Politics

Why We’re Interested In Nigeria’s Elections – UK

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2022

The United Kingdom is interested in Nigeria’s general election because they are crucial to the African continent and the global community, British High Commissioner in Nigeria Catriona Laing has said.

Laing spoke in Abuja yesterday when she visited the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The British envoy observed that one of the electoral challenges in Nigeria has been low voter turnout.

She suggested that the two countries should find means of collectively inspiring Nigerian youth to believe in their politics and in the future of their country.

Laing said: “We look forward to seeing how much this election matters. Nigeria has been on a democratic journey since 1999. And that, in itself is something to be very proud of.

“You are in a region, unfortunately, where democracy is backsliding. I know in Nigeria, your President has taken a very clear forward position on that and in ECOWAS and so on.

“So the world will be watching this election, and hoping it goes well. So it matters, obviously, for the people of Nigeria, it matters for Africa, and it matters for the world.

“You’re one of the largest democracies globally. And we want you to stay (part) of that global community.

“That’s a very important objective for our government to talk about building a network of liberty likeminded countries and also a democratic global alliance. That’s our hope and aspiration for Nigeria.”

The British envoy added that the UK’s aspiration was for the 2023 elections to be credible enough to win the confidence of Nigerians.

“We will not be taking a stance beyond that. Obviously, we’ll be following the interests, the manifestos and the policies.

“We’ll be hoping for a good policy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and take its rightful place in the global community,” she said.

PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu said the party was strongly committed to the democratic process.

Ayu noted that the PDP charted the path to democratic culture during its 16 years in power, adding that the party still enjoys the support of majority Nigerians.

“We were able to win elections from the beginning in 1999. We led in building democratic institutions, quite a number of institutions that exist today.

“We also continue to win elections because of popular support that we received in Nigeria across the country, including the international community that came to support what we were doing.

“Along the line, in a commitment to democracy, we had an election which we lost. We accepted defeat because of our deep beliefs in the democratic process.

“So we are not happy to be in opposition for the last six years. No party wants to be in opposition.

“We have been working very hard to rebuild the party to make sure that Nigerians have confidence in us as a party.

“I want to say that the signs are there that Nigerians believe that we are the only organic party in this country.

”On that note, I want to assure you that we will not deviate from the democratic journey and we expect all other parties in this country to also try as much as possible to uphold the tenets of democracy which is free and fair elections.

“We expect all umpire institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, to carry out their work without bias against us as a major opposition party,” Ayu said.

NATION

Politics

PDP Issues Certificate Of Expulsion To Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, Others

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it has issued certificate of expulsion from the party to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 10 members earlier expelled from the party.

The party National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

The other members, according to him, include the embattled National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

They also included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna and Chief Dan Orbih, expelled during the party National convention in Lagos.

Turaki said that the original copies of the certificate had been dispatched to the owners through a courier service to serve as proof that they were expelled from the PDP.

“We have taken note of the fact that Nigerian law frowns on dual membership of political parties, and so we have sought to make it easy for them.

“Now that they are no longer members of our party, and now that the National Convention, which is the highest decision-making organ of our party, has expelled them, we have decided to issue them certificates of expulsion.

“So, when they go to register with other political parties in Nigeria, they will show these certificates as proof that they are no longer members of the PDP.

“By that, those parties will not accuse them of trying to belong to more than one political party,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, and other government agencies, to take note.

“Very soon, members of the society will be informed via proper disclaimers that any person henceforth who decides to do business with them, any or all of them, does so at his or her own risk.

“They are no longer members of the PDP. They have been expelled,” he added.

He added that the NWC also reviewed some of the cases filed against the party and lawsuits instituted by the party, particularly the one that related to the “unlawful and illegal” closure of the party’s national Secretariat, the Legacy House, and the Wadata Plaza.

“The brief we received from our lawyers is that we are on sound ground, and that very soon, the law will take its course,” he said.

Turaki said the NWC was prepared to be saddled with the responsibility of performing its functions as the leading opposition party in Nigeria.

“We are going to provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. We are going to provide credible leadership to Nigerians by the special grace of God from 2027,” he said.

Politics

Adebayo Adedamola Wins Osun PDP Governorship Primary

Published

3 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as FRYO, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The primary election took place in Osogbo on Tuesday amid heavy security presence.

Announcing the result, chairman of the primary election committee, Humphrey Abba, stated that Adebayo secured 919 votes out of 957 accredited ballots, giving him a clear victory in the contest.

Explaining that there were 20 void votes following the withdrawal of one of the candidates, believed to be Governor Ademola Adeleke, Abba added, “The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and he stands elected and returned.”

DAILY POST reports that despite announcing his resignation from the party, Adeleke’s name appeared on the ballot paper for the PDP governorship primary.

Party officials said the exercise was conducted in accordance with established guidelines, with accredited delegates participating in the voting process.

Adeleke announced his resignation in a letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the PDP leadership at his ward.

On Monday, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, had announced that the governorship primary slated for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, has been postponed due to leadership crisis at the national level.

But a faction of the party went ahead with the exercise in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Politics

Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP

Published

3 days ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primaries of the party.

Adeleke’s resignation letter, dated November 4, 2025, sighted by Tribune Online was addressed to the PDP ward chairman for Ward 2, Sagba Abogunde, Ede, Osun State.

According to the letter, the governor’s resignation was based on “the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

According to the letter, titled: “Resignation of my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’ read, “Due to the current crisis of the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I hereby resign my Membership of the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect.

“I thank the People’s Democratic Party for the opportunities given to me for my elections as a Senator (Represented Osun West) and as Governor of Osun State under the People’s Democratic Party.”