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2027: Why trouble is looming for Makinde

Published

3 months ago

March 26, 2026

Trouble is looming for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the 2027 general elections draw nearer.

This is as he might have been left in the cold with yesterday’s decision of the Taminu Turaki group to embrace the Wike-backed National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC).

Turaki, told reporters that it was time to sheath the sword and reconcile with the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led NCWC for peace to reign in the party.

This position contradicts what Makinde said twice in the last five days.

In Bauchi on Sunday during his visit to Governor Bala Mohammed, Makinde he would not leave the PDP but vowed never to work with the Wike-backed Mohammed NCWC.

He added that working with the NCWC would amount to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an ideal he does not believe in.

On Monday in Ibadan, during a meeting of his supporter in the state, Makinde reaffirmed his position not to go into reconciliation with the NCWC.

He told his supporters that while he will remain in PDP, those of them gunning for elective offices will get his support to contest on another platform.

He promised to make the platform known to them on April 18.

However, unity is finally about to return to the troubled PDP.

Turaki announced its readiness to bend backwards for the sake of peace in the party, which once dubbed itself Africa’s biggest political party.

Also in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike declared that the PDP NCWC, which he backs, remains open to reconciliation with all aggrieved groups in the party and their members.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of his group in Abuja, Turaki said leaders of the party had broken the ice by exploring various pathways to ending their disagreements.

Turaki added that it was resolved at the meeting to direct its supporters to immediately de-escalate high-tempered communications and actions, so as not to jeopardise the troubleshooting efforts.

He said: ‘’I can unequivocally confirm that, as of today, leaders on both sides have broken the ice and are exploring various pathways towards a lasting resolution.

“We urge our supporters across the board to immediately de-escalate high-tempered communications and actions, so as not to jeopardise the ongoing peace efforts.

“We have hope and confidence that we can still work together. We have confidence that in life, there are times to fight and there are also times to make peace. But even when you choose to fight and go to war and win the war, you also need to win the peace.

“So, if you have a pathway to winning the peace without necessarily going to war, why not take peace and forgo the war?

“Let me also add that we understand that in human life, every time something good is coming your way, there are people from unimaginable and unbelievable quarters—sometimes those you think are friends or family—who will be the first to rise and truncate those good things coming your way.

“I am not saying there are no good elements on both sides whose sole intention is to protect peace in this country. I am saying some people are fighting so that this party will go down.

‘’ From last night, these two elements have been identified and fleshed out in the discussions between the two sides.

“We have chosen the path of peace in the overall interest of party members, particularly our teeming supporters who want PDP to remain an effective platform for the forthcoming elections.

“As soon as we reach agreeable terms…. we will willingly withdraw all cases in court to give peace a chance.

‘’On the issue of compromise, we are willing to bend as far as our necks and backs allow. We are ready to make all sorts of sacrifices in the overall interest of the party. PDP will not die.

“Everything possible will be done to make this reconciliation work because nothing is impossible. Issues such as attendance at the convention are among those to be discussed.

‘’Once these matters are deliberated upon, the parties and delegates will decide whether the convention needs to continue. These issues are on the table and will be considered carefully.’’

He assured those interested in seeking elective positions that they would be fielded in compliance with Article 6(2) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

Turaki also appreciated Nigerians who have continued to show interest in our party and have registered via our e-registration platform, www.iampdp.org.

He said the NWC passed a vote of confidence in Governors Bala Mohammed(Bauchi) and Seyi Makinde(Oyo) for their resilience and steadfast leadership in the face of recent challenges.

Wike: No faction in PDP, no going back on convention

Also yesterday, FCT Minister Wike insisted there was no division in the PDP.

“We have only one PDP, no faction,” he said, but admitted there are disagreements within the party whose convention will hold in Abuja.

The minister spoke with reporters after inspecting ongoing and completed projects in the FCT.

Wike said: “I don’t know which camp you are talking about. There is only one PDP. Some individuals may not be happy, yes, but there is no faction.”

He added that reconciliation efforts would continue alongside preparations for the party’s convention.

“That there is a convention does not mean there will be no reconciliation. Everything has its own time,” he noted.

In Ilorin, the PDP in Kwara State said it would attend the national convention in spite of the internal schism at the national level.

‘’Kwara PDP is non-aligned. We don’t belong to any of the tendencies in the PDP,” the state Chairman, Isa Adamu, said after an emergency meeting.

Adamu added: ‘’We will not leave PDP unless it reaches a point that it is no longer a viable vehicle for contest in Nigeria.’’

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chibudom Nwuche, also called for an end to internal disputes and litigations in the party.

Nwuche, in a statement yesterday, called for reconciliation and unity within the party.

He urged all aggrieved party leaders and members to set aside their differences and embrace peace for the overall good of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statement followed the successful holding of the 107th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Monday in Abuja.

Nwuche, according to the statement, urged stakeholders to return to PDP and take advantage of the ongoing reconciliation and consolidation ahead of the national convention on Sunday.

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News

Bullet sounds boom as election approaches

Published

19 hours ago

June 11, 2026

News Diggers

Tension gripped Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Tuesday following violent clashes between supporters of the ruling Accord Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which left one person dead and two others injured.

The incident, which occurred in several parts of the city, also triggered heavy gunfire that sent residents fleeing for safety in panic as security operatives and political supporters allegedly exchanged shots in different locations.

The injured victims were rushed to the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital and other private medical facilities in the state capital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses said the violence began around 1:30pm when a convoy allegedly conveying APC supporters moved through parts of the city, including Akoda and Aisu junction. The movement was said to have sparked a confrontation with some Accord Party supporters, escalating into shooting.

Gunshots were later reported in areas including Owode, Aisu, Olaiya, Oke-Fia, Government House axis, and Old Garage, throwing the state capital into confusion as residents scampered for safety.

It was further gathered that security operatives attached to the convoy allegedly fired shots sporadically in an attempt to disperse attackers at Aisu junction and other flashpoints, further heightening tension across the city.

Reacting to the violence, Governor Ademola Adeleke described the attacks as “unprovoked and outrageous,” alleging attempts to destabilise the state. He called on the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security heads to intervene urgently, especially after visiting victims at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital and other health facilities.

Adeleke also accused unnamed political actors of sponsoring violence, claiming that recent months had seen repeated attacks targeting members of the Accord Party across the state. He further alleged that security agencies had not acted decisively to arrest perpetrators.

According to him, earlier reports of violence also emerged from Ile-Ife, particularly the Sabo area, before spreading to Osogbo and Ede.

“The attackers in a 15-vehicle convoy branded with AMBO pictures further launched attacks at Owode. They then proceeded to Olaiya, Old Garage, Oke-Fia and even around Government House,” the governor alleged.

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution political actors allegedly linked to the unrest, insisting that elections must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the Accord Party chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, also condemned the violence, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the incident and alleging the involvement of the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji.

Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.

News

Criminals, not bandit killed army officer- Police

Published

20 hours ago

June 11, 2026

News Diggers

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that five persons, including a soldier and a local hunter, died during a violent attack in Magbon Etido, Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the incident was an “isolated criminal attack” and not a bandit operation as speculated in some quarters.

According to the command, the attackers struck the community, killing a soldier who was on security duty and injuring another military personnel, who is currently receiving treatment.

The assailants also abducted four residents during the raid. Babaseyi said police operatives, working alongside the military and other security agencies, immediately launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

He added that one of the abducted victims was rescued alive, while the remains of the other three were later recovered during the operation.

During the subsequent bush-combing exercise, a local hunter assisting security operatives was reportedly killed in an encounter with the fleeing suspects.

“The Command extends its condolences to his family,” the statement said, while assuring that efforts were ongoing to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.

News

2027: North rules out Tinubu, says policies on economy highly disappointing

Published

2 days ago

June 10, 2026

News Diggers

The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, has said President Bola Tinubu has lost considerable political goodwill in Northern Nigeria since the 2023 general election, citing worsening economic conditions and insecurity.

Mohammed-Baba made the remarks during an interview on PrimeTime on Arise Television on Monday, where he criticised the country’s political leadership and expressed disappointment over the lack of clear policy direction from major political actors ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, the North has become increasingly disillusioned with the political class, which he accused of prioritising personal ambitions over the welfare of citizens.

“I have not seen a party that articulates a clear policy ambition or an ideological standard. The average northern voter is disillusioned and has been for a long time,” he said.

“We have tried all kinds of permutations—northern candidates, Muslim-Muslim tickets, and so on. It seems to the average northerner that all this politics is about personalities and personal interests. It is not about people.”

Assessing Tinubu’s administration, Mohammed-Baba said the impact of government policies had been difficult for many Nigerians.

“The impact of his policies on the economy and especially on individual lives has been highly disappointing, if not disturbing,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the security situation across parts of the country, arguing that the government’s response had fallen short of expectations.

“Furthermore, the insecurity thing, no matter what the government says, is getting worse,” he said, noting that discussions around the deployment of forest guards had come only after renewed attacks in parts of the country.

Mohammed-Baba warned that communities increasingly resorting to self-help in the face of insecurity posed a threat to the authority of the state.

“We are gradually normalising self-help—that unless you do something, the government will not be there to protect you. That undermines the essence of the role of the state,” he stated.

The ACF spokesman also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as a “recurring decimal” in Nigeria’s presidential politics.

“I don’t see anything from him that presents an alternative apart from saying this government has failed,” Mohammed-Baba said. “Where is the beef?”

On Peter Obi, he argued that the former Anambra State governor had failed to sustain whatever political goodwill he enjoyed in the North before the 2023 elections.

“He has moved to two or three parties. The question we ask is: what does he want?” he said.

Mohammed-Baba further criticised Obi’s running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over comments he said appeared to compare himself with revered northern figures such as Ahmadu Bello and Aminu Kano.

“In the North, that is very irreverent. It would be highly delusional for him to go that far and say he presents an alternative,” he said.

“An alternative in terms of what? Has he articulated anything on the economy, security, or infrastructure? When you keep talking about things in abstract terms that run counter-intuitive to what the people have held on to, you will run into trouble.”

Asked to identify a potential presidential aspirant capable of winning northern support ahead of 2027, Mohammed-Baba declined to endorse anyone.

“We are waiting to see,” he said.

He also cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against complacency, warning that attempts to weaken opposition parties through defections and legal battles could backfire.

“Nothing fails like success. Be very careful, because sometimes complacency can spring surprises,” he said.

Mohammed-Baba rejected suggestions that the North remained a unified voting bloc capable of determining election outcomes on its own.

“No one region can determine on its own the outcome of a presidential election, and the North has never been able to do so alone, outside of military rule,” he said.

With rising fuel prices, increasing numbers of out-of-school children and persistent attacks by bandits in parts of the North-West, Mohammed-Baba maintained that Nigerians were searching for leaders with practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

“Is there anybody offering an alternative now?” he asked. “I don’t see anything.”