery across Nigeria.