Politics

Why we visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta – PDP’s Turaki

Published

6 months ago

December 14, 2025

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Why we visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta – PDP’s Turaki

…says we’re battle-ready to take over power in 2027

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, alongside other leaders of the party, on Saturday, paid a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his penthouse residence, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Others in the entourage of the PDP National Chairman include former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja; former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang; and Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello, among others.

They were welcomed by the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Abayomi Tella, and other top leaders of the party in Ogun State.

The PDP leaders thereafter proceeded to a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo.

Speaking with newsmen after the closed-door meeting that lasted about 40 minutes, Turaki said the newly elected leadership of the opposition party visited Obasanjo to get his critical support and guidance ahead of the task ahead.

Turaki, who emerged as the factional chairman of the opposition party during the party’s convention recently in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, described Chief Obasanjo as a highly experienced elder statesman and former president under PDP, whose legacy of building strong institutions has really helped to strengthen democratic growth in Nigeria.

The former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan said, “Having been given the opportunity to serve, the new leadership of the opposition party thought it wise to visit Obasanjo to drink from his wealth of wisdom and seek for his blessings and support for the success of the new administration.”

Turaki said, “Though the task ahead to send the APC government packing in 2027, due to their incompetence and maladministration, might not be a tea party, the frank talk the opposition party leaders had with Obasanjo has further inspired them that the task ahead was not impossible.

“As the newly elected PDP leadership during our recent congress at Ibadan, we came to introduce ourselves to our father, the former president under the PDP administration, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I didn’t come alone; the former Senate President and the BOT Chairman of our great party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, is here. Likewise, our National Secretary, the former deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, is also here. Two former governors of Niger and Plateau States, Alhaji Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Sen. Jonah Jang, are also part of the entourage, among others.

“We came to thank the former president for his vision and contributions to strengthening our democracy and good governance while he was in power. We came to thank him for helping to build strong institutions which the country is enjoying till today.

“We have also come to see the former president to draw inspiration from him as an oracle; we have come to get guidance, we have come to get advice, and we have equally come to get critical support because if we must succeed in the gargantuan assignment that has been thrust upon our shoulders, then we must come to people like Chief Obasanjo who have the prerequisite experience.

“There is a proverb that says, ‘A woman who started cooking before you must definitely have more broken pots. So we have come to see our father here in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and we have spoken to Baba, and Baba too has spoken to us, and we are enriched.

“We have also realised more than ever before now that yes, the task before us may not be an easy one, but from the inspiration and guidance that we have received from Baba today, we are more than ready to go all the way and take PDP back to the seat of power come 2027.”

He stated that PDP is battle-ready for 2027, and this would be more obvious when the party claims victory in the coming gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

“PDP is battle-ready for 2027, and as our mark of readiness, we shall take over Ekiti State and then follow up with Osun State.

“By the time we win these two states, we shall leave no one in doubt that PDP, once again, is on the move; PDP is on the rise to chase out the APC government with all its incompetence and maladministration in 2027.”

Addressing party members later at the state party secretariat, Turaki urged PDP members globally to give their support to the new leadership of the party, saying that the era of impunity and shenanigans is over in the party, as members would be supported to pitch tent with their preferred candidates during election.

He said, “The truth is that PDP is back and is on the rise to take its rightful place in the democratic process of the country.

“The Nigerians could see that since our convention in Ibadan, the APC is now worried more than ever before; they know that the equation has changed and that PDP is ready to send them packing in 2027.”

The National Secretary of the party, Arapaja, and the BOT Chairman, Wabara, in their separate addresses also urged party members to remain united and begin massive mobilisation even as everyone remains dedicated to bringing the party back to power to continue its tradition of good governance and rich welfare packages for the people in 2027.

Speaking with journalists at the event, the Ogun State Chairman of the party, Abayomi Tella, said the party members were quite happy to be the first state to receive the leadership of the party after their election in Ibadan about three weeks ago.

Tella said that “We are all very happy; our hope is rekindled. Now we know that the end has come to all the shenanigans of the past in the party; it is a new dawn, and we are all happy.”

The state party chairman said that for the 2027 election, the opposition party is battle-ready to defeat the APC government, warning that the people would, however, not tolerate any act of harassment and intimidation as witnessed in recent elections in the state.

He explained that “For 2027, the election will be about the people versus political parties. It doesn’t matter whether it’s APC or PDP. The people of Ogun State have tasted water and palm oil, and they are at home with the difference. So, it is the people of the state with the support of the PDP that will get the mantle of leadership in 2027.

“It’s not about us alone because everyone is tired of this government, enough of this maladministration and bad governance under APC leadership.

“So together with the people, we are battle ready for 2027. What happened in 2023 will not repeat itself; what happened during the Remo Federal Constituency by-election in August will not repeat itself.

“It’s the way they bring it that they will take it back; I am emphatic about this. We are all indigenes of this state; we are all residents of this state, and we have the right to vote and be voted for. You can’t pursue people away from voting for one party; we won’t allow that to happen in 2027.”

The post Why we visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta – PDP’s Turaki appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Politics

NDC deregistration: Peter Obi’s camp reveals next line of action

Published

3 minutes ago

June 26, 2026

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The media office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the Lokoja High Court judgment regarding the party’s registration status as a temporary setback, saying the decision will be challenged legally.

This is contained in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr, on Friday.

POMR noted that it has been flooded with inquiries from journalists and concerned Nigerians following the decision.

The media office urged Obi’s followers, political partners, and the general public to stay calm while the legal team finishes reviewing the judgment and prepares to file an appeal.

It maintained that it fully expected to face systemic hurdles in the ongoing bid to challenge the political establishment, viewing the court’s decision as a brief obstacle rather than a permanent defeat for its political objectives.

“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.

According to the group, the legal decision would not change the ultimate goal of establishing an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

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Politics

BREAKING: ‘We’ve not been deregistered’ – NDC reacts to court judgment

Published

14 minutes ago

June 26, 2026

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has rejected Friday’s ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja setting aside the earlier judgment that compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register it as a political party.

The party on insisted it has not been deregistered.

In a statement issued after the ruling, the party said it was surprised by the court’s decision to set aside its December 2025 judgment following an application by the Peace Movement Party, PMP, an association it described as unregistered and unknown to the NDC.

The party maintained that after the December 2025 judgment, INEC registered the NDC, enabling it to commence political activities, register members, conduct ward, state and national congresses, hold conventions and conclude primaries for elective offices in line with the electoral timetable.

According to the NDC, it also fielded candidates in the recent bye-elections in Nasarawa and Enugu states and has nominated candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The party argued that the Federal High Court had become ‘functus officio’ after delivering its final judgment in the case against INEC and had already addressed issues relating to the party’s logo and colours.

It contended that the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the victory sign adopted by the NDC, was neither a registered political party nor participating in the current registration process.

The NDC further stated that the court’s latest ruling did not expressly order its deregistration, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.

The party said it has instructed its legal team to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, questioning both the jurisdiction of the court and the propriety of the decision.

“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible,” the statement read.

The party also accused unnamed individuals of attempting to shrink Nigeria’s democratic space and suppress opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the PMP, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and reversed all actions taken by INEC pursuant to that judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, pending the final determination of the suit.

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Politics

NDC derecognition: It’s not too late – Atiku’s aide to Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, others

Published

1 hour ago

June 26, 2026

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Paul Ibe, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has urged opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to unite ahead of the 2027 election following a Federal High Court ruling that set aside its earlier judgment directing the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.

In a post on X on Friday, the aide described the Lokoja court’s decision as a “wake-up call” for the opposition, alleging that President Bola Tinubu was pursuing a de facto one-party state.

He claimed the ruling signalled that there was “no hiding place for the opposition” and accused the President of seeking to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.

Ibe further alleged that Tinubu intended to “obliterate the opposition” if allowed to have his way politically, and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat.

He, however, said it was not too late for opposition parties to harmonise their strengths ahead of the 2027 elections, urging leaders such as Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and others to work together if they hoped to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ibe wrote: “The decision of the Federal High Court Lokoja in settting aside its earlier judgement on the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) should be a wake-up call that there is no hiding place for the opposition as the incompetent and clueless Tinubu @officialABAT sets his sights on enthroning a de facto one-party state.

“His message is loud and clear: that he will obliterate the opposition and destroy our hard-won democracy if he does not have his way in the 2027 election. It is not too late for the opposition to harmonize their strengths ahead of 2027 if the Yar’Adua 2.0 President Tinubu is to be retired to either Bourdillon or Iragbiji!”

DAILY POST reported Friday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, where Justice Isah Dashen set aside the court’s earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the NDC.

The judge held that the earlier judgment affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party, PMP, which claimed ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC but was not joined as a party in the suit.

Counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, said the ruling restored all parties to the position they occupied before the December 10, 2025 judgment and directed that all necessary parties be joined before the substantive case is heard afresh.

He added that all actions taken by INEC pursuant to the earlier judgment, including the recognition and registration of the NDC, have been reversed pending the final determination of the suit.

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