The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced his withdrawal from all previously agreed reconciliation arrangements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing key party leaders of betrayal, dishonesty, and repeated breaches of agreed terms.

In a statement released on Sunday, Wike traced the root causes of the PDP’s internal conflicts back to the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.

He lamented the party’s continuous decline into “dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders.”

“Since after the 2023 General Election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another,” Wike stated, emphasizing that numerous attempts were made to “arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery.”

The former Rivers State governor and influential G5 group member blamed Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for undermining the reconciliation efforts, accusing him of being “the architect of our problems.”

“I made it clear to the Governor of Oyo State, HE, Seyi Makinde, that he was the architect of our problems, pointing out to him that non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly,” Wike revealed.

He disclosed that during a G5 meeting in Lagos, party governors resolved to put aside their differences and move forward.

This was followed by a broader gathering in Abuja at Senator Bukola Saraki’s guest house, attended by Governors Bala Mohammed, Umaru Fintiri, Makinde, Saraki, and other top PDP officials.

According to Wike, the Abuja meeting resulted in clear resolutions such as recognizing Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment, withdrawing all court cases related to Rivers State by the party’s National Legal Adviser, and ending disputes about the state of emergency in Rivers.

However, Wike lamented that these agreements were “quickly and brazenly violated,” even before the Saraki-led reconciliation committee could commence its work.

“To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as Secretary, they would pull out of the PDP,” he alleged.

Wike further accused party officials of sidelining Anyanwu by presenting the Deputy National Secretary as acting National Secretary and using a letter from him to call for a National Executive Committee meeting, moves he said were “in complete violation of the agreements reached.”

He cited an incident on May 24, 2025, in Jos, where a PDP zonal elective congress was aborted because INEC refused to attend.

The refusal was because the invitation letter was signed by the Deputy National Secretary, not the duly recognized National Secretary.

“This is undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, to say the least,” Wike declared.

Reflecting on his long tenure with the PDP since 1998, Wike expressed disappointment that those he helped elevate politically had turned against him.

“It is on record that none of these persons have done anything close to what I have done to sustain this party.”

“What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so,” he added.

Declaring a turning point, Wike announced he has lost faith in the trust and unity that once existed among party members and would no longer take part in reconciliation efforts.

“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” he concluded.

As at the time of this report, the PDP had not issued an official response to Wike’s latest stance.

Neither Makinde nor Mba has responded to Wike’s accusations.

A crucial political meeting aimed at forming a united opposition front, featuring former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was thrown into disarray when delegates from Jigawa State caused a major disruption.

The high-stakes gathering, which brought together top political figures, ended in confusion as tensions flared among the attendees.

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A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hycienth Ngwu, has commended President Bola Tinubu for implementing impactful policies and programmes that are producing tangible results nationwide.

Ngwu, who previously served as the South-East Publicity Secretary of the APC, made this known in a statement released on Sunday in Enugu.

The statement, titled “Laying Solid Foundation for a Prosperous Nation: the President Bola Tinubu’s Strides,” assessed President Tinubu’s two years in office.

He noted that from the moment President Tinubu assumed office, he signaled a departure from the status quo and set out to transform the economy in a way that would benefit not just the current generation but future ones as well.

“From Tinubu’s first day in office, he made it clear that it would not be ‘business as usual’ and he would transform the economy to sustainably cater for all citizens, and those yet unborn,” Ngwu said.

According to him, Nigeria now has a leader with the determination to back his words with action, implementing policies aimed at benefiting all Nigerians, not just a privileged few.

“Nigerians now have a President with strong will-power and who is walking his talk as well as pushing agendas meant to benefit every Nigerian and not a few,” he added.

Ngwu outlined some of what he called “game-changing policies,” which include the removal of fuel subsidy, revitalisation of refineries, floating of the naira, the Nigeria First Policy, tax reform legislation, and inclusive governance across political divides.

“By his removal of the fuel subsidy, he has been able to save trillions of naira which has been put to use for the massive developments in roads, educational, health, power infrastructures among others at both Federal, state and local government levels,” he said.

Ngwu further explained that the country is now refining its crude oil domestically, which is gradually reducing the need for importation and lowering fuel prices, thereby easing pressure on the naira in the foreign exchange market.

“Nigeria as at today is refining its crude oil to petroleum products; thus, minimising importation, gradually reducing petroleum product prices and this has been able to stabilise and ease the pressure on the naira in terms of foreign exchange,” he said.

He emphasized the economic benefits of such stability, saying, “With this stability, businesses can plan and make reasonable projections. Moreover, the exportation of the finished refined products from the country will further strengthen the value of Naira to external currencies.”

Ngwu also highlighted the floating of the naira as another vital policy step, noting its potential to rejuvenate the economy through increased exports and foreign investment.

“This will enhance the real sector’s capacity, create massive employment opportunities and sustainably grow our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

He said the “Nigeria First” policy complements this by promoting domestic production and strengthening job security, noting, “The implementation of the ‘Nigeria First’ policy will be the catalyst that will work with the flexible naira policy for a robust increase in manufacturing capacity, employment opportunities, and job security.”

Ngwu drew parallels with global examples to support the policy’s credibility.

“Most advanced countries of today, engaged in this policy one time or the other before their economies stabilised.”

“There was a time we used to degrade made in China products, but today Chinese products are top brands selling in every country. We will achieve this feat, if we maintain the ‘Nigeria First Policy’,” he said.

He further praised the introduction of the Tax Reform Bills, aimed at streamlining tax processes and boosting compliance while addressing the problem of over-taxation.

“The Tax Administration Reform Bills are intended among other things to provide clearer procedures and responsibilities for taxpayers, enhance compliance, and reduce inefficiencies and multiple taxation. Multiple taxation remains the bane of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria,” Ngwu stated.

He concluded by asserting that the policies of the current administration are not accidental but strategic and focused on long-term national development.

“All these policies are deliberate and strategic. Things are getting better. The economy is stabilising for sustainable growth. Naira and inflationary pressure are moderating.

“Policy summersault has no place in this administration. What they say, they meant, and they do.

“Inclusivity in governance regardless of party affiliation has been the driving force for the administration in the past two years.

“This explains why the President is at home with almost every person, party, local and foreign institutions,” Ngwu added.

Lawal (middle), Atiku (left), El-Rufai (Right)

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Babachir Lawal, has said he has no regrets supporting Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, even though he remains a member of the ruling party.

In a recent interview, Lawal addressed rising questions about the strength and prospects of a growing opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He clarified that his decision to back Obi was rooted in principle and a reaction to the exclusionary politics he observed within his own party.

On the issue of opposition defections to the APC, Lawal acknowledged that political dynamics are often misunderstood from outside.

“If you aren’t in a room, you won’t be able to know what is happening in a room. So, from outside, you begin to conjure all manner of ideas… I can tell you that anybody is free to comment. It is a democracy; nobody can ever say you can’t vote out an elected president,” he said.

Despite being a farmer, Lawal stated that he remains actively involved in the coalition’s activities.

“I would be an idiot if I leave my most important vocation to take coffee and snacks,” he remarked, highlighting his ongoing commitment to the coalition’s objectives.

He was clear that the coalition is not built solely around Atiku’s ambitions.

Citing the involvement of other key figures such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, he said, “I don’t see why Amaechi will waste his time and attend meetings designed to make Atiku a presidential candidate.”

According to Lawal, the coalition’s goal is to create a democratic platform for transparent leadership selection.

He explained the process: a national convention would elect a trusted leadership team, who would then oversee primaries at all levels, ward, local government, and state, and later conduct party congresses.

He emphasized that the coalition accommodates members with diverse ambitions and fosters internal democracy.

Addressing speculation about a potential Atiku-Obi alliance, he dismissed such talks as premature.

“How can he make a deal when he isn’t yet the presidential candidate? It is after the convention and somebody wins that the party can sit down and begin to say, Who do we make a vice-president?” Lawal said.

On the question of Rabiu Kwankwaso’s involvement, Lawal clarified that while he is not part of the coalition, he is also not in opposition to it.

He noted Kwankwaso might be observing the developments before making a move.

He also downplayed fears that defections to the APC could threaten the opposition’s strength.

“If I contest House of Assembly election in my local government, and I am defeated… I will quickly defect to that party, contest there and take it,” Lawal stated, pointing to the fluid nature of Nigerian politics.

Responding to reports that the coalition may adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform, Lawal said no final decision has been made.

“We have narrowed down to a few political parties and we will negotiate,” he said, explaining that technical committees are currently reviewing party constitutions and legal structures to identify the most suitable option.

Lawal ruled out using the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, citing unresolved internal issues.

He said the PDP’s management problems, including the failure of reconciliation efforts such as the Saraki Committee, made it an unstable choice.

He predicted that more PDP members would eventually migrate to the coalition.

Despite still being in the APC, Lawal reiterated that his support for Peter Obi in 2023 came from a place of conviction.

“Political party isn’t a religion. Even in religion, people proselytise; you change,” he said, emphasizing that appealing directly to voters, rather than blind party loyalty, is the coalition’s strategy.

Addressing accusations that the coalition represents Northern entitlement or harbors anti-Southern sentiment, Lawal pointed to the harsh realities in the North.

He said that despite a Southern president, the North continues to suffer from insecurity and underdevelopment.

“If you see how we are being decimated in the North, through Boko Haram, banditry, kidnappings, lack of infrastructure… We can’t even farm. There is hunger and fear,” he said, urging Southern critics to be more understanding.

He dismissed claims that the insecurity problem predates President Tinubu’s administration.

“That’s not an excuse. The president is elected to solve problems, not to allow them to fester. Before he is ready, we will be dead!” Lawal warned.

Finally, Lawal firmly stood by his 2023 choice: “I’ve no regrets supporting Peter Obi in 2023 despite being an APC man.”

He added that had he aligned with the current APC government, “I would have been the most miserable person on earth,” referencing the economic hardship Nigerians are currently facing.

He strongly criticized the APC’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying it disregarded qualified Northern Christians.

“The Muslim-Muslim ticket symbolises the marginalisation that we are facing. At that level, I couldn’t accept it,” he concluded.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of 21 distinguished Nigerians to lead various federal agencies, aiming to bolster public sector reforms and enhance institutional efficiency.

In a statement issued on Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the new appointments, which include high-profile political figures such as former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, ex-Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, and former Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

Onanuga stated that the appointments reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to “improve government reforms and rejuvenate public institutions.”

Among the notable designations:

Ibrahim Shema has been named Chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Philip Shaibu takes over as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Sport.

Anyim Pius Anyim will serve as Chairman of the National Merit Awards.

Ken Nnamani has been appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

Full List of Appointees and Their Designations:

1. Ken Nnamani – Chairman, Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies

2. Ibrahim Shehu Shema – Chairman, Federal Capital Development Authority

3. Anyim Pius Anyim – Chairman, National Merit Awards

4. Philip Shaibu – Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Sport

5. Isa Aremu – Director-General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies

6. Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani – Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC)

7. Asabe Vilita Bashir – Director-General, National Centre for Women’s Development

8. Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe – Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Abuja

9. Abubakar Umar Jarengol – Executive Director (Operations/Technical), NAIC

10. Babaranti Ayandayo Rasheed – Executive Director (Finance and Administration), NAIC

11. Professor Almustapha Alhaji Aliyu – Managing Director, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML)

12. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu – Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education

13. Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya – Chairman, Nigerian Agricultural Land Development Authority

14. Tijjani Yahaya Kaura – Director-General, Centre for Citizenship and Leadership Training

15. Abdullahi Mohammed – Executive Director (Monitoring and Implementation), Nigeria–Sao Tome Joint Development Authority

16. Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim – Executive Director (Finance/Admin), Nigeria–Sao Tome Joint Development Authority

17. Hamza Ibrahim Baba – National Program Manager, Government Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Program (GEEP)

18. Joseph Haruna Kigbu – Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission

19. Senator Jalo Zarami – Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission

20. Segun Aina – Director-General, Academic Staff College of Nigeria

21. Abubakar Adamu – Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria

The appointments come amid ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to reposition key institutions for better performance and accountability.

Prominent Nigerian cleric and founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has issued a stark warning to voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a new prophecy shared during a recent interview, Ayodele cautioned Nigerians against voting for a group of high-profile politicians, stating that their leadership would worsen the country’s challenges.

He specifically named five key figures; former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

“Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Bala (Mohammed), Seyi Makinde will make things more difficult for Nigerians, even worse than what Nigerians are going through under Tinubu now,” the cleric warned.

According to Ayodele, electing any of these individuals in 2027 would lead to even greater national distress.

“Voting for any of these politicians in the next election will be more disastrous. Nigerians must never contemplate the choice of any of these politicians,” he declared.

Despite previously criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Primate Ayodele urged Nigerians to remain patient with the current government.

He believes Tinubu deserves a second term and predicted that it would bring better outcomes than his first.

“Ayodele has taken Nigeria to where it is now will also bring the nation out of its current situation in his second term,” he said, expressing optimism that Tinubu’s leadership will yield improvement over time.

The prophet, known for his controversial but widely followed predictions, claimed that his messages come from divine visions.

“I am saying it as it was revealed to me. I don’t have anything to do with Tinubu or his foot soldiers. Some people may view this as a contradiction to my earlier prophecy, but they cannot fault the efficacy and the fulfillment of these prophecies. Everything I foretold has turned out exactly the way I said it,” Ayodele stated.

He also issued a broader warning about political realignments and coalitions forming ahead of the 2027 elections.

He cited the growing alliance between Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, who have reportedly united to challenge President Tinubu.

Additionally, Primate Ayodele revisited past prophecies, including his December 2024 claim that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would be released. Despite this, the IPOB leader remains on trial for terrorism-related charges.

That same year, Ayodele predicted that economic hardship would persist for four more years under Tinubu’s presidency, asserting that the government lacked a solution to alleviate suffering.

Yet in this latest vision, the cleric now portrays Tinubu’s second term as a path toward recovery.

The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Iliya Damagum, has faulted the party’s disciplinary committee for failing to act on multiple petitions that, if addressed, could have curbed the disruptive influence of some members, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Speaking during an interview on the BBC Hausa programme Gane Mana Hanya, Damagum said the committee received over 40 petitions but only acted on oneone, a decision he believes left the party vulnerable.

“The committee was handed over 40 petitions that needed attention, but it only chose to act on that of the national secretary. If the committee had acted on those petitions, maybe we would not be here today,” he said.

He disclosed that there were strong grounds to remove Wike and others from the PDP but lamented that action was not taken.

“We advised them that the five of them should be expelled from the party, but nothing was done until the elections came and gone.”

“They succeeded in setting the party back with the things they did. Now that I am leading the party, they are putting pressure on me to expel him.”

Damagum also reflected on his personal dynamic with Wike, attributing their frosty relationship to the collapse of Wike’s ties with others in the party.

“Before I knew him, many of those people had known him and had a relationship with him. They were enjoying his magnanimity. My only sin to them is that I came at a time when their relationship had collapsed.”

He stated that Wike’s disruptive role was evident well before the 2023 elections.

“We advised them that the five of them should be expelled from the party,” he repeated, stressing that their actions harmed the PDP at a critical moment.

While some are urging him to take punitive measures, Damagum signaled a more reconciliatory approach.

“I want peace in the party. By the time you keep expelling members rather than peaceful resolution of issues, one day you will wake up and no more people in the party.”

On Wike’s sway within the party, Damagum offered a striking example: “When the FCT minister single-handedly brought the embattled Rivers State governor as the candidate of the PDP, nobody asked him how he did it. Now, there is a problem between them. How do you expect the party or me to come in?”

He went on to accuse some top figures in the PDP of failing in their duties, contributing instead to the crisis through selfish or divisive actions.

According to him, “these influential figures act as though they are untouchable, effectively holding the party hostage through their behaviour.”

Damagum, a PDP member since 1998, reaffirmed his loyalty, saying, “I have political discipline and principles. I cannot jump from one party to another. I don’t have any reasons to do that.”

He acknowledged recent defections but downplayed their significance, maintaining that the PDP would emerge stronger.

“It is going to make the party come out better and stronger than what it is now,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2027, Damagum dismissed the idea that party switching would determine electoral outcomes.

“It is not the number of defections that will make the APC win the 2027 general elections; it is the electorate, Nigerians who will cast votes to elect a president. In 2027, it is President Bola Tinubu versus Nigerians, not the APC.”

Damagum also hinted that some defectors were driven by self-interest.

“Those leaving the party have one or two things to hide, looking for safe landing from possible persecution or maybe looking for more money in their bank accounts.”