Politics

How I Was Drafted Into The Pro-democracy Struggle – Edo PDP Guber Candidate, Ighodalo

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo has disclosed how he was drafted into the pro-democracy struggle.

Ighodalo said he was actively involved in the fight to end military rule in Nigeria as a young professional.

The governorship candidate stated this in his goodwill message at the close out ceremony of the British Council sponsored and European Union backed Agents for Citizens-Driven Transformation (ACT) .

Ighodalo, who called on civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations to engage the governments more on policy formulation and implementation, promised to engage civil society organizations if elected as governor of the state.

He urged civil society groups to educate Nigerians on their rights and engage the government on their responsibilities to the people.

Ighodalo promised that as a product of the civil society, he would run an open policy that would not in any way be injurious to the people.

He said: “We had Concerned Professionals and Dr. Beko Kuti helped us to organise ourselves. We had many professionals; bankers, lawyers, engineers, architects who were truly concerned that the military could not just wake up one morning and dictate for us. So, we got together as concerned professionals agitating against military rule.

“We were young, we risked our lives, and everyday we were in the public space; we were in the media; we were campaigning. But despite all our best efforts, we all know what happened at the end of the day, the military prevailed.

“Fast forward, NADECO was established. NADECO wanted representation from all the civil society organizations that were agitating for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate, and they asked us to send representatives to NADECO.

“So, lo and behold, my colleagues in Concerned Professionals nominated me, I don’t know why. So I found myself now being with the people I read about in the newspapers everyday, involved in the history of Nigeria.

“Again, many of us know what happened through that process. The agitations by NADECO; the works that were done; the loss of lives; loss of livelihood; loss of resources; loss of time by the group that was truly agitating with one or two other groups for the restoration of Chief Abiola’s mandate.

“I spent about five or six years of my life running all over the places with organized civil society, trying to ensure the restoration of what we thought was right.”

To underscore the importance of civil society groups in democracy, Ighodalo said: “I think in an emerging democracy, there must be those who are the true safeguards of that democracy.

“There must be because if you don’t have the true safeguards of democracy, democracy will not grow well; will not grow strong and will not go well for the benefit of the people of the country of the states.

“It is only civil society in all its strength, and intellectual capacity that can achieve this.

“So, in looking at it over time, we are asking a lot from civil society because if civil society doesn’t do it, who will?

“Most of our citizens are poor; most of our citizens feel oppressed? Most of us citizens do not have the capability to then start getting involved in the process to ensure governance is effective.”

He added: “I can assure you that if by the grace of God Almighty, I am elected as the governor of the state through the will of the people of the state, I will continuously engaged the civil society.

“We will run a transparent and accountable government. We will dialogue; we will be accessible; we will speak because one of the most important things is to ensure the development of this state and by God’s grace, our goal is to move Edo state from where it is.

“You can only have a prosperous state when you have a well run state, running in accordance with the tenets of democracy.

“I will ensure that we stay in communication. I will be accessible in the government. We will speak and we will exchange ideas.

“And we may have disagreements, but we will agree to disagree. Our disagreements will be on processes of execution, it will not be on policy or good governance processes.

“I keep telling people that since 1956, the money earned by this country is enough to build four or five Dubais.”

Politics

BREAKING: 17 ADC Reps Follow Join NDC

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

About 17 African Democratic Congress, ADC, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

This was disclosed by Speaker Abass Tajudeen on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

Tajudeen also announced the defection of Leke Abejide from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Lawmakers who defected to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.

Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene and Abdulhakeem Ado.

This comes barely a day after former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso defected from the ADC to the NDC.

Obi and Kwankwaso have pledged to continue their pursuit for a better Nigeria in the NDC.

Politics

JUST IN: Why I left ADC For NDC With Kwankwaso – Peter Obi Opens Up

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given reasons why he resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a long post on X on Monday, Obi insisted it was not out of anger or ambition.

Rather, he said the move is a continuation of the quest to build a new Nigeria.

Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I formally joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside my dear brother, Engr. Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian.

“As I stated yesterday, this decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading.

“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my conviction that politics should never be about individuals, positions, or personal gain. It must be about the people, especially the millions of Nigerians who today can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, whose children are losing hope, and whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain.

“I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process. I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother YE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.

“As we join the NDC, I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties. Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer.

“Nigeria today is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Poverty is rising. Hunger is widespread. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion.

“Our decision to join the NDC is therefore not an abandonment of values, but a continuation of the same mission we have always stood for: building a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where public resources are managed responsibly, where institutions function independently, and where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, region, or social status, can live with dignity, security, and hope.

“I remain committed to working with all Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation.

“I thank Nigerians, especially our youths and women, for remaining peaceful, resilient, and hopeful despite the enormous challenges confronting the country. I urge you not to lose faith in Nigeria. Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.”

Politics

Peter Obi, Kwankwaso Formally Join NDC, Warn Members Against Litigation

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned party members to steer clear of any form of litigation that can plunge the party into chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday after he was formally joined the party alongside the former governor of Kano State,

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), urged members to embrace dialogue in the interest of the party

“Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers,” he pleaded.

The two political figures were received into the opposition party on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja.

Earlier, Obi had announced his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Kwankwaso had indicated he was engaged in “wide-ranging consultations” with the NDC.

The National Chairman of the party, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, presented membership cards to both leaders at the event.

Speaking afterwards, Kwankwaso said their engagement with NDC stakeholders was driven by a shared vision and ideological alignment.

“We came to discuss with stakeholders of the party and found that our ideologies and beliefs are largely the same,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to register with the NDC ahead of the deadline for party membership registration, stressing the need for broader participation in the political process.