Politics

PDP Consensus: Emergence Of Saraki, Bala Mohammed Further Divides PDP, Northern Elders

Published

4 years ago

April 30, 2022

Editor

The emergence of Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as the preferred aspirants for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket has failed to achieve the desired outcome of presenting a united front against the ruling APC.

Messrs Saraki and Mohammed, alongside Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Hayatu-Deen had resolved to go into the consensus arrangement to reduce the number of aspirants going into the battle for the ticket.

After weeks of moving around the country, the consensus arrangement, brokered by the former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and announced by Ango Abdullahi, selected the two aspirants but was rejected by both Mr Tambuwal and Mr Hayatu-Deen.

Mr Tambuwa, who had earlier expressed optimism in the arrangement, was the first to back out after the duo of Saraki and Mohammed emerged from the process. He had said, “So far, I am the frontline aspirant, our thinking, our prayer and hope is that the consensus will go my way.”

The Sokoto State Governor had in a statement by his spokesperson, Nicholas Msheliza, said the consensus talks collapsed, hence, all the parties involved had unanimously agreed that the talk was not progressing and the statement should have been to announce the collapse, not the emergence of any candidate.

The same position was maintained by Hayatudeen, whose campaign office issued a statement, accusing the brokers of working towards a preconceived outcome. Noting that it “was designed to achieve a preconceived outcome.”

Recently, Hayatudeen, while appearing on Arise TV, said Mr Saraki reneged on the agreement reached by the four aspirants that the consensus arrangement is not working.

The business tycoon said the other aspirants were shocked by the announcement by the NEF

Aside from the division in the party, the consensus arrangement is also affecting the Northern Elders Forum, as Mr Ango had to clarify that the consensus was not by NEF, but rather, a personal task, done on behalf of Mr Babangida.

Similarly, the NEF Director (Publicity and Advocacy), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, had in a statement on Sunday distanced the group from the endorsement of both Saraki and Mohammed.

Mr Baba-Ahmed said the “former President (Babangida) requested Prof Ango in his capacity to design and manage a process that could improve a consensus agreement among the four aspirants.” Adding that the “entire process did not involve the NEF as a group and is not a product of the group.”

Northern aspirants using consensus to cover clamour for power rotation

The decision to embark on a consensus arrangement was conceived amid the clamour by southern leaders for power to be zoned to the south after 8years of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from Katsina State. Messrs Tambuwa, Saraki and Mohamed, had on different occasions argued against rotation to the south.

For Mr Tambuwal, his argument has been that the party should win the election first, before considering rotation, while Mr Mohammed argued on the basis that since Mr Buhari is a member of the APC, hence, the PDP is not obliged to zone its ticket to the south.

Despite moving across the country, the consensus arrangement appears to be a regional arrangement, except from Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who abstained from the arrangement, all the participants are from the North.

The consensus arrangement by the northern aspirants bear similarities with the 2010 consensus arrangement done by the Adamu Ciroma led 17-wisemen from the Northern Political Leaders Forum which produced Mr Atiku as the consensus aspirant.

The former Vice President was picked ahead of Mr Saraki, Mr Babangida and former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Gusau.

Mr Atiku subsequently lost to Goodluck Jonathan at the PDP primary.

The 2010 arrangement was as a result of the clamour by Northern Politicians, who felt that the death of Umar Yar’adua disrupted the rotation arrangement and called for a northern candidate to complete Yar’adua’s tenure. It was a regional calculation.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been very vocal against the need for consensus arrangement, he even mocked them in several speeches while he was touring the country.

What seems to be clear, however, is that the Northern Consensus arrangement has failed to produce a candidate and has further divided the party and the north.

Up Next

Sanwo-Olu To Drop Deputy For Another Running Mate In 2023

Don't Miss

Osun APC: Adamu Steps Up Efforts To Reconcile Aregbesola, Oyetola Factions – Sources

Politics

Rivers Crisis: Full List Of 8 Misconduct Allegations Against Governor Fubara

Published

14 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Ngozi Odu, issuing them a seven-day notice to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.

The Assembly cited eight specific allegations of gross misconduct as the basis for the move.

This is the third time Fubara and Odu would be facing impeachment proceedings from the Assembly since coming to office in 2023.

Attempts to impeach them in 2023 and 2025, amid political feuds between the Governor and his predecessor and erstwhile political god-father, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been halted by presidential intervention.

Here are the allegations below:

1. Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds

2. Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds

3. Hindering the Rivers Assembly from performing its constitutional duties

4. Illegal appointments of persons without screening by the House of Assembly as provided by the Constitution

5. Seizure of salaries and funds meant for Assembly members

6. Seizure of salaries of the clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi

7. Refusal to implement provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary

8. Withholding of funds meant for the running of the Rivers House of Assembly Service Commission and hindering its activities

Politics

2027: SDP Will Defeat APC and Tinubu, Declares Lilian Adebayo

Published

2 months ago

October 30, 2025

Editor

Lilian Adebayo, the wife of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has said that the party will unseat the ruling All Progressive Party at the 2027 election if Nigerians are true to themselves.

Mrs Adebayo made this assertion known on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after an event in Abuja.

According to her, the opposition party has overcome its crisis after the expulsion of its former chairman, Shehu Gabam and others.

She said Nigerians should vote the APC out in the 2027 general election due to the hardship the party has plunged citizens into.

“There is always a crisis in the party; the SPD has been able to handle its own. The problems in the party have been resolved.

“He has a great chance of winning the election if Nigerians are honest with themselves. If Nigerians think that the ones they consistently vote for would move the country forward, they live in denial,” she concerning the husband.

Recall that SDP recently expelled Gabam and other party executives.

The party’s state chairmen on Wednesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police to investigate Gabam over alleged misappropriation.

SOURCE

Politics

Enugu Governor Peter Mbah Dumps PDP For APC

Published

3 months ago

October 14, 2025

Editor

In a significant political move, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Mbah announced his decision during a televised broadcast in Enugu after weeks of speculation.

He said, “Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress.”

Mbah explained that his decision to join the PDP was informed by the need to reshape Enugu and reorganise the politics of the state.

“Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organize ourselves politically and how we secure the future of our project and our people.

“Leadership sometimes demands painful decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes a time, when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.”

Ahead of the governor’s defection, all members of his cabinet had on joined the ruling party.

Governor Mbah’s Senior Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the mass defection in a video posted on his social media handles on Monday. In the video, several government officials were seen openly declaring their allegiance to the APC, chanting praises for President Bola Tinubu and affirming their commitment to the new party.

“Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah,” Nwomeh stated.

The officials, including commissioners and top aides, could be heard in the video declaring, “We are now in APC; tomorrow is here; it is APC all the way; it is Jagaban all the way; from top to bottom.”

The collective defection marks a significant political shift in Enugu State, which has been a PDP stronghold since 1999.