Politics
PDP Reps Score Buhari Low
The minority caucus in the House of Representatives has congratulated Nigerians for crossing into a New Year, urging them to face 2021 with greater optimism and faith despite the sour experiences of the last year.
The caucus noted the “vigour and intensity” of its legislative activities in 2020, while pledging to intensify all statutory activities especially, legislative oversight, to ensure prompt execution of projects that have direct bearing on the welfare of the people.
This is just as the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House criticised the regime led by the President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party, APC, for mismanaging the affairs of the country.
The minority caucus, in a New Year message issued by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, charged government at all tiers to give more attention to youth development, education, health care, food security programmes, economic empowerment through job creation and support for hard-working entrepreneurs.
In a separate statement by the leader of the PDP caucus, Kingsley Chinda, titled, ‘We Must Remain Resilient and Patriotic,’ the opposition lawmakers said, “Our situation in Nigeria was further worsened by a poor and dwindling economy, now in the worst recession ever, and several incidents of kidnappings, killings and general insecurity across the county, occasioned by an inept, visionless, clueless and failed leadership of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.”
Meanwhile, former South-West Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Eddy Olafeso has asked for an end to all divisions within the party in the region.
The former Information Commissioner in Ondo State who stated this in his new year message signed by his Media Aide, Wande T. Ajayi in Akure, the state capital, lamented that the nation was sliding into its worst recession in 30 years.
“Our Party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), remains strong and better whilst a need to ensure unity amongst our people remains a priority. “
“Unity is critical in our resolve for future victories in coming elections. We have had enough of the wranglings amongst us and it will only endanger our chances in future elections.
“We must close ranks now. I beg all to sheathe swords and charge toward a common course.”
Olafeso also asked the nation to take lessons from the previous year, 2020.
“The previous year was filled with all sorts of surprises. From a pandemic, the deadly COVID-19, that ravaged the whole world to a protest that shook the core fibre of this country, the #EndSARS protests.
“We may have learnt our lessons never to see anything impossible and that our youths have resolved to seek a better future for themselves.
“The year, surely, has taught us so many lessons and I urge us to keep living safely while we hope for an end to the pandemic,” he said.
“I encourage our governments to make the empowerment of our youths their topmost priority.
“Our future is in their hands and we must strive to do all to keep it safe”, he said.
However, Olafeso also charged the Federal Government to do all within its might to take the country out of recession.
“Our country slides into its worst recession in 30 years and though the future looks bleak with the current crop of leaders at the helm, we can, however, hope on God for a better future while we pray our leaders to take extraordinary measures to take us out of this absolute poverty we have found ourselves as a nation.”
Olafeso said, “ In all, I pray that this year shall usher in blessings, joy, hope and peace to all in this country, Nigeria, the South West Zone, my dear Ondo State and my Party, the PDP.”
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
