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BREAKING: Buhari Backs Southern Candidate For President, As 10 APC Govs Ask Northern Aspirants To Withdraw From Race

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has backed the emergence of a southerner as a president in 2023.

He made this known at a dinner with All Progressives Congress presidential aspirants in Abuja.

PorscheClassy had earlier reported that Buhari met with the aspirants on Saturday in the Presidential Villa.

At a meeting with governors on Tuesday, Buhari had called for reciprocity in choosing his successor.

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

“I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention.

” This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger,” Buhari said.

Apart from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, other APC presidential aspirants are the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

Serving governors who are also aspiring to be president are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) .

Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, and serving senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2011, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also in the presidential race.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, also in May warned the All Progressives Congress against zoning the 2023 presidential slot to the northern part of the country, saying that would lead to a crisis.

According to him, it is the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the next president.

Akeredolu said the agreement reached when APC micro-zoned party’s offices during its National Convention must be adhered to.

The statement read, “Our party, the All Progressives Congress, has started the process which will eventually culminate in the presentation of elected political leaders, who must steer the affairs of the country for another term. We have been able to hold the party’s Convention successfully. New officers of the party have emerged in a process that is widely acknowledged as rancour-free. The level of understanding and maturity displayed by all and sundry has been commendable. Known adversaries have been forced to accept the emerging fact that our party is formidable and ready for the next general elections.

“The current socio-economic crises are surmountable. It is commendable that the Government is addressing these issues without drama. The Federal Government and leadership of our great party will come out stronger. We cannot, therefore, afford any internal bickering which holds the potential promise of causing distrust and militating against cohesion, harmony and the zeal to achieve set objectives.

“The current democratic dispensation is anchored on the unwritten convention driven by a principle of Equity. Political expediency dictates, more appealingly, that while adhering to the spirit and letters of the laws guiding conduct of elections and succession to political offices, we must do nothing which is capable of tilting the delicate balance against the established arrangement which guarantees peace and promotes trust.

“Our party just elected officers on the established principle of giving every part of the country an important stake in the political calculus. The focus has now shifted to the process which will culminate in the participation of our party in the general elections scheduled for next year. All lovers of peace and freedom must do everything to eschew tendencies which may predispose them to taking decisions which promote distrust and lead to a crisis, the end of which nobody may be able to predict.

“The leadership of the party ensured that the principle of rotational representation guided its decision at the just-concluded Convention. The party Chairmanship position has gone to the North. All other offices have been filled on this understanding. This is the time the leaders of the party must make a categorical statement, devoid of equivocation, on the pattern of succession.

“The party Executive Committee has fixed a fee for the purchase of the nomination form for the office. It is expected, fervently, that it will proceed to complete the process by limiting the propensities for disagreement to a region for possible micro-management. It is very expedient that we avoid self-inflicted crises before the general elections.

“It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President. The party leadership should have no difficulty in making pronouncements on this very important issue, just as it has fixed various fees for the purchase of forms. This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It will be disingenuous for anyone to argue against rotation at this period.

“We must not keep our party men and women guessing about the position of the leadership of the party. This is the time to weigh in and take control of the process. No statement must suggest, even remotely, that the party harbours certain sentiments which may predispose it to consider throwing the contest open. This is certainly not the time for equivocation.”

Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress Governors from the Northern part of the country have asked aspirants from the region to resign from the presidential race.

This is as they backed the transfer of power to the South.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the governors on Saturday night in Abuja.

Among the governors who signed a communique issued after the meeting are Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa; Prof. Umara Zulum, Borno; Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna; Muhammad Yahaya, Gombe; and Bello Matawalle, Zamfara State.

Others are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Dr. Umar Ganduje, Kano; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

A statement issued after the meeting read, “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our Party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.

“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.

“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.

“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in anyway affected by the decisions taken by another political party.

“We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.

“We, therefore, wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern states.

“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.

“We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.

“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.

“This moment calls for the soberest and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Dele Momodu Dumps PDP For ADC, Cites Hijack By ‘Antidemocratic Forces’

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Veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party, attributing his departure to what he called the party’s takeover by “antidemocratic forces.”

In a letter dated July 17, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of PDP Ward 4 in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Momodu confirmed that his resignation takes “immediate effect,” describing it as a move to preserve democratic values.

“My reason is simple and straightforward. Our party has been unarguably hijacked by antidemocratic forces, from within and outside, in broad daylight,” the letter stated.

He referred to the PDP as a “carcass” now controlled by those undermining internal democracy, adding that leaving the party at this time was the honourable course of action.

“It is, therefore, honourable to abandon the carcass of the party to them while the majority of us earnestly sign up with the new coalition party known as the African Democratic Congress,” he said.

Momodu, who vied for the PDP presidential ticket in the 2023 elections, also thanked party members for their support.

“I will forever treasure the kind support you gave me at all times,” he added.

This development comes amid growing defections within the PDP in recent months, with several members and leaders raising concerns over imposition and the erosion of internal democracy.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Atiku Abubakar Resigns From PDP

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The presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has officially withdrawn his membership from the opposition party.

Atiku submitted his resignation ahead of the 2027 general elections, following confirmation of his involvement in forming a new coalition known as the Alliance Democratic Congress.

The resignation was contained in a letter dated Monday, July 14, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of the PDP in Jada 1 ward, Jada Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

A copy of the letter was shared on X by the Special Assistant on Media to the former Vice President on Wednesday.

The letter stated, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the party.

“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.

“As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.

“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.

“I wish the party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

Akpabio Appeals Judgement On Natasha Akpoti’s Suspension

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has submitted an appeal in an effort to reverse a federal high court ruling that instructed the senate to lift the suspension placed on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central.

The appeal, dated July 14, 2025, was lodged at the Abuja division of the court of appeal.

Akpabio is contesting the July 4 decision issued by Binta Nyako, which labelled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as overreaching and a violation of her constituents’ rights to representation.

Although the court recognized the senate’s constitutional power to discipline its members, Nyako determined that the duration and severity of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension were excessive. Additionally, the court imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator for contempt, pointing to a satirical Facebook post made during the trial that allegedly violated an existing restraining order.

In reaction, Akpoti-Uduaghan has lodged her own appeal, disputing the contempt ruling on the basis of jurisdiction. She claimed the court lacked authority to rule on a contempt matter involving actions that took place ex facie curiae — outside the courtroom.

Akpabio’s legal representatives also submitted a cross-appeal, questioning the federal high court’s jurisdiction. They argued that the issue pertains to internal legislative matters, which they believe fall outside judicial oversight as stated in Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.

In his appeal containing 11 grounds, Akpabio criticised the lower court for dismissing his initial objection and issuing decisions that he believes encroach upon the legislative independence granted by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

He argued that processes such as suspensions, statements made during plenary, and senate decisions should not be subject to court review. The appeal further stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case was filed prematurely because she had not yet pursued resolution through the internal processes of the senate, especially through the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions, as outlined in the Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended).

Akpabio also alleged that the trial judge denied him a fair hearing by introducing and deciding on matters such as the alleged excessiveness of the suspension without input from either party. He viewed this as a violation of the court’s impartial role.

Additionally, the appeal criticised the merging of interim reliefs with the main claims, which Akpabio’s legal team argued was a procedural error. They also maintained that the case should have been dismissed for not complying with Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act, which requires a three-month notice to the clerk of the national assembly before initiating legal proceedings.

Akpabio is requesting that the appeal court accept his case, nullify the federal high court’s decision, and uphold the senate’s disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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