Politics
PDP Convention: Obaze, Anenih, Others Move For Consensus Candidates
Some Anambra chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun moves to agree on how to address and reconcile all the aggrieves factions in the State chapter of the party ahead of its national convention in Abuja.
At a meeting convened by the just concluded Anambra State governorship candidate of the party, Hon Oseloka Henry Obaze, which was held at the party secretariat, Awka, the Anambra State Capital, yesterday, the party chieftains agreed to hold several other meetings with their supporters to present a common front at the convention, slated for December 9
Apart from Obaze, those present at the meeting included a former Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Josephine Anenih who is the secretary of the Caretaker committee in the State a former Governorship Aspirant of the Party, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, Elders of the party in the State, Local Government chapter Chairmen, Women leaders and supporters. Obaze said he had called the meeting “to share Ideologist with them, find a common ground and go to the convention as an indivisible and united” Family.
The former candidate, who use the occasion to thank all the party members who may have supported him one way or the other, said it would be wrong for the Anambra State chapter to “go to the convention like people without cohesion”.
He said there would be subsequent meetings in all the wards across the State which would involve other key stakeholders of the party in the State to decide on a candidate among the aspirants vying for different position in our great party PDP and other pressing issues affecting the State Chapter
Information has it that, from the PDP Zoning arrangement, the National Chairmanship position of the Party had been zoned to the South-West and there has been a silent battle among a number of the party’s chieftains in the region over who should get the position.
Those who have declared their interest so far in the position include former PDP Deputy Vice Chairman (South West), Chief Bode George; a former National Chairman of the party, Hon Prince Uche Secondus (South-South), a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; and a former Minister of Education, Prof Tunde Adeniran.
At the meeting, the former Governorship aspirant in the State, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, said the only way forward politically in Nigeria is for the only party with national spread, the PDP, to come back to its basis and bring all its members back, create a level playing field and entrench internal party democracy so that the slogan of ‘power to the people’ will become real.
Mrs Anenih, who also endorsed the meeting, contended that Nigeria is at a critical stage, and PDP leaders must come together to take critical decision, saying there should not have been quarrel that made things to fall apart within the party in the first place, which lead to the party defeat in last week Saturday Governorship election in Anambra State. So, PDP leaders, she counselled, must settle their grievances and form a united front to “rescue the country from this critical stage.” she then promised to assist the State Chapter in rebuilding PDP, urging the party leaders in the State to carry all members along in order to create a sense of oneness.
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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