Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has refuted remarks reportedly made by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, suggesting that he must obtain clearance before visiting the state.

Speaking on Thursday in Onitsha, Obi emphasized that he is not deterred from going to any region in Nigeria.

His comments came during a ₦50 million donation ceremony to his alma mater, Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha.

The funds, contributed alongside other alumni, are intended to boost the school’s infrastructure and learning environment.

Christ the King College, established in 1932, boasts an impressive list of alumni, including Dr. Peter Odili, former Governor of Rivers State, and former Anambra governors Peter Obi and Willie Obiano.

During his address, Obi stated: “I am not afraid of visiting any state in Nigeria, particularly when the purpose is to support causes that contribute to nation-building, such as education, health, and poverty alleviation.”

He expressed concern over the political interpretations of his recent trip to Benin, clarifying that the visit’s main objective was to support improvements in the state’s healthcare sector.

“I went to Benin to invest in a better life for the people. If they have good doctors and nurses, life will be better for them. What I expect the governor to do is to complement efforts aimed at improving society,” Obi explained.

Speaking on his donation to CKC, Obi described it as a token of appreciation to the institution that played a critical role in shaping his principles and character.

“This school helped form the values I and many others still hold dear today, discipline, moral grounding, and academic excellence. Supporting it is a way of giving back,” he said.

He also encouraged other alumni across the nation to contribute to their former schools, stressing that government alone should not bear the weight of educational advancement.

Receiving the cheque, the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke also an alumnus praised Obi and his fellow donors for their commitment to education and national progress.

He offered prayers and urged others to follow their example.

CKC’s Senior Prefect, Master Ejike Ekene, called Obi a role model and a source of motivation, expressing sincere gratitude on behalf of the students for the substantial support.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has delivered a blunt appraisal of his party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Channels ‘Politics Today’, the former governor said “PDP will come fourth in 2027 general election.”

Fayose, a long-standing figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), painted a grim picture: the party faces internal turmoil and dwindling relevance.

He accused PDP leaders of being unfocused and failing to galvanize a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He referred to the current fate of PDP as potentially relegating it to political irrelevance, noting that unless the party confronts its internal challenges, it could become a “carcass.”

This dire prognosis echoes earlier warnings he issued in June 2025, when he visited President Bola Tinubu and lamented PDP’s crisis.

He emphasized “If something drastic is not done, the party will become a carcass. That is the gospel truth.”

Fayose has also publicly pledged to oppose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 candidate, should Atiku run again in 2027

“I publicly worked against Atiku, and I am saying for the second time, if Atiku comes again, I will work against him. It is time to learn our lesson.”

He criticized the idea of an opposition coalition against President Tinubu as unrealistic, describing it as “a dead horse and a waste of time”.

Former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido has firmly denied any association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, asserting that his loyalty remains with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that shaped his political path.

During a media chat in Kano on Tuesday, Lamido acknowledged the internal struggles within the opposition but emphasized he would be the last person to join the ADC coalition, dismissing rumors about his alleged support for Peter Obi under the ADC banner.

He stressed that a genuine political coalition should rest on shared values such as unity, stability, security, and national prosperity, not personal ambition or vindictiveness.

“For me, a coalition should have clear parameters, why are we coming together? It should be for democracy, unity, stability, security, and prosperity. These should be the unifying factors, not personal ambition, vengeance, or revenge,” he said.

Lamido reaffirmed his commitment: “I remain in PDP because I cannot walk out of my skin and crawl into a smaller one, like the ADC.”

He added that while he is open to supporting a candidate, inside or outside his party who is focused on restoring Nigeria’s lost glory and ousting the ruling party in 2027, he draws the line at coalitions built on individual alliances rather than party institutions: “What we have today is a coalition of individuals from various parties, including the Labour Party, PDP, and others, who are not coming together as institutions of political parties. The coalition is made up of individuals, and that’s why I say, I will not join it.”

Lamido also criticized the APC federal government for using state institutions to intimidate opposition members, and faulted President Tinubu’s administration over escalating insecurity, which he said has fractured national unity under political pretenses.

When asked if supporting an external candidate would breach PDP norms, he invoked past defections by PDP governors: “Who are those PDP governors who defected, to destroy the PDP federal government? They came from Adamawa, Sokoto, Kano, Rivers, and Kwara states. So, why accuse me of being anti‑party?”

He continued: “If members of the party obey its rules and constitution, there wouldn’t be a problem. There’s something majorly wrong in the PDP. In Osun State, a sitting PDP governor just declared support for Tinubu.”

“Did anyone call him to ask what that means? Wike, who is now an APC minister, has said he will work against the PDP. Is that anti‑party? What is it then?”

Lamido concluded by emphasizing the need for internal reform, calling on PDP members to recommit to the party’s founding principles:

“For the PDP to redefine itself, its members and leaders must be ready to adhere to the party’s founding rules, constitution, and philosophy.”

Amid growing internal tension and rumors of defections, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, has issued a strong message to party members allegedly engaged in political double-dealing.

Speaking at the Consultative Conference of Founding Fathers and Stakeholders held in Abuja on Wednesday, Damagum called for loyalty and discipline, urging such individuals to choose between full commitment to the PDP or exiting the party altogether.

“You cannot be in PDP and in coalition with another party. We cannot do this,” Damagum stated firmly during his address at the NAF Conference Centre.

“If you are going, don’t market us. Most of you actualised your political aspirations through this party. We are telling you, come back. But if you must go, do so with clarity, not duplicity.”

Calling for ideological coherence and party discipline, Damagum warned against what he described as “double game politics.”

He said the PDP will no longer tolerate members who try to straddle multiple political camps.

“You can’t belong to two parties at once. You are either with us or you’re not. If you’re not, kindly leave and stop destabilising our ranks,” he asserted.

He paid tribute to the party’s founding fathers, including Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, and Professor Jerry Gana, describing the PDP as a political force born from a struggle against dictatorship.

“We have spent too much time trying to reconcile. Now, we must truly do it and move forward,” Damagum added, stressing the need for internal unity and national relevance.

In solidarity, Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, aligned with Damagum’s position.

He praised PDP governors for their performance and questioned the logic behind defecting to less-established political platforms.

“How is it smart to leave PDP, a party with history, structures, governors, and national presence, for a party with no offices?” Mohammed asked.

“Some of those leaving today were once accommodated, even after they caused our loss in 2015. We don’t want to insult them. But if you have to go, don’t disparage the PDP.”

Mohammed urged both elders and former members to return and help rebuild the party, which he described as the only national political platform with credible structures and a commitment to democratic governance.

He specifically praised governors like Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) for setting examples through impactful leadership.

Former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki also addressed the gathering, advising party members not to quit the PDP out of frustration.

“Leaving PDP should not be an option. The option is being fair to everyone. We can resolve our differences and move forward,” he said.

Saraki acknowledged the challenges the party faces but underscored its resilience and ability to self-correct.

“Let us agree to fix what is broken. I will never give up. I am a fighter and I believe we can restore PDP to its past glory,” he added.

As political alignments continue to shift ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, former presidential aide Laolu Akande has called for a fresh political direction, urging Nigerians to reject the recycling of old political figures and instead demand authentic leadership rooted in reform and policy.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme aired on Thursday, Akande expressed concerns over the current state of opposition politics in Nigeria. While he acknowledged the flaws within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he argued that the party remains more structurally organized than its opposition rivals.

“We need new faces, but they still have old folks,” Akande said, referring to the tendency of opposition parties to rely on familiar political actors rather than introducing credible alternatives.

According to him, the opposition continues to lean on outdated strategies and personalities that fail to inspire confidence among Nigerians.

“The characters at the forefront are not the ones that can get the job done. Nigerians would not be inspired by the same old personal vendetta politics,” he added.

Akande’s remarks follow recent comments by Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, who stated that his principal, Peter Obi, could contest the 2027 elections without him.

Akande interpreted this as a sign of internal discord within the Labour Party (LP).

“If the coalition is serious, Datti should be at the forefront to assure Nigerians of real change,” he noted, suggesting that the LP lacks cohesion and clarity in its direction.

He further criticized the opposition for lacking a clear manifesto and leadership identity.

“I think APC has better arrangements,” Akande said. “While the APC has issues, the opposition appears disorganized and without a clear political identity.”

He emphasized that the opposition seems more preoccupied with removing President Bola Tinubu than with offering Nigerians tangible policy alternatives.

“The opposition has allowed a dominant narrative to thrive, one that appears fixated on removing President Bola Tinubu without presenting viable policy alternatives,” he stated.

On the state of affairs within the APC, Akande acknowledged that while internal restructuring is ongoing, the party is taking deliberate steps to strengthen itself ahead of the next election cycle.

He referenced Wednesday’s high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, hinting at the possibility of a new national chairman.

“I think it is reasonable that there would be a new chairman today,” he said.

“There’s a visible onslaught toward the APC, but it’s easier to see where things are headed within the ruling party,” Akande added, stressing the importance of unity within the APC for electoral success.

He called for more civic participation and a shift toward issue-based politics.

Akande urged political leaders and parties to focus on addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including poverty, corruption, and institutional reform.