₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has executed a major internal shake-up in Akwa Ibom State, dissolving the party’s executive committee four months after Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s high-profile defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, firmly stated that the decision was necessary because the party’s local excos had effectively fallen under the control of the departing governor and, by extension, the opposition APC.

Dependable NG reports that the political dynamics in the state changed drastically on June 6 when Governor Eno left the party, making him the second PDP governor in the South-South region following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to cross over to the APC in under two months. Akwa Ibom State had been a PDP stronghold since the return to civil rule in 1999, making the governor's exit and the subsequent internal crisis a major setback for the opposition party.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ologunagba offered a detailed justification for the National Working Committee's action. He explained that a careful review had revealed no discernible difference in loyalty between the Akwa Ibom executive members and their alignment with the All Progressives Congress.

“In Akwa Ibom State, the governor has left. We have noticed at the National Working Committee and party level that there seem not to be a difference between the members of the executives in that state and their alignment with the All Progressives Congress,” Ologunagba stated. He further invoked the party’s constitutional provision, citing Section 10, Subsection 6, which explicitly states that no member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the PDP or any of its selected governments.

The National Publicity Secretary described the situation as an "anathema," arguing that it is constitutionally unacceptable to belong to two parties simultaneously. He stressed that the PDP’s belief is that the Akwa Ibom executives were being effectively controlled by Governor Eno, who is now a member of the APC. Ologunagba noted that the governor himself had been recorded on tape stating that he would be "in charge of the two parties," a clear indication of compromised loyalty that necessitated the dissolution of the chapter to prevent further sabotage of the party's interests in the state.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a major lawsuit that sought to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this year. The ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, effectively validated the presidential action against the legal challenge.

Dependable NG reports that the suit, which was instituted by Belema Briggs and four other plaintiffs, was dismissed primarily because the court found that the applicants lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the case. Justice Omotosho explained that none of the five plaintiffs were able to establish that they were members of the State Executive Council or the House of Assembly, nor could they prove that they suffered a unique injury greater than that of the general populace of Rivers State.

Furthermore, the court noted that the plaintiffs had not obtained the necessary approval, or fiat, from the Attorney General of the state to initiate the case on behalf of the residents. Justice Omotosho added a strong jurisdictional point, stating that the originating process ought not to have been filed in the Federal High Court at all, as the determination of the validity of a presidential proclamation of emergency is a matter that falls under the exclusive and original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

On the substantive issues, Justice Omotosho strongly supported the President’s justification for the emergency rule, noting that the claim that the intervention prevented a looming breakdown of law and order was undisputed by the plaintiffs. He ruled that the President acted under the appropriate Emergency Rule Order and that the allegations of a breach of fundamental rights could therefore not stand.

The court concluded that the case was frivolous and baseless, and that the proclamation of the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly members were proper and in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, having been done to avert anarchy and chaos in the oil-rich state. The emergency, during which retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas served as Administrator, ran for six months until President Tinubu ended it on September 17, citing restored political cooperation and stability.

Following the judgment, legal counsel to the plaintiffs has indicated that the decision will be immediately challenged on appeal, ensuring that the critical constitutional questions surrounding presidential emergency powers will be tested at the higher courts.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emphatically denied any suggestion that he plans to step down for another candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The denial comes in response to media reports that allegedly misinterpreted an interview he granted in Hausa, creating a false narrative about his political intentions.

Dependable NG reports that Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, issued a statement on Thursday to clarify the situation. Ibe stated that a “thorough review of both the video and transcripts” of the interview with BBC Hausa Service confirmed that at “no point did the former Vice President expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone.”

Ibe insisted that the core of Atiku’s comments was an encouragement for democratic participation. “What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest,” Ibe clarified. He added that the Waziri Adamawa further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.

The aide cautioned against stretching journalistic interpretation “to the point of mischief,” maintaining that the insinuations attributed to Atiku “are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.”

The controversy arises as Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), prepares to run on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Atiku formally resigned his membership from the PDP in July, citing irreconcilable differences and a divergence from the party’s foundational principles. Atiku was a key figure in the PDP, serving as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and twice running as the party’s presidential flagbearer in 2019 and 2023.

The ADC, which Atiku has joined, is increasingly being positioned as a unified rallying point for opposition heavyweights determined to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has successfully wrapped up a major week-long diplomatic mission, returning to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York and concluding strategic engagements in Germany. The trip was characterized by high-level meetings aimed at advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy and economic agenda on the global stage.

Dependable NG reports that the Vice President's activities at the UN were pivotal. He delivered President Tinubu's official national statement, which included a strong appeal for comprehensive reforms within the United Nations system. Crucially, VP Shettima also used the international platform to champion the cause of African sovereignty over the continent’s vast mineral wealth, estimated at $700 billion, calling for stronger control by African nations over these critical resources.

The mission focused heavily on securing strategic global partnerships. During his time abroad, Shettima strengthened ties with key international stakeholders, including the United Kingdom and the Gates Foundation. A significant diplomatic win came during his meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where he secured the Secretary-General’s commendation for Nigeria’s longstanding bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Economically, the Vice President actively courted global investors, specifically showcasing Nigeria’s massive $200 billion energy transition opportunity. This engagement was part of a larger push to attract foreign direct investment necessary to meet Nigeria's ambitious climate and development goals.

Before proceeding to his engagements in Germany, VP Shettima also met with members of the Nigerian diaspora community, offering assurances of their robust inclusion in the policies and programmes of the President Tinubu administration, underscoring their vital role in national development.