Politics
Obasanjo: Riding In The Tide Of History
Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo, February 17, 2015 made world news as usual, when he finally dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with an unprecedented party membership card-tearing act before the full glare of journalists at his Abeokuta home. Baba’s bidding farewell to PDP was long over-due, but the way and manner of his exit, many believe, was rather absurd and dishonourable.
At the visit of party leaders from his Ward II of Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun State, Obasanjo directed his ward chairman, Alhaji Sunmonu Oladunjoye to tear his party membership card, apparently to demonstrate his final decision to quit PDP and prefer to remain a statesman.
Some had celebrated Obasanjo’s severance from the PDP, especially the opposition – All Progressives Congress (APC), yet many others took the ex-president’s act to the cleaners for “displaying act that are contradictory to his status as a statesman of international repute and ex-leader of this country.”
Rightly, the ex-president deserves a place in the history of PDP and he cannot run away from its shadow – the good and the bad of the party. After his incarceration on the allegation of plot to overthrow General Sani Abacha regime, Obasanjo was offered the PDP presidential ticket on a platter of gold as a “settled issue between the military and political establishments to pacify the South West that was angered by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election widely acknowledged to have been won by Chief Moshood Abiola,” whose death in custody remains a mystery.
Throughout the eight-year rule of Nigeria, the words of Obasanjo were laws and he demonstrated this, among others, with the seizure of federal allocation to Lagos local government councils even when the Supreme Court described such seizure as illegal. Those who had differences with him were not spared. PDP governors including Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau) were impeached, using federal and state agents.
His influence at the National Assembly was over-bearing such that the leadership of the two legislative chambers became the barber’s chair. It was not surprising that the senate alone produced five presidents in Obasanjo’s eight years tenure. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was alleged to be a tool in the hands of Obasanjo and perceived enemies were nailed or chased about, while others were forced out of the PDP.
The sun, however, set for the ex-president when he failed to stage-manage his third term bid in office. Even his mastermind in the amendment of the PDP constitution that only former president would be eligible to chair the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) did not last long in the power chess game and when he realised that there were plans to amend the party’s constitution, he quickly resigned as BoT chairman in 2012 which made his political ally, Chief Tony Anenih to regain his position in 2013.
More than these, Obasanjo’s stay in the PDP had been eventual. He militarized the party to the extent that internal democracy became an aberration, one of which is the K-leg saga in Rivers State. The former president however became the worst critic of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whose ascension to the highest office in the land was almost single-handedly orchestrated by Obasanjo.
If Obasanjo was not accusing Jonathan of corruption, the former president attacked the latter of training snipers, fanning the ember of ethnicity and plotting to cling to power at all means. President Jonathan’s response to the accusation of his former boss exposed Obasanjo as a man playing the gods in the wake of national woes of which he is part of.
There was no love lost between Obasanjo and his political godson, Jonathan and every attempt at reconciling the differences always, ended in widening the gap even as the ex-president’s loyalists in the PDP national working committee (NWC) were gradually phased out.
Going by political details, it was obvious that Obasanjo, who gradually withdrew from the party activities, had lost bearing in PDP power house, coupled with the fact that Jonathan was no longer ready to take orders any more from him.
Pre-emptive of a planned expulsion, Obasanjo decided to walk out of PDP before being disgraced. Political analysts say Obasanjo’s exit from the PDP “is the climax to the irreconcilable differences between him and Jonathan.” According to the New Telegraph of February 17, 2015, Now that the bull is finally out of the China’s shop, “the PDP may be ready to get the peace it craves for taming the power of its leader in the party affairs.”
While it may not be possible to get rid of one’s history, Abimbola Adelakun (The Punch February 19, 2015), said Obasanjo’s reason for quitting his erstwhile party only reflects his nature: self-righteous, self vindicating and zero reflection. But more than that, the self-righteousness of Baba also betrays his inglorious indispensable nature that the world revolves around him.
Though, the Ogun State PDP said the party would not miss the exit of the former president whom it described as “lacking electoral value,” the national leadership of the party wondered “what manner of provocation would have led a former president to lose his composure and go to the extent of tearing the membership card of the party that he once led.” However, the PDP leadership has not forgotten that “it was the PDP’s political machinery that rescued Obasanjo after his incarceration and made a prince out of him.”
Statesmanship is earned by a person after years of noble acts to the nation, and “Obasanjo’s hyper-critical attitude to President Jonathan in recent times contradicts the clout and influence that a person of his standing should wield. It speaks volumes of personal animosity and hatred to the person of Nigeria’s current leader” (New Telegraph, February 17, 2015).
Furthermore, the newspaper wrote that the tearing act desecrates the statesmanship Obaanjo has garnered as a man of history. Lest we forget, it was Obasanjo that received the instrument of surrender by the former secessionist Biafra. He is the first Nigeria military leader to handover to a democratically-elected president and the only Nigerian to become a president after serving a prison term.
The way and manner the ex-president went about his severance from the PDP prompted Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State to describe “Obasanjo’s behavior as a manifestation of old age.” The Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark equally berated the former president for acting irresponsibly by tearing PDP membership card – a document that brought him into power and sustained him in office.
Expectedly, the APC lauded Obasanjo’s action, saying that his dramatic exit from PDP signaled the end of the party’s influence in the Nigerian political landscape. In a statement in Akure, the Ondo APC Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Adesanya, said Obasanjo’s action was symbolic of freedom from the PDP that Nigerians had been craving for.
But the PDP would not see anything the party stands to lose with the exit of Obasanjo from the ruling party essentially because “Obasanjo’s exit is a good riddance to bad rubbish,” as Governor Fayose said. According to him, Obasanjo shouldn’t just tear his PDP membership card; he should also relinquish the ownership of Bell University, Obasanjo Farms, Obasanjo Presidential Library and other financial benefits he got during his presidency.
It may not be for nothing that the Balogun of Owu has always dramatized his criticisms of Jonathan administration, but the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu said Obasanjo’s accusation against President Jonathan administration smacks of hypocrisy. The Lagos monarch said “all the accusations the ex-president is making now, he (Obsanjo) initiated them, nurtured them and masterminded them and now he is complaining,” adding that Nigerians cannot be fooled again by Obasanjo’s holier-than-thou attitude.
No doubt, Obasanjo worked so hard in the military to earn him an honour, but when he decided to drag the military into the country’s political waters, he got what he did not bargain for. The authorities of Defence Headquarters (DHQ) described Obasanjo as an embarrassment to the military institution. The ex-president was credited with a statement that the general elections were shifted on security excuse in order to perfect plan by the Presidency to secure tenure extension.
“Obasanjo’s utterances lately indicate an attitude of playing to the gallery or indulging in politicization of serious national security or military affairs,” the DHQ said in reaction to Obasanjo’s comments. It added that the military personnel have moved beyond the parochial and self-adulating reasoning and mindset of Obasanjo’s era in the military to today’s appreciation of the essence of democracy and its indispensability for the stable and prosperous society Nigerians cherish. (The Punch, February 17, 2015).
Whether or not ex-president Obasanjo is new to dramatising events, he is riding in the tide of history. But what is not certain, however, is whether the honour Baba is trying to protect to relish will appreciate in course of time, especially in the light of his recent actions and inactions only time will tell.
Samuel Eleonu
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
He said he would not hesitate to activate the recall process against any lawmaker found wanting, if he returns for a second term in office.
He stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including those who lost out at the recently held national and state assemblies primaries and have become aggrieved and disrespectful to the party.
While emphasizing the supremacy of the party, he said decisions were taken in the overall interest of the party and the state and must, therefore, be respected by all members.
He warned lawmakers against being insolent and arrogant to their people to the extent of shutting them out after each election cycle, saying such would no longer be condoned.
“So I am appealing to all of you. If you were born with arrogance, please just drop that ticket here”, he said.
The governor hinted that after the next cycle of elections, the process of recalling lawmakers who made themselves “tin gods” would be activated.
“Well, they say they don’t recall people from parliament, but this will be the first time.
“Anybody whom the people say they are tired of will be brought back home. Anybody who goes and forgets his people completely and doesn’t care, thinking that during elections he will come and pretend to be a good man, will be brought back.
“And we are making this very, very clear. We will not fail in what we have said. I am working tirelessly; I don’t sleep. If you are going into office during this period, there will be no sleep for you”, he said.
He advised politicians not to ignore their people who hold the power, insisting: “You cannot overlook them and become so arrogant and pompous that you don’t know your people.”
Gov. Otu also advised members of the ruling APC, who lost at the just-concluded party primaries in the state, not to defect to opposition parties like the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that they would suffer untold hardship and would not make any political headway, if they did.
“There are some kwashiorkor parties that are registering people. Such parties are wasting their time and not even my time. They cannot do anything.
“I don’t want anybody to suffer the fate I suffered. That’s why I’m warning those aggrieved aspirants who lost not to go the way of those parties to avoid unnecessary suffering.
“I don’t want anybody to go that route. It’s an absolute waste of time, energy and people’s future, because at the end of the day, you will drag people into that bottomless pit.
“And when you drag them there and can’t take care of them, you begin to rot, you begin to die. May God give me the energy and power to sustain.”
He appealed to the aggrieved APC members, saying: “There’s nothing that we cannot settle. God’s time is the best. Whatever we’ve done is for the common good of all of us.”
2027: INEC APPEALS JUDGMENT ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified aspects of the Commission’s 2027 General Election Guidelines.
The appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026, by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The trial court had nullified the provision in the guidelines directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 General Election.
The suit challenging the directive was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that the Commission’s timeline was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
The Commission also filed a motion seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing among others that the trial court failed to determine the jurisdictional issue concerning whether the suit was hypothetical and academic in nature.
The Commission further contended that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the suit and urged the Court of Appeal to strike out the case accordingly.
INEC maintained that its actions were in line with its constitutional mandate to ensure the orderly conduct of elections and effective electoral administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
WHY I ENDORSE TINUBU’S SECOND TERM BID — ADELEKE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027 was influenced by moral responsibility and the need to sustain developmental progress.
The governor said his endorsement was not based on political calculations alone but on what he considers appropriate in view of the relationship between Osun State and the President, as well as ongoing projects benefiting the region.
The position of the governor was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke spoke on Sunday after conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction work on the Ibadan–Ile Ife–Ilesa Expressway.
During the visit, the governor reportedly commended President Tinubu for embarking on major infrastructure projects across Osun State and other parts of the South-West.
Gov. Adeleke noted that infrastructure development remains essential to economic growth and improved connectivity among communities.
He acknowledged the significance of road projects currently underway, stressing that such investments are expected to contribute to easier transportation, commercial activities, and broader development outcomes within the region.
The governor also highlighted the importance of leadership support in facilitating projects that have direct effects on residents.
He indicated that recognition should be given where efforts are being made to improve public infrastructure, particularly projects capable of enhancing movement between states and strengthening economic interactions in affected areas.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke’s remarks came while assessing the progress of the expressway project, which has continued to attract attention due to its strategic role in linking major cities within the South-West.
The governor reportedly used the opportunity to express appreciation for federal involvement in projects impacting Osun State.
His comments further reflected his view on political and regional ties, especially considering Osun State’s historical connection to President Tinubu.
Gov. Adeleke suggested that such considerations, alongside visible developmental initiatives, shaped his decision to openly support the President’s anticipated re-election effort in 2027.
He said, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?”
IPAC specifically said that INEC guidelines cannot supersede constitutional provisions or extant electoral laws.
The Council, which stated these while appraising the judgement of the Federal High Court, stressed that the court judgement specifically addressed exclusionary conditions capable of disenfranchising aspirants and party members during primaries.
This is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mr Martins Egbeola, stating that the judgment was a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy, democratic principles and the rule of law within Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC said that even though INEC possesses powers to issue election guidelines, such powers must however, operate strictly within constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
It noted that the court judgment represented a major victory for democracy, political parties and citizens participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC also said that the court judgement had restored the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs democratically without unlawful interference through administrative directives.
“The judgment would ensure equal opportunities for eligible members to participate in party primaries without discriminatory or exclusionary conditions.
“The INEC Chairman should deepen engagement and consultation with political parties on issues concerning electoral administration and reforms.
“Greater dialogue and collaboration between INEC and political parties would help prevent avoidable disputes and litigation arising from controversial guidelines,” IPAC stated.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this while speaking on a live television interview programme.
According to him, the ruling APC was not focused on fighting opposition parties, claiming that the political battle was currently between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said, “In the last three weeks, the APC has not been fighting ADC or NDC. It is NDC versus ADC or ADC versus NDC.
“Actually, I watched with fun all the insults that the ADC is raining on the NDC and the NDC is returning those fireworks on the ADC.
“I watched the videos, and I laughed. The self-implosion is in the opposition rather than in the APC.”
When asked whether he was orchestrating the crisis in the opposition, Prof. Yilwatda denied the allegation but said weakening the opposition was part of politics.
He said, “No, I can’t. But I will be happy if I can do it. That’s my job.
“If you are opposing me, should I be happy? If you oppose me because you are in the opposition, what’s my job? Of course, to stop the opposition.”
The APC chairman also said the ruling party had stronger conflict resolution mechanisms than other political parties.
According to him, the party had committees at national and state levels to resolve internal disputes arising from congresses and other activities.
Speaking on the APC membership register and the votes secured by President Bola Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary, Prof. Yilwatda said the party relied on data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its registration process.
“To register as a member of the APC, your name and primary data are sourced from NIMC. That’s the same primary data that is used across the country to open a bank account, get a driver’s licence and secure an international passport.
“So we’re the only political party that sources our primary data from NIMC. This is why people have seen the APC as one of the most politically viable and stable parties. We are a data-driven political party,” he stated.
RIVERS ADC PRIMARY: ASPIRANT REJECTS OUTCOME, ACCUSES AMAECHI OF IMPOSITION
The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Mr Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship primary “winners” within the same party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he told journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene.
According to him, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved forward.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant, Hon. Farah Dagogo, informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted.
He accused the state party chairman, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Mr Amaechi while excluding himself and Hon. Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Dr Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as Mr Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
He further alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Dr Pidomson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s public stance against consensus.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart claimed Hon. Dagogo later approached him to jointly resist Mr Amaechi’s camp but asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.
“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku will not be part of this nonsense,” he said.
The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Hon. Dagogo made a similar announcement.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This cannot stand,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest.
He also faulted Mr Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primary at the national level.
“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?”, he queried.
He urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Hon. Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim.
“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said.
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