….Says Atiku on his way out of PDP
…It was against my people’s will

Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has revealed that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recall that, Atiku was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, with Okowa as his running mate.

On March 20, 2023, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and others jointly announced the creation of a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

The move has sparked ongoing discussions about the potential for a united opposition, with political leaders expressing varied opinions.

Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Okowa—who officially joined the All Progressives Congress on Monday—expressed regret for not aligning with his people in supporting a southern candidate in 2023 instead of accepting the role as Atiku’s running mate. He said, “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.

“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party, and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”

He added that the election of the current Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, proves that the people still have confidence in their leadership.

Okowa added, “That showed the people still believed in us, believed in me. They said you’ve done well, and we will support the governor you have chosen. And they did.”

When asked about his communication with Atiku before leaving the PDP, Okowa responded, “I actually did communicate with him that we were going to have stakeholders meetings this week (in the last week) and that it was going to be a leadership meeting and the outcome of that meeting was going to determine our next path because we were no longer comfortable with the PDP.

“And I also know that he is already heading out of the PDP from the communications he has passed on to me, and that Nigerians know already.”

A general court-martial (GCM) in Enugu state has sentenced Adamu Mohammed, a soldier, to death by hanging for killing Hauwa Ali, his girlfriend.

A statement on Tuesday by Jonah Unuakhalu, acting deputy director of 82 division, said the court also sentenced Abubakar Yusuf to 10 years imprisonment for robbing a mall in Enugu.

Delivering the judgment, Sadisu Buhari, president of the 11-member GCM sitting at the 82 division of the Nigerian Army, said Mohammed was found guilty of murder under section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act of 2004.

Buhari noted that that the judgement was handed down after a “careful” review of the soldier’s record, his compassionate plea for mitigation and in the interest of justice for the deceased.

“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder,” Buhari said.

He said the panel also found Yusuf guilty of robbery, punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act of 2004.

The GCM president added that the court considered the plea presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, and applied the judgement to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the army.

“However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying on the provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, hereby sentences the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment,” he added.

Buhari reassured the public of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

He noted that the findings and sentences pronounced for both soldiers are subject to confirmation by the “appropriate authority”.

Barring any last minute change of plans, the National Working Committee, (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to meet today at the party headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The meeting even though the regular gathering of the National Working Committee, is expected to take some far reaching decisions in view of the prevailing situation in the party.

Also, the meeting is coming on the heels of the defection of the party’s former Vice Presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, alongside Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other key party members, who were formally received to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday. This is one of the largest defections the PDP has faced in recent years.

In addition to the situation in Delta, there has been an increasing exodus of high-profile members from the party, a result of the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP.

Agenda for today’s meeting

Reliable sources have informed Daily Trust that today’s meeting will discuss, and possibly confirm, the proposed May 27th date for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The NEC session, which has been postponed multiple times, is now slated for that date following a resolution by the PDP Governors Forum.

During their most recent meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governors decided to collaborate with the NWC and other relevant organs of the party to ensure the NEC meeting takes place on 27th May, 2025.

Another key issue on the agenda is the leadership vacuum in Delta State following the departure of key party figures. Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum has proposed the establishment of a caretaker committee to continue managing the party’s affairs in the state.

Speaking at the party headquarters last Thursday during the presentation of a certificate of return to Ezenwafor Jude, the PDP’s candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, Damagum said: “We will immediately take over our structures by setting up a caretaker committee. We are still taking stock, but this will be done promptly. I also want to remind our members in Delta and across the country about what happened in 2023. Obi had no governor but still managed to gather significant votes, which impacted the ordinary man’s livelihood. The decision is ultimately in their hands. This election is between the APC and the people.”

Ongoing controversy over national secretaryship

Despite a Supreme Court ruling on the matter, controversy continues over the position of National Secretary within the PDP. Senator Samuel Anyanwu maintains he is still the party’s National Secretary, while the governors have appointed Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, as acting Secretary.

At the last meeting in Ibadan, the governors reiterated that the court had granted the party the authority to appoint its leaders and instructed the South-East Caucus to nominate a candidate for the position, which would then be ratified by the NEC before assuming office.

The governors had earlier approved Koshoedo as acting National Secretary. Damagum, a known ally of Anyanwu, has instructed the National Secretariat staff to recognise Koshoedo as acting Secretary and provide the necessary support.

A memo signed by Alhaji Gurama Bawa, Head of Administration for the acting Chairman, clarified this decision, stating that Koshoedo would remain as Acting National Secretary “until further notice.”

The memo further directed all party correspondences to be sent to Koshoedo and asked staff to cooperate fully with him in his temporary capacity.

PDP will reorganise, says Osadolor

Timothy Osadolor, a prominent PDP chieftain, told Daily Trust that the party is working to restore order, urging leadership to take firm action to move the party forward.

He commented on the upcoming NWC meeting: “The party is expected to take a position on recent defections, reassess the state of the party across the country, and communicate its stance. They will also review preparations for the 2027 elections.”

Osadolor addressed the situation in Delta, saying: “When people prioritise personal comfort over integrity and national interests, this is the outcome. The sacrifices needed for democracy to thrive must be made by all. However, this experience serves as a lesson. We will be more discerning in selecting those entrusted with leadership positions in the future.”

Despite the ongoing defections, Osadolor remains confident that the party will weather the storm. “The PDP has endured worse crises. Former vice presidents have left the party, but it did not collapse. The electorate remains our strongest ally. They have repeatedly proven their support for the PDP.”

He further suggested that those with divided loyalties should leave the party, allowing those with clear intentions to take their place. “It is essential that the party does not shy away from taking tough decisions to maintain its integrity,” he added.

Ojo calls for action among opposition parties

Political analyst, Dr Jide Ojo, also weighed in on the situation, urging opposition parties to resolve their internal issues quickly.

He stated: “If the opposition parties are to blame the APC for attracting their members, they must first acknowledge their own shortcomings. Every political party has internal conflicts, but how the PDP, Labour Party, and others manage these issues is crucial.”

Ojo pointed to the crisis within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), where internal disputes have led to the expulsion of party leader Rabiu Kwankwaso and the defection of elected members to the APC in Kano. He also noted ongoing tensions in the Labour Party, where Julius Abure continues to claim the position of chairman despite being contested by other factions.

Ojo questioned the PDP’s leadership structure, pointing out the confusion surrounding the National Secretary position. “The party has an acting National Chairman and acting National Secretary, yet they are reluctant to conduct congresses and convene a national convention. This indecision is hurting the party’s credibility.”

He suggested that many opposition parties serve as “special purpose vehicles” used to attain power without fostering lasting unity or cohesion. “Political parties must develop robust conflict resolution mechanisms if they wish to retain their members and prevent them from crossing over to the ruling party,” he argued.

Reflecting on the broader political landscape, Ojo emphasised that the tactics being employed by the APC are not new. “The PDP did the same during its 16 years in power. Any party in government will attempt to weaken the opposition by poaching its members,” he said.

Ojo also criticised Atiku Abubakar’s efforts to form a coalition, claiming that his personal ambitions are preventing the opposition from uniting. “Atiku’s desire to be the presidential candidate for any coalition he forms is the root cause of the lack of support from the party’s governors. This is why they are not backing his plans.”