Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) convened on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the party’s National Secretariat.

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During the meeting, the NWC unanimously passed a Vote of Confidence on the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, ahead of the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, emphasized the NWC’s commendation of Amb. Damagum’s efforts to stabilize and reposition the party as Nigeria’s primary opposition party.

Presided over by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, the motion for the Vote of Confidence was initiated by the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa, and seconded by the National Treasurer, Hon. Yayari Mohammed.

Despite facing internal challenges, including calls for leadership change and the suspension of Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over alleged anti-party activities, the PDP remains resolute in its commitment to emerge stronger and more united following the NEC meeting.

In a significant development, the Kano State High Court has upheld the suspension of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court issued an ex parte order, prohibiting Ganduje from representing himself as a member of the party.

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Justice Usman Malam Na’abba granted the order on Tuesday in response to an ex parte motion filed by Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani, representing the executive members of APC Ganduje ward.

Gwanjo, who serves as the party’s ward Legal Adviser, had previously announced Ganduje’s suspension.

The court directive mandates Ganduje to refrain from overseeing any activities of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.

This legal move follows Ganduje’s suspension by the State Working Committee of the APC in Kano, which rebuked the ward party leaders responsible for the initial suspension announcement.

The internal strife within the party escalated as the APC in Dawakin Tofa Local Government dismissed the individuals behind Ganduje’s suspension, alleging their involvement in anti-party activities.

The party’s leadership imposed a six-month sanction on them and initiated a panel to investigate various allegations against them.

In response to these developments, the APC has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation into the individuals responsible for Ganduje’s purported suspension.

The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, emphasized that the perpetrators were not legitimate APC members or officials in Ganduje’s ward.

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, a pressure group within the party, “PDP100% Loyalty,” has appealed to the NEC to urge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to put aside his presidential ambition for 2027 in the interest of the party’s progress.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Chairman of the group, Mr. Dennis Shima (JP), also called for the suspension of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister due to his affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Highlighting the challenges faced by the party, Shima emphasized the need to address Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s failure to take disciplinary action against former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who publicly supported the APC during the last election.

The group stressed that these issues have contributed to the party’s current predicament and called on the NEC to intervene for the party’s greater good.

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They urged Atiku, a former Vice President and two-time PDP presidential candidate, to refrain from contesting for the PDP presidential ticket in 2027 and instead support one of his mentees for the position.

“We call on Atiku Abubakar to heed this call to become a statesman and political kingmaker moving forward. We believe that the former Vice President will appreciate the platform provided by the PDP to serve Nigerians,” Shima stated.

The group urged the upcoming PDP NEC meeting to exercise its authority in accordance with the party’s constitution by suspending Nyesom Wike from participating in party activities at all levels due to his current role as a Federal Minister in the APC-led government.

They emphasized that Wike’s association with the APC contradicts the values and principles of the PDP and called for his suspension until he officially disengages from the APC-led government.

Shima underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law and maintaining discipline within the party, stating that these decisions would serve as a deterrent to individuals seeking political relevance at the expense of the party’s integrity and legitimacy.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has reacted strongly to the purported suspension of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the party’s national chairman and former governor of Kano State.

The NWC, which initially did not respond to inquiries on Monday, has now petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation into the matter.

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In a statement issued by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Tuesday, the NWC emphasized that those behind the “criminal act” of suspending Ganduje were not legitimate members of the APC in his ward, as affirmed by the party’s executives in Ganduje’s ward and Dawakin Tofa LGA.

The alleged suspension was announced by Haladu Maigwanjo, identified as the APC legal adviser in Ganduje’s ward, at a press conference in Kano on Monday.

However, it was swiftly countered by the 27-man executives of the party at both the ward and LGA levels at another press conference at the party’s state secretariat in Kano.

The NWC condemned the purported suspension as a “devious act” by impersonators of ward officials aimed at causing confusion. It further alleged that the perpetrators had affiliations with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP).

The APC accused NNPP officials in Kano of orchestrating the suspension as part of a political persecution program against Ganduje, allegedly spearheaded by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, an allegation denied by the Kano state government.

The party urged its members and the public to disregard reports of Ganduje’s suspension, reaffirming his position as the national chairman of the party.

In a separate development, the Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has announced fresh corruption and maladministration charges against Ganduje. According to the commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, investigations uncovered the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds and other financial irregularities during Ganduje’s tenure.

When contacted for a reaction on the fresh allegations, Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olufu, declined to comment.

The state government has stated its intention to arraign Ganduje, along with his wife and son, for money laundering today.

Amidst the ongoing battle for the substantive national chairman position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the North Central Zonal Caucus has convened a crucial meeting set to take place today, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Multiple sources revealed that the meeting aims to gather stakeholders from the zone to deliberate on the chairmanship issue and possibly nominate a consensus candidate to be presented at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.

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The clamor for the North Central to complete the tenure of ousted chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu has intensified in recent weeks, with five aspirants emerging to succeed the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

These aspirants include notable figures like Senator Gabriel Suswam, Humphrey Abah, Phillip Salawu, Emmanuel Agbo, and Conrad Terhile Utaan.

Stakeholders from the North Central Zone have reportedly engaged in lobbying efforts, including reaching out to former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, though Mark has outrightly rejected involvement, while Saraki’s potential participation faces challenges due to current representation from Kwara in the NWC.

Expected attendees at the meeting include representatives from the six North Central states, serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly, former NEC members, state party chairmen, and other key party figures.

Conrad Utaan, one of the aspirants for the chairmanship, has expressed his commitment to setting a new agenda for the party, emphasizing his ability to unite factions and restore the party’s political essence.

In the midst of these developments, Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman, has reportedly appealed to the North Central Caucus to allow him to complete Ayu’s tenure while yielding the deputy chairmanship to the zone.

However, this proposal has been met with resistance from some stakeholders.

In a related development, the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives reportedly experienced disagreement over a move to pass a vote of confidence on Damagum. While some members rejected the attempt, others called for a reconciliatory agenda to resolve the party’s internal disputes.

The National Working Committee has announced that the National Caucus meeting will also convene today, preceding the NEC meeting on Thursday, with measures in place to address pending litigations and ensure a cohesive path forward for the party.

The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, has shed light on the assembly’s decision to investigate the loans obtained during the tenure of the immediate past governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Liman, speaking on Tuesday after the assembly established a 13-member committee to conduct a fact-finding mission on financial transactions, loans, grants, and project executions from 2015 to 2023 under El-Rufai’s administration, emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the previous administration’s expenditures.

He reassured the public that the matter would be thoroughly examined, promising transparency and giving everyone the opportunity to express their truths.

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“We are conducting this investigation to ensure accountability and transparency in governance. We aim to ensure that the legislature maintains its independence and does not become a rubber stamp,” Liman stated.

“Our goal is not to ridicule anyone but to uphold the principles of good governance and fiscal responsibility.”

This development occurs two weeks after El-Rufai’s successor, Senator Uba Sani, disclosed inheriting a substantial debt load of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual obligations from the previous administration.

Governor Sani lamented the adverse effects of the debt burden on the state’s finances, highlighting that the current exchange rate significantly inflated the repayment amounts. He expressed concern that a significant portion of the state’s federal allocation was being diverted to service debt obligations, leaving insufficient funds to cover essential expenses such as salaries.

While El-Rufai’s son publicly criticized the governor for alleged incompetence, El-Rufai refrained from direct comment on the matter.

At a recent Capacity-Enhancement Workshop for Senior Government Officials in Borno State, El-Rufai, serving as the lead speaker, made veiled references to governance in Kaduna, emphasizing his non-interference in state affairs.

He underscored his desire for Governor Sani to learn independently, distancing himself from any godfather role in Kaduna politics.

El-Rufai also praised Professor Babagana Zulum of Borno as Nigeria’s exemplary governor, further indicating his focus on leadership and governance beyond Kaduna.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has wrapped up its defence in the petition brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, challenging the election victory of Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State.

During Tuesday’s proceedings at the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, INEC’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku, announced the closure of the commission’s case after submitting additional documents against the SDP’s petition.

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Njoku informed the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudo, that INEC did not plan to call any witnesses, having thoroughly reviewed the petitioners’ case, the evidence presented during cross-examination, and the documents already tendered.

“In light of the evidence and documents presented thus far, INEC finds it unnecessary to prolong the proceedings by calling witnesses. Therefore, INEC respectfully requests to close its case,” stated Njoku.

Justice Birnin-Kudo accepted the closure of INEC’s case and adjourned the tribunal until April 16 for Governor Ododo, the 2nd respondent, to begin his defence.

The SDP and its gubernatorial candidate are contesting the outcome of the Kogi governorship election held on November 11, 2023, challenging the victory of Governor Ododo from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In earlier proceedings on Tuesday, Njoku informed the tribunal that INEC had complied with the court’s order by submitting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the election.

He tendered three sets of documents related to the BVAS, which were admitted as exhibits by the tribunal.

Although objections were raised by SDP and Ajaka’s lawyer, Pius Akubo, SAN, regarding the tendering of documents without the actual exhibits, the tribunal ruled in favor of admitting the documents as exhibits.

Meanwhile, Governor Ododo’s legal counsel, Ibrahim Sanni Mohammed, SAN, confirmed his client’s readiness to begin his defence on Wednesday, assuring the tribunal of their preparedness.

With INEC’s defence concluded, all eyes are now on Governor Ododo as he prepares to present his case before the tribunal in response to the SDP’s petition.