Former Bayelsa senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has opened up on why former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaeachi, and five other governors dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015.

In a viral video sighted by DAILY POST, Murray-Bruce attributed the crisis to poor decisions and bad advice former President Goodluck Jonathan was getting from his aides.

He said those around the former President ignored repeated warnings about growing dissatisfaction among key PDP governors.

According to him, some presidential aides failed to treat with urgency the clear signs that major political figures within the party were unhappy and considering defection.

“As I sit here and think about my experience with people who were so incompetent and unconcerned about the people they served, giving silly advice to the Commander-in-Chief, I am amazed. I can’t get over it,” he said.

Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has hinted at a coalition, saying it is open to discussions with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, while expressing hope that any eventual coalition would rally behind the NDC’s candidates.

The national leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, said this in an interview on ‘Sunday Politics’, a programme on Channels Television.

“As an opposition leader, we will be open. Our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space,” he said.

The former Bayelsa State governor, however, pointed out that he or anyone will not pre-empt those discussions, expressing the optimism that whatever discussions take place would lead to the NDC candidates being backed.

According to the serving Bayelsa senator, he was not claiming superiority, noting that after the nomination process had ended, they would move into another phase of discussions.

Recall that the party has recently been faced with an issue as a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi state set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a political party.

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a fresh plot to keep the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress, off the ballot in the 2027 general elections. 

In a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, he said elements within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government want to use political and legal machinations to exclude the ADC from the ballot.

Atiku urged its supporters to reject every attempt to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the coming election. 

He noted that the ruling party may conspire against democracy but would not decide. 

“We are fully aware of their plots. While they seek to sow confusion within the opposition, we know their real target is the ADC because it represents the most credible alternative.

“We therefore call on all Nigerians—not just ADC members and supporters— to rise in defence of democracy and reject any attempt by the ruling party to cherry-pick which opposition parties are permitted to participate in the next general election.

“Our message to the APC and the hooded men plotting in dark chambers is simple: you may conspire, but you will not succeed. If the APC is truly confident in its popularity, why is it so terrified of the ADC?” Atiku queried.