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Bode George to Atiku: You can’t be president in 2027

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7 months ago

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Former Deputy National Chairman  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, says former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, must wait till 2031 if he wants to contest for president again.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, lost to the incumbent President Bola Tinubu.

George, in a statement on Wednesday, said that a southerner must occupy the office of the President and Commander in Chief from 2023 to 2031 “because that is the reality of our country, PDP constitution and our polity”.

“Even in 2027, Atiku will be 81 years and this is the time for him to embrace the President Joe Biden concept of allowing the younger generation to run for the highest office in the land.

“I have nothing personal against Alhaji Abubakar. He is my friend but the truth must be told. By 2027, by God’s Grace, I will also be in my 80s.

“So, what am I looking for in public office as an octogenarian? The same principle should apply to Alhaji Abubakar.

“We all saw what American President, Joe Biden, did recently when he stepped down for Kamala Harris to contest the November presidential election.

“That is the hallmark of a statesman. Alhaji Abubakar should do same so that in 2027, PDP will field a southerner as presidential candidate,” George, a former military governor of Ondo State ,said.

According to him, the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner from Katsina State ,just left office after ruling for eight years.

He said that power at the federal level could not go to the North in 2027 because “that is the reality of our country and our party’s constitution”.

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George said that Section 7, Sub-section 3 (C) of the PDP Constitution stated that zoning and rotation must be maintained for justice, fairness and equity.

He added: “In our party, this is the right and logical thing to do in the present political circumstances.

“But if Alhaji Abubakar is desperate to contest again, I will advise him as a friend, a party man and brother to wait till 2031. By then, he will be 85 years.

“As loyal party members, we must continue to respect PDP Constitution. Fair is fair. I joined the PDP in 1998 and I have remained in this party since.”

The PDP chieftain said that he was elected National Vice -Chairman (South-West) and later,Deputy- National Chairman and now, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and one of the respected elders and credible voices of our party.

He said: “I have not defected to any other party. While I was in Wadata Plaza, Alhaji Abubakar was in the Villa as Vice President. So, we know ourselves and the two of us know the principles guiding this party.

“We should not do anything that will destroy our party and the country. In 2027, the concept of Turn-by-Turn Nigeria Limited must be strictly followed by our party.

“PDP must look for a southerner to wrest power from the APC because that party of strange bed fellows wants to destroy this country, economically and politically.

“So, Nigerians are waiting for us to rescue them in 2027 but a southerner must lead the battle,” he said.

George described as laughable, a report by Abubakar’s media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, calling him (George) a tribal bigot, over his position on power rotation.

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“I read a report by one of Alhaji Abubakar’s media aides accusing me of tribalism,  I just laughed. My best friend today is a Fulani man, Admiral Murtala Nyako.

“I was the Director-General of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2007 elections. The late president trusted me. So, I cannot be accused of being tribalistic.

“I also served the military well. My records are there for all to see. But, you know in politics, people can say anything to tarnish your image. Despite that, the truth must be told. What you will not accept, don’t give to others.

“I can boldly say that I am a detribalised Nigerian and a committed  member of the PDP. I don’t harbour any disdain or hate for Alhaji Abubakar or any other PDP member,” he said.

George urged every member of the party to” embrace and respect the entrenched principles of zoning and rotation, bestowed on the party by our founding fathers since inception in 1998, “no matter whose ox is gored.

“The principles explicitly stipulate that, at the end of every eight years, all elective and party offices should change from the northern divide to the southern divide  and vice versa.

“That is the position which I will continue to champion till thy kingdom come!,” he said.

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Court Restrains INEC From Receiving Petition To Recall Natasha Akpoti

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1 hour ago

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March 22, 2025

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The federal high court in Lokoja has granted an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator.

The court granted the order on Thursday following an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an “affidavit of extreme urgency”.

On Wednesday, videos circulating on social media appeared to show constituents signing documents as part of the recall process. A source in Kogi had confirmed that efforts to recall the senator were underway.

Court documents seen by TheCable showed that the application was filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi central. They were represented by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co.

The court order prohibits INEC and its representatives from accepting or acting on petitions linked to the recall, which the applicants claim contain fictitious signatures.

The order also bars the electoral commission from conducting a referendum on the matter until the substantive case is resolved.

“That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion,” the order reads.

The order of the court and the motion on notice are to be served on the defendant (INEC).

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Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

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Tranquility in Rivers is National Assembly’s overall interest – Deputy spokesman

Published

17 hours ago

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March 21, 2025

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The Deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese (APC-Benue) says the overall interest of the National Assembly is the restoration of tranquility and order in Rivers.

Agbese said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, after the National Assembly ratified the emergency rule declared on Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Tinubu suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Gov. Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as sole administrator.

NAN also recalls that the emergency rule was declared following the lingering political face-off between Fubara and the state assembly, and subsequent threats of violence and protests by some stakeholders in the state.

According to the deputy spokesman, peace and order in the entire country is what is needed to allow good governance to thrive.

Agbese said the national assembly is a “micro-Nigeria” and it will always do its best to ensure peace in the land.

“We cannot deny that the challenges in Rivers need to be fixed; in his wisdom, Mr President intervened and sought the approval of the national assembly to ratify his declaration,” he said.

The deputy spokesman said the house, however, made some amendments to the proclamation, expressing hope that the move would restore peace between both warring parties.

The rep said t the house recommended a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate between both parties with the view to restoring tranquility.

He said the house also recommended that the emergency rule should be lifted as soon as peace is restored before the expiration of six months.

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Agbese urged Nigerians to support the national assembly as well as President Tinubu in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Rivers. (NAN)

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PDP denies defection of elected LG chairmen to APC in Edo

Published

2 days ago

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March 20, 2025

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The Edo Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said all its 18 democratically elected chairmen are with the PDP contrary to reports that they have defected to the APC.

Publicity Secretary of Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, said on Thursday in Benin City that those claimed to have defected were not local government chairmen but impostors.

According to Nehikhare, those who defected are impostors because all duly elected chairmen under PDP are still PDP members.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Fred Itua said on Wednesday that 17 out of the 18 local government chairmen had defected from PDP to APC.

The statement also quoted Gov. Monday Okpebholo as predicting that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 election with a landslide.

However, Nehikhare dismissed the defection claim as misleading and clarified that no PDP chairman had defected, adding that all PDP chairmen were still with the PDP.

Nehikhare criticized report as unfortunate, stating that it was an attempt to deceive the public and maintain control within the party.

He said, “To set the record straight, contrary to the misleading claim made in the statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, no single chairman of the PDP has decamped.

“All duly elected local government chairmen under the PDP in Edo are fully intact. See attached photo.

“The people whom they referred to as ‘chairmen’ in the press statement are the illegal appointees whom they are trying to impose on the various local government areas.

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” it is quite unfortunate that the situation has degenerated into the point where APC assemble impostors while trying to assure the president and their party leadership that they are in control.

“Whoever they are trying to deceive or impress should be wary as there have been no political gains as was incorrectly portrayed in the misleading press statement.

“What happened in the festival hall of the Edo State Government House, can at best, be described as content creation for the viewing pleasure of the general public,” Nehikhare said. (NAN)

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