politics
2023 ELECTION : PDP governors disagree over committee’s no-zoning report
… Secondus, Bauchi governor under attackThe committee was charged with the responsibility of investigating the party’s loss at the 2019 polls.
But its recommendation that aspirants from all the six geo-political zones in the country should feel free to seek the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 election has not gone down well with some influential governors from the party.
Some of the governors claim Bala Mohammed had an ulterior motive for calling for the cancellation of zoning after the South East had been made to believe that it was its turn to produce the presidential candidate in the next polls.
The revelation of the recommendation had sparked a flurry of protests from some quarters, especially the South East.
This development forced the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, to issue a statement that the recommendation was yet to be discussed and adopted by the party’s hierarchy.
But the statement by Ologbondiyan has not succeeded in assuaging the feelings of some members.
Reliable party sources said yesterday that the division created by the recommendation was festering by the day.
“Many governors are disappointed at the decision of the Bauchi governor to submit the report and even make its resolutions public,” one of the sources said.
“This is because the issue was already being debated among the governors prior to the submission of the report.
“The governors were not on the same page over what the party should do about zoning as regards the 2023 presidential ticket of the party.
“Even some members of the committee disagree with Governor Mohammed on the recommendation.”
Apart from Bala Mohammed, other members of the committee were the deputy national secretary of the party, Emmanuel Agbo who doubles as secretary of the panel; Sule Lamido and Tanimu Turaki, both representing North West; while Yakubu Dogara and Alhasan Muhammadu were selected from the North East.
The rest were Babangida Aliyu and Istafanus Gyang (North Central), Francis Nwaifuru and Austin Nnamani (South East) and Austin Okpara and Stella Omu South South.
It was gathered that the committee report does not enjoy the endorsement of a good number of the committee members.
One of the dissatisfied panelists said: “It is wrong for Governor Mohammed to have submitted that report because that wasn’t the position of all members of the committee.
“As at the time of the submission and publicizing of that report, opinions of committee members on the crucial issue of zoning and the 2023 presidential ticket were still sharply divided.
“I want you to go and ask members of the committee if truly we agreed that the PDP presidential ticket should be thrown open in 2023. We never did.
“The only thing I know is that some members openly expressed the need for the party to respect zoning while others want the party to consider the prevailing political factors as we approach 2023.
“At no time did the committee agree that zoning should be done away with. But it is obvious right from inception that the committee was being influenced by some external forces.”
Sources also said some governors, especially those from the south, accused the committee chairman and the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus of using the report to advance the 2023 chances of former vice President Abubakar Atiku.
“A governor from the southern part of the country has openly accused Governor Mohammed and Prince Secondus of using the report to favour Atiku,” said another source.
“The governor claimed that the report he received from his state’s representative on the committee is contrary to what Mohammed presented to Secondus.
“The governor also claimed that the PDP Governors’ Forum got wind of the report that was presented and following complaints by some governors, cautioned that the committee should desist from making such public.
“He alleged that the national chairman insisted that the presentation of the report should go on. It is our belief that the committee is being used to achieve a pre-meditated goal.
“The report is not the position of the committee as constituted, but the parochial view of a few members as encouraged by a partial arbiter,” our source claimed.
The Nation also gathered that PDP governors from the south may soon meet over the development.
They have also allegedly expressed concerns that the national leadership of the party is indulging the anti-zoning gladiators over and above those supporting the zoning arrangement.
A source said “dissatisfaction with the report is growing and threatening its relative peace. The issue of zoning is a crucial issue and we are afraid that some people are playing some funny games.
“The leadership of the party has repeatedly said the PDP will not take decision on zoning just yet. But what they did with the Mohammed report was to suggest a decision through the back door.
“Governors of the southern states and other stakeholders from the zone are not about to allow such pranks.
“Efforts are on to rally concerned chieftains of the party to get the matter discussed as soon as possible. I know the governors are also planning to meet over the matter.
“While some of them have expressed their objection to the report, others are waiting for a formal meeting to state their positions on the matter.”
Presenting the committee report in Abuja, Mohammed had said the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing a leader with the attributes to reposition the country.
“Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate, through a credible primary election as a way of institutionalising a merit-based leadership recruitment process, for the country,” he said.
The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared the winner of the Saturday, November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Edoba Omoregie.
Soludo, who polled a total of 422,664 votes, defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, while the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.
According to INEC, a total of 16 candidates from various political parties participated in the election.
The state had 2,788,864 registered voters, out of which 598,229 were accredited. A total of 595,298 votes were cast, while 11,244 votes were rejected across the 21 local government areas.
From the results announced, Soludo of APGA won in all 21 local government areas of the state in a landslide victory.
Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Sunday, Omoregie said, “The number of registered voters was 2,788,864, while accredited voters were 598,229. The total valid votes stood at 584,054, rejected votes were 11,244, and the total votes cast amounted to 595,298.”
He added, “After collating the results as tallied into Form EC8E, it is now my privilege to declare the figures each candidate scored according to their political parties.
“There were a few areas affected by incidents, leading to cancellations in some wards across Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka South, and Onitsha South LGAs, amounting to 10,481 affected votes. However, the margin of lead between the top candidates did not affect the overall outcome of the election.
“I, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Returning Officer for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, hereby declare that the election was peaceful. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having scored 422,664 votes — the highest number of valid votes cast and having satisfied the requirements of the law — is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
Breakdown of results:
Total registered voters: 2,788,864
Total accredited voters: 598,229
Total valid votes: 584,054
Rejected votes: 11,244
Total votes cast: 595,298
Votes by political parties:
A – 224
AA – 1,145
AAC – 292
ADC – 8,208
APC – 99,445
APGA – 422,664
APM – 892
APP – 73
BP – 126
LP – 10,576
NNPP – 525
NRM – 36
PDP – 1,401
SDP – 241
YPP – 37,753
ZLP – 453
politics
2027 Election: Preserve Your Reputation as a Statesman — Oshiomhole Advises Jonathan, Says Only Your Enemies Want You to Contest
Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan against yielding to pressure to contest the 2027 presidential election, warning that doing so would damage his legacy.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole said that only those who do not wish Jonathan well would encourage him to return to the political arena, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would easily defeat him if he chose to run.
“How can Jonathan be a threat? We defeated him before when PDP was truly PDP,” Oshiomhole said.
“If a man had PDP at its best, at its peak, and he was defeated, I think only his enemy will push him to go into election.”
The former APC national chairman advised Jonathan to preserve his reputation as a statesman and avoid a return that could erode the respect he earned after conceding defeat in 2015.
“If I were able to advise him, I will say, Sir, maintain this status. You governed for eight years, you don’t have to govern for nine,” Oshiomhole said.
According to Oshiomhole, Jonathan “has managed to demonstrate that out of power, you can be relevant and at peace.”
He praised Jonathan’s historic concession speech in 2015, describing it as one of his most admirable legacies.
“Looking at how he ascended to that office, if I were him, I will spend the end of my life trying to find relevance, which he has already found, and speaking because that conceding defeat, and that is memorable quote about my blood, sorry, blood of a Nigerian is not worth my ambition, he should just allow those legacies to be,” he said.
Oshiomhole further argued that Jonathan’s political base in the South-South had weakened since his departure from office, making a comeback unrealistic.
“We will defeat him flatly if he comes out because now the South-South is no longer PDP. So where is he going to start from?” he asked.
Jonathan, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost the 2015 presidential election to the late Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has sacked all commissioners and other appointees administration affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The Governor announced the decision during a valedictory session he organised for his cabinet to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, confirmed that during the event, which held in Government House, on Wednesday, Fubara relieved all the commissioners and other public officers affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement of their appointments.
The Governor called on all stakeholders to work with President Bola Tinubu in building a peaceful, secured and prosperous country.
He also thanked members of his cabinet for their services and contributions to the development of the state in the last two years..
“He called on all Nigerians to work together with Mr President to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous country and a brighter future for all,” the statement said.
The Governor also reiterated commitment to serve the State with renewed vigor and thanked all citizens for their support, and wished all Nigerians a happy Independence anniversary.
The Court, while recognising the 27-member Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule as the only authentic legislative arm of government, nullified all legislative decisions made in favour of Fubara during the crisis including the passage of budgets; screening and confirmations of commissioners and other public officers holders.
It was gathered that over 19 of Fubara’s commissioners, whose appointments were screened and confirmed by Oko-Jumbo were affected by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The judgement rendered the appointment of Iboroma Dagogo, SAN, who was screened and confirmed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice invalid.
Other commissioners affected by the judgement are Charles O. Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Peter Medee, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, Basoene Joshua Benibo, Tambari Sydney Gbara and Ovy Orluideye Chinendum Chukwuma.
Also, Illamu Arugu, Rowland Obed Whyte, Samuel Anya, Samuel Eyiba, Austin Emeka Nnadozie, Israel Ngbuelu, Evans Bipi, Otamiri Ngubo, Benibo Alabraba and Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, suffered a similar fate.
It was also gathered that the Governor could consider the inclusion of some of them in the list of fresh nominees he was preparing to send to the House of Assembly.
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