Television Nigerian

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, has been encouraged to drop out of the 2027 contest by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group of the Igbo Sociocultural Organization.
In a statement released on Sunday by its deputy president general, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group said that Obi lacked the political qualifications necessary to depose President Bola Tinubu.
It further stated that Obi’s interest in the 2027 election might turn the Igbo people into political lambs in Nigeria and sabotage further political endeavors.

Although the submission may be awkward, Isiguzoro continued, Ohanaeze will not back down from the harsh reality, pointing out that the Igbo people are fed up with playing opposition politics under Peter Obi’s direction.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organization, considers it our grave obligation and great responsibility to present Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, with a harsh and unsettling reality,” the statement says.

“With the highest regard and unwavering honesty, we must state that you do not now possess the political patience and the necessary brutality necessary to defeat seasoned politician and incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections.

“Under your leadership, it would be devastating and a serious threat to our collective life to allow the Igbo people to be seduced into poorly planned political conflicts. We might be used as political pawns in such a situation, solidifying the reputation that we are Nigeria’s most vulnerable group if you fail in your election campaign.

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It is crucial to stop and consider the difficult query: why are the Igbo people in Nigeria so often treated with contempt? Can we really understand how a tribe that was once respected and revered—that had notable ancestors like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Michael Okpara, Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, and Dr. Jaja Wachuku—has been reduced from a position of prominence to one of insignificance and is now categorized as a majority within a minority? Our immediate and complete attention is required in light of this sobering reality. It’s clear that our current situation is largely the result of political miscalculations by individuals like Mr. Peter Obi. We must not be afraid to express this harsh reality: the Igbo people are tired of sluggishly enduring opposition politics for over ten years under Mr. Obi’s leadership.

In response to three Northern organizations’ questions about the possible resuscitation of the Eastern-Northern Alliance of the First Republic and their worries about Mr. Obi’s ties to Southeast secessionist activists, we would like to make our stance clear. Any agreement that would allow Igbos to operate their lawful enterprises without being subjected to discriminatory state regulations or unfairly singled out as an endangered community is still welcome by Ohanaeze Ndigbo. We reiterate our commitment to Nigerian unity, pledge our adherence to the Nigerian Constitution, and extend our full support for all lawfully elected positions, including the presidency currently occupied by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

We must be open about our concerns with the second question from Northern leadership about Mr. Peter Obi’s ability to protect and preserve the geographical integrity and dignity of Nigeria as a single entity, as well as his reliability with political authority. There are serious doubts about Mr. Obi’s capacity to keep Nigeria united in light of his deeds and inactions. The entire foundation of our country may be threatened if he were elected president, and it might even become divided into three separate countries.

As the crucial elections of 2027 draw near, we urge all parties involved to carefully consider the ramifications of their political decisions. A strong commitment to unity and wise decision-making are essential to the future of our wonderful country.

Reports of an altercation between Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Senate President Godswill Akpabio at a recent executive session have been denied by the Senate.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, called the allegations false and deceptive in a statement released on Sunday.
The reports, he maintained, distorted ordinary parliamentary procedures as evidence of internal strife.

“Our attention has been drawn to various media reports that state that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele fought during an executive session recently held to discuss whether the Senate should proceed on annual recess,” the statement said.

“There is not a shred of truth in the reports. All together, they misrepresent long-standing customs and practices in parliaments around the world, where members, irrespective of their political inclinations, use the tools of parliamentary debates, questions, or interpellations to discuss every initiative in a decisive and diverse manner prior to approval or authorization.

The Senate spokeswoman said that heated debate is still a feature of parliamentary democracy and does not reflect a lack of unity among members.

As the highest legislative body in our nation, the Senate is not any different. Every bill, motion, and proposal is examined closely in our Chamber virtually every day, just like in other parliaments.

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“This calls for vigorous discussions in which members examine and evaluate each proposal that comes before the Senate solely for the benefit of more than 230 million Nigerians,” he stated.

Whether in plenary or committee meetings, Adaramodu emphasized that the discussions should not be interpreted as private disputes or indications of disunity among Senate leadership.

He came to the conclusion that policy debates, whether in a chamber or a committee room, should not be interpreted as disputes between members or as indicating a weakness in the leadership.

According to Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2023 election, several coalition members now regret joining up with the ADC.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai, and former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman John Oyegun are reportedly among the coalition leaders.
Other notable figures include former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, former Ebonyi Governor Sam Egwu, former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal,, and former Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke.

Kachikwu said in an interview with The Volume Pod that the opposition coalition is headed in the wrong direction and will eventually collapse.

Kachikwu contested the coalition’s validity, pointing to ongoing legal battles over ADC leadership.

He asserted that Ralph Nwosu had no power to hand over leadership of a contentious alliance to chosen individuals after his tenure as ADC national chairman ended two years ago.

Speaking on the opposition leaders’ alleged bribery of ADC state chairpersons to support their adoption of the party as an alliance platform, Kachikwu stated that only the court has the authority to determine the ADC’s future.

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They are travelling along a pretty slick path that leads to failure, he said. Nothing can be built on top of nothing.

“The decision by two courts in two distinct jurisdictions that this man’s [Nwosu] tenure had ended was correct.

Therefore, there is nothing that they [ADC] would do that would be rational. No national executive committee (NEC) or convention has been held since Nwosu’s term ended two years ago.

“The American Drug Club has been attempting to have a convention. INEC really refused to recognize the two conventions they conducted.

“That’s the party’s problem. We [ADC] are dealing with unique situations that our constitution never intended to cause a rift inside the party.

“All of these men are now realizing that they were wrong to come to this party without addressing these problems, as they are contacting me through multiple individuals.”

The All Progressives conference (APC) delegates’ conference and the Abuja Metropolitan Area Council (AMAC) primaries have not yet been concluded, and party leaders are still accusing the event of irregularities.

During a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, a candidate for the chairmanship of the 2026 AMAC council, accused the recent primaries “held on June 25, 2025” of “gross injustice, deliberate exclusion, and abuse of internal democracy.”

Yamawo apologized for the exercise’s secrecy and informed media that the chairmanship primary victor was a pre-selected candidate.

Additionally, he denounced as a sham the behavior of the party’s delegates congress, which was held throughout AMAC’s twelve wards.

After completing all constitutional criteria to run for the chairperson, including acquiring the nomination forms and expression of interest for 20 million naira (N20 million), Hon. Yamawo, who was clearly concerned, stated that he had anticipated “transparency and fairness” in the process.

In order to guarantee that delegate candidates would be eligible to attend the delegates congress, I also paid for and filed delegate forms and paid the three-year dues.

Inconsistencies, a lack of openness, and outright manipulation plagued the process,” he bemoaned.

The chairmanship candidate gave an explanation of the actions taken to settle the disputes through internal party channels, saying, “In response to this, I formally submitted a petition to the Delegate Congress Appeal Committee, rejecting the process and demanding a rescheduled congress that would truly reflect the will of the people.”

“Neither the appeal committee nor the APC National Secretariat have acknowledged or responded to me as of yet.

The APC National Headquarters-sent committee arrived with a predetermined agenda that was obviously intended to give preference to one candidate over others.

He voiced worries, insisting that “this degree of exclusion and manipulation sets a dangerous precedent.” It tells the world that internal democracy and fairness are no longer important to the APC.

If these serious injustices continue, our party’s future is in jeopardy. In our ranks, it demoralizes devoted members and promotes impunity.

“I speak not just as an aspirant in the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship primary election for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), but as a founding member of the APC in AMAC and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a devoted and active member who has paid his dues and served this party with unwavering commitment since its inception,” parts of a statement he signed said.

“I complied with all constitutional procedures to run for chairmanship as an APC financial member. The Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms were purchased by me for $20,000,000.00.

In order to guarantee that delegate candidates would be eligible to attend the delegates congress, I also paid for and filed delegate forms and paid the three-year dues.

In my opinion, this procedure would be open, trustworthy, and consistent with our party’s basic principles of justice, equity, inclusion, and internal democracy.

To our utter surprise, the delegates’ convention that took place on June 21, 2025, throughout AMAC’s twelve wards, was a total farce.

“The APC National Headquarters-sent committee arrived with a predetermined agenda that was obviously intended to give preference to one candidate over another.

There were anomalies, a lack of openness, and plain manipulation throughout the process.

I officially petitioned the Delegate Congress Appeal Committee in response, stating that I disapproved of the procedure and called for a new congress that would accurately represent the people’s will.

“Neither the appeal committee nor the APC National Secretariat have acknowledged or responded to me as of yet.

The party leadership at the national level remained utterly mute in spite of our repeated demands for justice, including a follow-up letter asking that the Chairmanship primary be rescheduled.

“Even worse, neither I nor any other candidate received any official notification that the primary election would begin on June 25, 2025.”

“There was a lot of secrecy around the process, and by the time the results were revealed, a pre-selected candidate had won an election that I and many others were purposefully left out of.

In addition to being unacceptable, this betrays every tenet upon which the APC was established.

In several wards, particularly Gwarimpa Ward, the councillorship primaries were equally rife with anomalies, as if that weren’t enough.

In one startling case, a candidate who lost the primary for councillorship was proclaimed elected and even given a certificate of return. We cannot tolerate this flagrant disrespect for due process.

A risky precedent is formed by this degree of exclusion and manipulation. It tells the world that internal democracy and fairness are no longer important to the APC.

If these serious injustices continue, our party’s future is in jeopardy. In our ranks, it demoralizes devoted members and promotes impunity.

The following demands are made by me as a devoted party member and stakeholder:

An independent investigative committee should be established by the party leadership and the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Professor Nantawe Goshwe Yilwatda, to examine:

The way the AMAC Delegates Congress behaved.

“The Primary for Chairmanship and Councillorship,

issuing unauthorized certificates of return.

“That the AMAC Chairmanship primary on June 25th be canceled and that a new, inclusive, and credible primary be held in compliance with the party’s constitution.”

“That the party publicly recognize and respond to petitions filed by candidates, including mine, and address all valid complaints.”

To be clear, I maintain my commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the principles of the All Progressives Congress, a man whose leadership continues to motivate many of us.

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However, we run the risk of offending the same people who founded our party if we permit injustice, exclusion, and deception to continue.

“I implore all of our party’s members, leaders, and genuine progressives to stand up for the party’s core values.

“The selection of well-liked and competent candidates who can win the general elections is no longer reflected in the party ticket; instead, it now represents those who have the support of wealthy and influential sponsors. The future of our party is seriously threatened by this increasing tendency of imposition.

The party has seen a sharp drop in member loyalty, and many no longer believe the party can maintain justice and equity.

Therefore, it is imperative that we prevent the avaricious interests of a select few from destroying the foundation that millions of people have labored to establish over the years.