Politics

‘Keep Opinions To Self’, Buhari’s Media Team Slams Obasanjo

Published

3 years ago

January 21, 2023

The media team of President Muhammadu Buhari has told former President Olusegun Obasanjo to keep his political opinions to himself.

The Buhari Media Organisation in a statement signed by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, said Obasanjo’s opinions have a history of being “faulty and selfish”

This followed Obasanjo endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on New Year’s Day as his preferred choice for presidency ahead of the forthcoming February 25 elections in the country.

On Friday (yesterday) also, Obasanjo insisted that Obi was better than the other candidates vying for the seat of the president, adding that only an “unpatriotic and bad Nigerian” would vote for a candidate with bad character.

Reacting however to Obasanjo’s stance, the president’s media organisation described Obasanjo’s decision as “self-centred” and further said the LP candidate was “overhyped” and had “no clear vision” for the country.

The statement read, “The earliest display, since our return to democracy, of his (Obasanjo) poor sense of political judgment in selecting the country’s president was when he began to think that he was the best thing Nigeria needed, and consequently tried to re-write the Nigerian Constitution and award himself a third term in office.

“Failing to secure that obnoxious third term agenda, the self-centred leader decided to hand-pick a leader who he could control since he could not be in the office. It was then he foisted on the country a candidate whose state of health was clearly questionable.

“Upon the sad demise of that candidate, Mr. Obasanjo looked for the next lackey and found one in former President Jonathan, a candidate that came in to further build on the institutional corruption that President Obasanjo had founded.

“It didn’t take long for President Obasanjo to go back to his vomit, and endorse Atiku Abubakar, a notoriously corrupt individual, by his own admission, and by his former boss-Obasanjo himself. The former President, in the pursuit of his selfish ambition, threw caution to the wind and endorsed the man he once swore never to support.”

It read further, “Former President Obasanjo’s latest endorsement of the overhyped Mr Peter Obi, a candidate with no substance or clear vision for the country, whose track record of failure has left a foul stench still suffocating the people of Anambra, follows the Obasanjo pattern of directing Nigerians to the pit of hell because he does not have the keys to heaven.

“His political judgment is highly faulty, always erroneous, and naturally self-centred.”

Advocating for Nigerians to vote for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, the president’s media organisation said “We urge eligible voters to key into the testimonials of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress who has verifiable record and a vision for renewed hope for Nigeria.

“Asiwaju Tinubu is the only candidate that offers two good deals for the price of one vote: he will build on the solid foundation that President Buhari has put in place, which is evident to all Nigerians; and he would also usher in a renewed vigour in APC’s progressive agenda.

“Tinubu is bringing to the table an experience of handling tough environments and a gift of recruiting the best hands to deliver on the job. His achievements and testimonies from Lagos State are strong indications of his capacity to steer the country in the right direction.”

Politics

Court Stops 2025 PDP National Convention

Published

8 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complied with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party namely, Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) seeking to stop the convention on the ground of violation to the Electoral law.

Delivering the judgment, the Judge also restrained INEC from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The Judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); PDP; Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC); and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Politics

2027: Why Jonathan Can’t Run For President – Appeal Court Ex-President

Published

8 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has clarified why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election.

According to Salami, the Nigerian Constitution explicitly bars any individual from holding the office of President for more than eight years, making Jonathan ineligible to run again.

He explained that Jonathan had already completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving his own full term, which constitutionally disqualifies him from seeking another.

In an opinion piece, Salami argued that any attempt by Jonathan to contest and win in 2027 would amount to a violation of the law, stressing that such a victory would be nullified by the courts.

“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated that the ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami stated.

Politics

PDP Reacts To Court Ruling On Planned Convention

Published

8 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a formal reaction on Friday to the judgment of the Abuja High Court, which stopped its planned November 15 Ibadan National Elective Convention, saying that the judgment didn’t affect its preparations for the event.

While describing the action of the court as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process”, the party called on its members to remain focused on going to Ibadan for the convention.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

“However, the PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years”, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, said in a reaction to the judgment.

The party referenced the April 4 judgment of the Supreme Court, which empowered political parties to regulate its internal affairs, noting that the party would go ahead to host the convention.

However, Ologunagba clarified that as a law-abiding organisation, the PDP had also directed its lawyers to appeal the judgment.

The stated further, “Our Party notes the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

“The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party.

“Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.”

Three aggrieved members of the party namely, Honourable Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman); Honourable Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman); and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had dragged the PDP to court, asking to to stop the convention on the grounds of violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the PDP’s constitution.

Specifically, they had cited alleged exclusion of some key stakeholders from the preparations for the convention among other concerns.