By Ayodele Oni

As all hands are on the deck to reposition the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the coming General Elections, some members of the party have lost hope in the Party’s survival.

PDP is doing everything possible to have a good outing at the forthcoming Governorship Elections in Edo and Ondo states, going by the popularity of their candidates in the two States.

But, one of the Party’s chieftains, who at various times enjoyed patronage  and even got the Party’s ticket to contest in the 2023 Governorship Poll in Kogi State seems to see a different thing about the party.

Former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, and Governorship candidate of the PDP in 2023 governorship election in Kogi state, Dino Melaye declared that “it’s over for the PDP.”

Melaye posted on his official x.com Page on Saturday, that it’s the end of the road for the PDP. He did not elaborate on what made him conclude that

Dino declared “End of the road for PDP” with the allegations that the Acting Chairman of the Party, Damaging Bature and Anyawu have “irredeemably destroyed the party and the “Party is now once upon a time.”

Reactions have been trailing the comment on the social media with some claiming that the X account was an illegal site while others blamed Melaye for being part of those that destroyed the PDP.

One commentator wrote “I have checked the X account where Dino was said to have made the pronouncement. And I found out that it is a fake account.

“So pls, everyone, ignore the information.

And by the way if the fabricated story was truly made by Dino, then, does that mean that it was said by everyone in PDP? No.

Dino is not the owner of the PDP.”

By Ayodele Oni

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fired back at Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for claiming that Nigeria would have collapsed if he won the presidency in 2023, describing him as a “shame to the military.”

Atiku pointed out that George’s remarks amounted to tribalism and disservice to the military he had served.

In a statement on social media, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, described George’s comments as “imprudent talk” and highlighted the benefits of an Atiku presidency.

Ibe stated that Atiku’s leadership would have brought prosperity, merit-based appointments, and safeguarded Nigeria’s interests, unlike the current administration’s “bigotry and nepotism.”

Ibe also criticized George for his silence on the present administration’s performance, suggesting that his reticence might be due to Atiku’s non-southern origin.

“Contrary to Chief Bode George’s imprudent talk, an @atiku presidency would have heralded an era of prosperity, driven by a cabinet brimming with seasoned and adept individuals, chosen solely on merit regardless of their background or beliefs.

“Such leadership would have safeguarded Nigeria’s interests, steering clear of the bigotry and nepotism and brigandage that characterizes this administration.

“Instead of the current state of disarray, driven by haphazard policies, Nigeria would have thrived under Atiku’s guidance.

“In contrast, we see Bode George, who once threatened exile, should Tinubu ascend to power, now oddly silent about the present administration. Is Bode’s reticence because Atiku is not from his region? It is prudent to consider Bode’s opinions with caution.

“Furthermore, Bode’s conduct is a disservice to the military, an institution esteemed for its unity. Here is a Commodore who, paradoxically, embraces tribalism and undermines the very principles of the military. It is a source of shame for the armed forces to have such a figure in their ranks.”

By Akinwale Kasali

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olabode George, has stated that if Atiku Abubakar had emerged as President, he would not have done better than President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku, was the PDP Presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, but, George described  him not competent to rule Nigeria.

The former Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, Chairnan said Atiku’s emergence as President in 2023 would have spelt doom for the country and  created many problems  including unstable polity.

Speaking on Arise Television, George said the PDP is crisis-ridden today because of the choice of Atiku as its Presidential Candidate at a time the Party, also, had its Chairman (Iyorchia Ayu) from the North.

“By the time Ayu left, he should have left long before the election.There was an agreement. It was the emergence of Atiku from the North as a Presidential candidate that completely disorganised the norm of the party,” he said.

Continuing, George said: “The moment we interfered with it, manipulating the whole process to satisfy Atiku, that’s where the problem started. For us to pretend as if there was not a problem, we are just wasting time.

“Let us stand by the truth because it is only the truth that would liberate you. When we had that election, we divided the party (PDP) into two.”

He did not see Atiku succeeding as president under the circumstances.

His words: “If Atiku had won, I would have stayed in my house because I know for real that in future, he would collapse. This country would never accept.

“If he had won that election, you think this country would have been stable? Because somebody from the North had just finished eight years and our own norm is that after the eight years, the Presidential Candidate must come to the South. Those who are running around for appointments, we wish them best of luck.”

He said the PDP has no moral right to query the “nuisances and nuances going on in this country by the people in government.”

The PDP, according to him, “got some deeper problems”, with three factions battling for the soul of the party “and it’s not working.”

He declined his appointment as a member of the Disciplinary Committee set up to sanction members alleged to have worked against the party in the 2023 general elections.

He said he could not work under Chief Tom Ikimi who is the Chairman of the Committee.

His words: “I know Tom very well, he met me in this party. The founding fathers handed over to us. So the culture of the party, the do’s and don’ts are with us. So you don’t make me be a member under somebody that I know in terms of hierarchy of the party, I am senior, and say I should go and serve under him. I made that observation to them. And they said are you going to come?, I said no, I’m not.

“I will not serve under Ikimi. I’m being very frank with myself. How much information or depth does he have concerning our party? You don’t do things like that. It’s an observation and I’ve told the Chairman. At this age, I’m ready to stay home.

“Just setting up a Committee, where will it lead you?”

Recall, however, that Bode George had threatened to leave the country on self exile in Tinubu wins the 2023 Presidential Election. Tinubu won, and has been the President for one year and counting. But Bode George is, still, very much in Nigeria.

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP has condemned the decision of the Supreme Court to validate the outcomes of the two off- season gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Imo States held in 2023.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, won the two elections.

The Apex Court in in two separate judgements delivered on Friday, August 23, 2024, affirmed the results of the elections as earlier announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. It also affirmed the election of the PDP Governor of Bayelsa State.

But in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagbo, the PDP expressed dismay that the  Supreme Court  could affirm the outcomes of the elections, despite overwhelming evidence that they were mired by malpractices and manipulations

Besides, the PDP said that the two elections, were also characterized by high incidents of violence, over voting and manipulations by the ruling APC.

In the perpetration of the alleged electoral heists, some INEC officials, according to the PDP, made themselves willing tools.

The PDP is of the view that the alleged air of disappointment and disillusion which pervaded the two states on Friday, were clear testimonies that the majority of the people were not happy with the court’s rulings.

The Party further noted that the upholding of  the Governorship elections in Imo and Kogi states underscores a stark challenge created by the operation and violation of the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and Electoral Guidelines of the INEC.

“The general melancholic disposition in Imo and Kogi States at the news of the judgments validated the concerns and views of our party and majority of Nigerians that the results of the elections declared in the two states did not reflect the true aspirations of the people as expressed in their votes.

“The Judgement also underlines the clamour and demand by our Party and Nigerians for a comprehensive review of the Electoral Law, particularly with respect to the declaration of results of elections without due regard to issues and complaints arising from obvious violation of the provisions of the law and electoral processes.

“This, again, highlights the need to strengthen the electoral law and processes to ensure that elections are determined by votes cast, and not by violence and manipulations as were prevalent in the Imo and Kogi states governorship elections.” the PDP noted

The PDP has, therefore, demanded that, in future, candidates should not be declared winners, until all processes, including legal options are concluded.

However, the party noted that despite the obvious flaws inherent the  verdicts, as a law abiding entity,  it has accepted the Supreme court judgments.

The Source reports that in Imo State, the apex Court, while dismissing the two separate appeals filed by Senators Athan Achonu and Samuel Anyanwu of the Labour Party and PDP, respectively as lacking in merit, had  also resolved all issues raised in favour of Governor Hope Uzodima of the APC.

Similarly ,the Supreme Court, in validating the election  of Governor Usman Ododo, dismissed petitions filed by the PDP and Social Democratic party SDP candidates.

Instructively, the PDD did not condemn the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict where the election of PDP’s Governor Diri Douye was upheld.