Politics
Group Wants Atiku’s Return To PDP
A group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the PDP Renaissance Group has called on former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to return to the party.
The National Coordinator, PDP Renaissance Group, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu who stated this in a statement made available to newsmen last Wednesday, also called on other PDP chieftains who left the party to answer the clarion call to national duty by returning to the PDP where they properly belong.
Iwuanyanwu who is a known political apostle of the former vice president averred that Atiku had no business whatsoever in the APC.
He stated that the PDP Renaissance Group would be leading a high profile delegation to the former vice president and other eminent leaders who left the party or who have been alienated by the cabal that hijacked the party and brought it on its knees, warning that under no circumstance should PDP go back to Egypt.
“The exit of some of those who were the architects of the political misfortunes of Atiku in the PDP and the high profile conspiracy in the APC to politically extinct him by the same forces now gathered in APC, the former Vice President has no business whatsoever in the APC,’’ he said.
While appreciating the circumstance which compelled Atiku’s exit from PDP, Chief Chyna Iwuanyawu reiterated that with the olive branch being waved and the magnanimity of the present leadership of the PDP, the coast may have been cleared for Atiku’s return back to the PDP.
“Former vice president Atiku has been in a political wilderness, in a strange land, co-habiting with strange bed follows who are ideologically incompatible with his patriotic vision for Nigeria and his democratic antecedents and credentials.
“With the recent resolution of the crisis that nearly consumed the PDP, the leaders and members of the party have learnt great lessons and are totally committed to taking the party back to the vision of the founding fathers of the party, one of whom is the former vice president,’’ he said.
He however expressed satisfaction with the resolve of the present leadership of PDP to stamp out impunity, imposition, god-fatherism and the lack of internal democracy which were at the centre of the crisis that led to a disastrous outing in the 2015 elections.
The PDP stalwart noted that PDP Renaissance Group is a group of party patriots, who came together to embark on advocacy against injustice, imposition and hijack of the party and the national political space by those he described as “Pharaohs” in the party.
He confirmed that members of the group were in support of the reconciliation initiative and the opens door policy of the leadership of the party and stated that “concrete steps must be taken to reach out to aggrieved parties to heal the wound of the past.”
Iwuayanwu stated that the PDP Renaissance Group has been vindicated by the policy thrust of the caretaker committee and commended Senator Ahmed Markarfi for giving the party “a purpose driven-leadership which has enabled us to navigate the storm”.
Senator Makarfi’s resignation comes on the heels of the national convention that saw the emergence of the new Chairman of PDP, Dr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
In his letter of resignation, which was addressed to the PDP BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday evening, the former governor said, “Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees may recall that about two months ago I had resigned as Secretary of the Board and posted same on the Board’s WhatsApp platform.
“Mr Chairman, you may also recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a Chairman.”
He added that the principal reason he initially tendered his resignation then “and now, was and is still my belief that the National Chairman of the Party and Secretary of the Board of Trustees should not come from the same geopolitical zone.
“Now that a chairman has emerged from the North West, where I come from, it’s necessary to give him full space to do the needful. Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17th, 2025.”
While commending the BoT Chairman for his support during his tenure as Secretary of the Board, he stressed, “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as Secretary,” adding that, “I also appreciate all Board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as Secretary.”
Meanwhile, Dr Turaki on Monday pledged to ensure that power returns to the Nigerian people, urging the judiciary to uphold the tenets of democracy.
Dr Turaki, while giving his acceptance speech after the swearing-in of new officers at the end of the Elective Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, assured that there will be “no more impunity, no more suppression of the will of Nigerians”.
The chairman appealed to the judiciary to uphold the principles of stare decision, abiding by the decisions of the Supreme Court, and not to “willingly or unwillingly put yourselves in a situation where, rightly or wrongly, it may be assumed, correctly or incorrectly, that you are part and parcel of the process to truncate Nigerian democracy.”
According to him, the new leadership of the party would be open to listening to the yearnings of members, with a view to aligning with their will, declaring that “No more monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,” adding that “if baboon wants to chop, baboon must be seated to work.”
He noted that the PDP has maintained its original name, motto and logo, unlike the other parties that started with it, making it a recognised brand anywhere in Nigeria.
Mr Agboke, in a statement on Monday, said that conducting party primaries in line with the law was important ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC has fixed August 8, 2026, for the governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Adegoke appealed to all registered political parties in the state to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the commission’s guidelines and regulations for the conduct of their primaries.
“The commission emphasises the need for the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful primary elections that reflect the will of the party members as a panacea for the reduction of pre-election litigations.
“We observed that primary elections have often been a source of pre-election litigation, which can be avoided if parties follow the laid-down procedures and guidelines.
“INEC, therefore, urges all political parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in a transparent, democratic, and peaceful manner. All aspirants should be given equal opportunities to participate,” he said.
Mr Agboke stated that, in line with the guidelines released by INEC’s national headquarters, the political parties’ primaries for the 2026 governorship election in the state are scheduled to take place between November 24 and December 15.
He said INEC was prepared to provide necessary support and guidance to parties to ensure that their primaries are conducted in accordance with the law.
“We call on all stakeholders, including security agencies, to support the commission in its efforts to ensure peaceful and credible party primaries.
“INEC will continue to monitor the activities of political parties and take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law against any party that fails to comply with the electoral laws and regulations,” he said.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has strongly condemned the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi.
The bandits’ attack led to the abduction of 25 female students as well as the reported killing of the vice principal of the school.
Reacting to the mass abduction on Monday, the chairman of the forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, described the kidnapping as tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.
In a statement by his media aide on Monday, Gov. Yahaya stated that the continued targeting of schools posed a grave threat to the region’s stability and the nation’s educational future.
Gov. Yahaya, on behalf of the northern governors, commiserated with the government and people of Kebbi State, especially the families of the abducted students and those who lost their lives in the attack.
He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the forum’s solidarity and support during this difficult moment.
He said that schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence, warning that continued assaults on educational institutions threatened to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region.
Mr Yahaya expressed deep concern over the trauma the abducted schoolgirls may be facing and called for an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government and security institutions, Gov. Yahaya stated that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the forum.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies in the collective efforts to rid the region of criminality.
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