Politics
Atiku’s Dramatic Emergence Causes Panic In Tinubu’s Camp
Over the past few days, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was on some sort of momentum ahead of the primary election.
His public boosting, painted the picture of a man that already has the ticket of the party in his pocket. At the Moshood Abiola Stadium, the venue of the PDP national convention, all eyes were on Wike.
Around 8:30 pm, the dramatic step-down of Aminu Tambuwal, halted Wike’s momentum and changed the trajectory in favour of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
In the ruling party, the camp of Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State and one of the leading Presidential aspirants of the APC, had eyes on the events at the convention.
Jibrin Gawat, the Special Assistant to governor Babajide Sanwoolu, who is one of the prominent online supporters of the BAT movement tweeted:
“Imagine Yourself as ATIKU and u hear that APC has ‘given’ the ticket to a Non-BAT candidate ……. Won’t you be happy ???
“Answer with the fear of God.
“Anyways Welcome to my TEDTalk Isonu.”
The series of tweets by Mr Gawat generated hot debates among the supporters of different aspirants in the APC.
While these tweets may look like usual social media banters, however, snippets like this have become opinion sampling by major politicians.
Hours later, Mr Tinubu issued a statement, congratulating Mr Atiku as the candidate, and launching the first attack against the new candidate.
“I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming 2023 election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.
“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for sixteen years by successive PDP administrations and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP candidate.”
Why is Tinubu’s camp worried?
Sources within the National Working Committee of the APC, informed DAILY POST that the party postponed the convention to allow it decide on the best candidate in the event that Atiku gets the ticket.
“The party is willing to pick a candidate from the South, but we are concerned that a strong northern candidate by the PDP could make the party reconsider its options. If you look at the way the emergence of Atiku happened, then there is a need to be worried.
“With Tambuwal stepping down and the North rallying around Atiku, that is a major reason for concern. Had it been he won without uniting the northern delegates, then there would be no reason to be worried. But it was like he united the entire northern base. What if he repeats the same thing during the general election? Secondly, there was no outcry from the candidates from the South on the basis of rotation. So there is a need to be worried,” the source disclosed on condition of anonymity.
This disclosure also corroborated the claims in the letter by Salihu Lukman, the controversial ex-DG of APC Governors’ Forum, who is now the APC Deputy Chairman, Northwest.
It would be recalled that Lukman, in a letter directed to the National Chairman, Abdulahi Adamu, revealed some of the reasons for the delay in the screening of the candidates.
He accused the National Chairman of the party of using the name of the president as an excuse not to conduct the screening of presidential aspirants.
The emergence of Wike would have been more welcoming for the Tinubu’s camp, as his brash nature could have polarised the party. However, Atiku has so far campaigned without being offensive against any of the aspirants.
Muslim-Muslim ticket
The former Vice President will have unlimited options when it comes to picking a vice from the South. Several governors like Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Udom, Wike and others have been suggested, giving the Muslim/Christian combination.
However, Tinubu will be faced with the option of balancing the ticket. A Muslim/Muslim ticket may cost him votes in the South, while a Muslim/Christian ticket will cost him votes in the North.
Whatever the option, the party must decide in the next 7days. Whatever it is, the dramatic movement of Tambuwal has changed the dynamics of the race.
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
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.
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.
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