Politics

Obi Group Knocks APC, PDP Over Okupe’s Conviction

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2022

The Peter Obi Support Network has knocked the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party over the conviction of Dr Doyin Okupe, who is the Campaign Director of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for breaching the money laundering act.

The group said the conviction of Okupe has provided some corrupt politicians, currently angling for Nigeria’s top job, a new opportunity to try dismantling Peter Obi’s ironclad reputation as one of Nigeria’s most credible, honest and incorruptible politicians.

According to them, Okupe is not Obi and it is not right that Obi should be dragged into someone else’s legal misfortune.

In a statement on Monday by the Director of Media, POSN, Mr Onwuasoanya Jones, said members of the PDP and its Siamese twins in APC had scoured every file and fact, tore shelves open and searched at cemeteries and dug every trail in every financial institution they can access just to find any little dirt they can stick on Peter Obi’s integrity.

The group said but at every turn, the APC and PDP are left disappointed.

The statement read, “Even though no politician is without sins, Peter Obi has lived above reproach and operated his businesses and plied his politics with the fear of God and respect for the people.

“As expected, today’s court judgment has provided the APC and PDP media personnel with valuable materials to try to bring Peter Obi to the level of their variously discredited and severally indicted masters and presidential candidates.

“No matter how any PDP or APC operative pretends about it, they all agree that Peter Obi is in a class of his own. So, anything that would make it seem that “he is not very different from all of them” would be maximally exploited by them.

“But, while they may smile and celebrate for having got something to tag on with, we must logically assess the judgment of the High Court convicting Doyin Okupe and be able to understand if he is truly the criminal these servants of thieves would want us to believe he is.

“Almost everyone in the top echelon of the PDP and APC presidential campaign organisations is being investigated and standing trial for one serious financial crime that when you compare them with the offence for which Okupe was convicted you would know that it is just like comparing murderers on trial with someone who is convicted of a slight traffic offence.

“Doyin’s offence was not that he diverted funds meant for any project or that he stole money given to him to carry out any assignment for the Federal Government. Doyin was convicted of the same crime, almost every businessman in Nigeria commits every day.

“Whenever carry out a transaction that is above 150,000 naira in cash, you are apparently guilty of money laundering, because, by CBN’s cashless policy which was introduced by Sanusi Lamido as CBN governor, you shouldn’t have to carry any money that is more than 150,000 Naira. But, we all do that, all the time.

“That’s the exact reason Doyin was convicted. His offence was for collecting more than the specified amount of money in cash, instead of having it pass through the banks.

“This is why I do not agree with those who paint an image of Doyin as a common thief or one of the corrupt politicians. As long as this particular conviction is concerned, Doyin is merely an offender and not a criminal. He is just like someone who breached traffic lights and is fined for that.

“So, unlike those supporting Tinubu and those singing the praises of Atiku, Doyin is not a thief, they and their principals, are those whom we should be afraid to allow anywhere close to our commonwealth.

“Also, Doyin Okupe is not Peter Obi. Yes, he is one of Peter Obi’s closest political allies, as long as this project for a New Nigeria in 2023, is concerned, but this does not make it right that Obi should be dragged into the legal misfortune that recently befell Doyin.

“However, I will conclude by saying that if it is deemed wise by the top echelon of Labour Party’s PCC for Doyin to step aside, then, so be it.”

Politics

BREAKING: 17 ADC Reps Follow Join NDC

Published

3 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

23 hours 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.