BIG STORY

More Trouble For Atiku As 6 Govs. Move Against Him, Tinubu’s Men Woo Aggrieved PDP Leaders

Published

3 years ago

July 2, 2022

The brewing crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), took a new dimension last month following the announcement of Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the party.

It was gathered that the widening gulf has now pitted six PDP governors, predominantly from the South, against Atiku’s presidential bid.

Words on the street (not confirmed) have some of the governors such as Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ishaku Darius of Taraba and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, on the list of governors unwilling to support Atiku’s bid.

Confirming the bad blood in the rank and file of the party, Ortom had, during the week, said he might not work for the actualization of Atiku’s presidential bid.

He said: “All that was needed even before the pronouncement, after we did our recommendation, Wike would have been reached out to, he is a human being.

“This is a man who has built the party today in PDP. He has fought all night and all day to see that this party remains together. So, he would have been reached out to, to say that this is the decision we are taking and this is the reason we are making this decision, and I think he would have understood.”

It was also gathered that trouble started when Ayu was elected national chairman of the PDP as against the party leaders’ agreement to zone the chairmanship of the North, while the South, like the All Progressives Congress (APC), would produce the presidential candidate.

Report has it that as soon as Ayu assumed office, he jettisoned the arrangement he inherited and started working for the emergence of Atiku, who is seen as his close political ally, to emerge as the candidate. A source (under anonymity), said despite attempts by governors and other leaders of the party to prevail on Ayu to respect the agreement that he inherited, the former Senate President remained adamant.

“When it was obvious that Ayu wasn’t ready to listen and zone the presidential ticket to the South, governors and other leaders decided to leave the contest open. But they agreed to support a Southern aspirant, but people like Okowa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, and other people, especially from the South-South, started working to ensure that a Northern candidate emerged,” he narrated.

Revealing further, the source said when Wike lost the primary election to Atiku, party leaders agreed that it would be best to pick him as the running mate of Atiku. He revealed the aforementioned governors met with Atiku and other leaders to pick Wike as a popular choice but were ignored by Ayu and Atiku, who are believed to be micro-managed by some powerful Northern leaders. Unable to have their way, he said the six governors decided not to play an active role during his presidential campaign of Atiku. He said though they may not defect to the APC, they’re likely to sabotage the chances of the PDP from within.

“The governors can’t and won’t defect. They understand that clearly. If they defect now, their candidates can’t win elections. Some of them are gunning for a second term. But they’ll sabotage Atiku the same way PDP governors sabotaged President Goodluck Johnathan in 2015.

“If you recall, many governors of the PDP, especially from the North, worked for the emergence of Buhari. They didn’t leave the PDP, but they sabotaged it from within. That’s what may play out in the case of Atiku.

“There is a consensus from Southern leaders that power should return to the region. And many PDP governors are close friends of the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They will work for him. If that happens, hold Atiku and Ayu responsible,” the angry source further revealed.

It was also gathered that Tinubu’s men have started reaching out to the aggrieved governors and other key Southern leaders of the PDP. It was learned that Tinubu’s current vacation in Europe is part of the arrangement to meet with some of the governors who are also out of the country for the summer holiday.

Currently, Wike and Ikpeazu are in Turkey on their annual vacation. Besides Tinubu who is in Europe, other key PDP and APC leaders, are reportedly out of the country too for some clandestine meetings, ahead of the kick-off of the campaigns in September. Despite the festering crisis, Atiku has assured us that he will reconcile the various factions and address the concerns raised. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “The Peoples Democratic Party will remain united. Focus on our actions. We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members. The unity in our community is my priority. Our resolve to unify Nigeria starts in our party and moves to the community, then on to society.

“Every governor, legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, party members and loyalists are much loved and respected by me. When they speak, I listen. I do not only listen, appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced.”

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BIG STORY

Tinubu Nominates Ikechukwu Ugwuegede As NCC Commissioner For South-East

Published

1 hour ago

October 23, 2025

PorscheClassy News

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ikechukwu Ugwuegede to represent the South-East on the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Ugwuegede, a former Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) between 2011 and 2015, had also contested to represent the Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives during the 2019 general elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This latest nomination follows public criticism of the earlier NCC board list sent to the Senate, which had no representative from the South-East.

In a fresh letter to the Senate, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday, President Tinubu announced Ugwuegede’s inclusion on the board.

Other members of the NCC board earlier nominated and confirmed include Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman (South-West), Aminu Maida as Executive Vice-Chairman (North-West), and Abraham Oshidami as Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (North-Central).

Also confirmed are Rimini Makama (Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, North-East), Hajia Maryam Bayi, Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (rtd), Senator Lekan Mustafa (South-West), Chris Okorie (South-South), and Princess Oforitsenere Emiko (Commissioner, South-South).

In his letter, Tinubu urged the Senate to give the nomination expedited consideration, assuring lawmakers of his “highest regards and consideration.”

Post Views: 19

BIG STORY

BREAKING: Police Arrest Sowore After Kanu’s Court Appearance

Published

1 hour ago

October 23, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

Sowore was reportedly picked up on Thursday shortly after leaving the Federal High Court, where he had appeared for a scheduled hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite over an alleged forgery case.

Sources said the activist, who was informed that the court would not be sitting, was accosted by a police officer as he made to leave the premises. The officer allegedly informed him that he was under arrest.

Members of his legal team, led by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, confronted the officers to demand an explanation. However, the police reportedly stated that they were acting on the “direct instruction” of the Commissioner before escorting Sowore into a waiting vehicle.

As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the arrest remains unclear.

More to come…

Post Views: 73

BIG STORY

Lagos Government Council Chairmen Meet On Sustainable Environment Drive

Published

3 hours ago

October 23, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a cleaner, flood-free, and sustainable environment through closer collaboration with the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

At a strategic meeting held on Wednesday in Alausa, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged council chairmen to intensify efforts in educating residents on proper waste management and sanitation habits.

Wahab said the state was transitioning from a linear waste system (“pick and drop”) to a circular model where waste becomes a resource. He stressed the need for councils to partner fully with the state in tackling environmental challenges and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.

He disclosed that the government plans to decommission the Olusosun and Soulos III landfills, which have outlived their lifespan, while maintaining others like the Epe landfill.

Wahab also directed the LGAs and LCDAs to complement the state’s ongoing flood-control efforts by ensuring regular desilting of drainages and maintaining existing flood infrastructure.

> “Now is the time for all LGAs and LCDAs to work collaboratively with the state to find a lasting solution to flash flooding. We have continued to build resilient infrastructure, and local councils must now replicate this effort in their communities,” Wahab said.

He noted that the ban on street trading remains in force and urged council chairmen to enforce it rigorously.

> “If government cannot enforce its own laws, then it begins to look like a failed state,” he warned.

The commissioner assured that Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators continue to function effectively and that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) intervenes when necessary to sustain smooth operations.

Responding, the Chairman of Conference 57 and Executive Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, commended the state government for the engagement, noting that councils were already working toward a cleaner Lagos through improved waste management systems.

Olowa added that some LGAs and LCDAs had procured waste collection tricycles for inner streets to promote house-to-house waste collection, rather than residents dumping refuse along major roads and medians.

He further appealed for support in establishing mini Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) across local councils to enhance waste disposal efficiency.

Also present at the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr. Bolaji Robert, among others.

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