Politics
Lar: PDP Assures On Befitting Burial …As Amosun, Omisore, Others Mourn
The National Chairman of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that the party would ensure a befitting burial for the late Chief Solomon Lar, its pioneer National Chairman.
Tukur, who said this in Abuja when he briefed newsmen, said the party would greatly miss Lar who was “a light in the political firmament.’’
He said the vacuum created by the death of Lar would be difficult to fill “because he was an emancipator of the less privileged and a democrat of repute.”
The PDP national chairman said Lar as a former Governor of Plateau and one who had always been in the corridors of power, never compromised his stance.
“He started young as a Parliamentary Secretary and was always in the corridors of power and politics but never compromised’’, Tukur stressed.
He stated that although Lar was dead, the PDP leadership would continue to work toward ensuring enduring peace in the party.
This, according to him, was the desire of Lar as manifested symbolically in the white handkerchief he always waved at political meetings.
“It is a pity that Lar had gone, but we will continue to pray and ask for peace which he had already prayed for’’, Tukur said.
He prayed God to grant his soul a peaceful rest and his family, the PDP family and the nation the fortitude to bear his loss.
“All we can say is to pray for his family, friends and associates to take solace because it is very difficult to replace such a giant’’, Tukur said.
Meanwhile, a condolence register had been opened at the PDP national headquarters for the late Lar who died at the age of 80 in a U.S. hospital.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has described the death of Chief Solomon Lar, the first civilian Governor of Plateau as “a big blow to Nigeria’s democracy.’’
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, quoted Amosun as saying the exit of Lar had left a vacuum in the political firmament of Nigeria.
The governor said the vacuum would be difficult to fill.
He described Lar as an icon of democracy whose contributions to the enthronement of civil rule in Nigeria would remain indelible in the history of the nation.
“As civilian governor of Plateau, Lar brought development to the nooks and crannies of the state.
“He was a true democrat, detribalised Nigerian and a firm believer in the rule of law, justice and equity’’, the governor said.
Amosun, who commiserated with the family of the late statesman, government and people of Plateau, counselled them to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived an exemplary life.
While committing the soul of the deceased to the care of God, the governor prayed God would grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
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.
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