Politics

2027: Nwifuru’s problem is Ebonyi people, not Wike — PDP

Published

2 months ago

June 25, 2026

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Gov. Nwifuru

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday dismissed attempts by Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to link his troubles to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, insisting that the governor’s real challenge is the people of Ebonyi State, not the FCT minister, as discontent over his administration grows ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The opposition party said the governor appeared to be searching for political scapegoats at a time when many residents were more concerned about the performance of his administration than political confrontations.

Speaking at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, accused Nwifuru of resorting to inflammatory statements and blackmail because of growing concerns about his political future.

“The truth is that Governor Nwifuru’s challenge is not Chief Wike; his challenge is the people of Ebonyi State, who are yearning for competent leadership and genuine development,” Mohammed said.

The PDP was reacting to comments allegedly made by the governor at a political rally, where he was reported to have threatened to ‘consume’ and destroy opposition figures in the state.

Describing the remarks as reckless and inflammatory, the party warned that such language could further raise tensions in Ebonyi State.

“We call on security agencies and civil society organisations to take serious note of the Governor’s disturbing remarks about ‘consuming’ opposition members and leaders in the state.

“Such language is unbecoming of a public office holder and has the potential to heighten political tensions in the state. Political disagreements must never be reduced to threats or rhetoric capable of endangering lives and undermining democratic participation,” Jungudo said.

Beyond the dispute with Wike, the PDP accused Governor Nwifuru of failing to deliver meaningful development and trying to deflect attention from his administration’s record.

It challenged him to account for key projects and programmes under his watch, including the reported N24 billion spent on renovating the Ebonyi Airport, which it claimed has yet to generate significant economic benefits for the state.

The party also raised concerns about the overseas scholarship programme, the state of basic education, uncompleted two-kilometre road projects across local government areas and funds budgeted for traditional rulers’ palaces.

“Instead of engaging in political blackmail, spreading unfounded allegations and threatening to deploy state resources against the opposition, the Governor should devote his energy to explaining to the people of Ebonyi State why, after more than three years in office, his administration struggles to point to projects that have meaningfully improved their lives,” the PDP stated.

Rejecting what it described as attempts to drag Wike into the dispute, the party maintained that the FCT minister had nothing to do with the governor’s current difficulties.

“Chief Wike is not Governor Nwifuru’s political peer and should not be drawn into the Governor’s self-inflicted challenges,” Jungudo said.

The PDP also signalled its readiness for the 2027 governorship election, naming Ambassador (Dr.) Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii as the candidate it believes can challenge the governor at the polls.

“If Governor Nwifuru is worried about the next election, he should direct his attention to the PDP governorship candidate, Ambassador (Dr.) Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, who will confront him at the ballot box.

“The 2027 election will not be about propaganda, intimidation or blackmail; it will be about performance, accountability and the welfare of the people of Ebonyi State,” Mohammed said.

The opposition party also raised concerns about the safety of its members and candidates in the state.

“Should anything untoward happen to any of our supporters, leaders or candidates in Ebonyi State, particularly our governorship candidate, Ambassador (Dr.) Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, or any member of his family, Nigerians already know where to direct their attention and demand answers.

“If the Governor truly wishes to ‘consume’ the people of Ebonyi State, let him do so through visible developmental projects, effective governance and tangible improvements in their living conditions through threats, intimidation and hostile political rhetoric,” Jungudi said.

Turaki bloc commends Nwifuru

Meanwhile, another bloc of the PDP took a markedly different position, backing Governor Nwifuru’s criticism of Wike and accusing the FCT minister of interfering in Ebonyi State affairs.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Interim National Working Committee of the party commended the governor for publicly challenging what it described as Wike’s alleged anti-party activities and political blackmail.

The bloc said Nwifuru had warned the minister against fuelling tensions in Ebonyi State through misinformation and the invocation of President Bola Tinubu’s name, while accusing him of meddling in affairs beyond his official jurisdiction.

“We are certain that Governor Nwifuru is conscious of the ignoble role Wike, then as the Governor of Rivers State, played in pushing his predecessor out of the PDP,” Ememobong said.

The group also cited allegations previously made by former Ebonyi State governor, Engr. David Umahi, against Wike, noting that the minister had yet to publicly respond to them.

Reaffirming its opposition credentials, the bloc insisted that the PDP could not be aligned with the ruling party and identified Mr. Eze Alexander as “the candidate of the authentic and uncompromised PDP” in Ebonyi State.

“We reiterate that the Peoples Democratic Party, as an opposition party, is not and cannot be in an alliance with the ruling party. We are a principled political party and will continue to insist on best practices in political contests in a bid to help achieve democratic consolidation in our country,” the statement added.

The group also urged Nigerians to support governors willing to resist what it described as attempts by Wike to ‘put fire’ in their states, underscoring the sharply contrasting positions taken by the two PDP factions over the minister’s role in opposition politics.

www.vanguardngr.com

Politics

Osun decides: Adeleke wins 18 LGAs, leads Oyebamiji by 67,335 votes

Published

10 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has retained a significant lead over his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, following the announcement of results from 25 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas.

The results, announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the state collation centre in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday, put Adeleke at 431,760 votes, while Oyebamiji recorded 364,425 votes.

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Politics

Osun decides: Adeleke coasts to victory amid violence, BVAS failure, vote-buying allegations

Published

21 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

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Residents of Osun State on Saturday cast their ballots to elect the next governor of the state.

DAILY POST reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke is coasting to victory as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, concludes the collation of results.

The election was largely a two-horse race between Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord Party, and Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, is currently announcing results from different polling units.

As of the time of filing this report, INEC had uploaded 95 per cent of the results on IReV, with Adeleke leading in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11 LGs.

The poll recorded a significant voter turnout despite concerns over security, while pockets of violence, alleged voter intimidation, vote-buying and ballot-box snatching were reported in some parts of the state.

There were also complaints about the failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in several polling units, leading to delays in the commencement of voting.

BVAS failure delays voting

Voting started late in some polling units after BVAS devices reportedly malfunctioned.

A professor, Olayinka Ajala, was among the voters affected after the device failed to authenticate his identity at his polling unit.

Ajala, a voter at Unit 10, Ward 10, Community Primary School, Oke-Ola 2, Mayfair Roundabout, in Ife East Local Government Area, said the BVAS could neither recognise his face nor capture his thumbprint.

According to him, electoral officials made several attempts to authenticate him but were unsuccessful, preventing him from voting.

Despite the experience, Ajala described the exercise at his polling unit as peaceful, noting that there was no rancour among voters.

He added that the number of people affected by the authentication problem appeared relatively small compared with the total number of voters at the polling location.

Similarly, the Imole Campaign Council, TICC, raised concerns over alleged BVAS failures in several polling units across the state.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesman for the campaign council, claimed in a statement that several of the affected local government areas were strongholds of the Accord Party.

Vote-buying allegations

Some voters in Ejigbo Local Government Area were captured in a viral video protesting an alleged vote-buying operation involving a political party.

The voters claimed they alerted security operatives to the alleged activity but accused the personnel of being reluctant to intervene.

The incident reportedly degenerated into a confrontation among voters.

DAILY POST also gathered that allegations of vote-buying were recorded across the state, with the APC and Accord Party accused of offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000.

Some voters alleged that the practice began several days before the election, with party agents reportedly collecting the bank account details of voters ahead of the poll.

According to the allegations, the accounts were expected to be credited after voters cast their ballots.

Shooting sparks tension in Osogbo

Tension gripped parts of Osogbo on Saturday night following sporadic gunshots at the premises of Union Baptist Primary School, where the Ataoja D Ward 4 collation centre is located.

The shooting, reportedly involving security personnel, caused some residents to flee the area.

Although the immediate cause of the shooting was unclear, there were reports of attempts by suspected thugs to snatch ballot boxes.

A former Vice Chairman of the APC in Ede South Local Government was reportedly apprehended for allegedly attempting to snatch ballot boxes at a ward collation centre.

In another incident, a woman was reportedly arrested at an INEC facility in Ifelodun with ballot papers bearing thumb-printed votes but without the required INEC stamps.

A viral video sighted by DAILY POST showed that the incident occurred after the original results had reportedly been collated and uploaded to the IReV portal.

Alleged intimidation of voters by APC senator

There were reported cases of alleged intimidation of voters by politicians at several polling units across the state.

The senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, was captured in a video clip that circulated on social media, allegedly threatening voters at his polling unit.

A video cited by DAILY POST showed Fadahunsi intimidating and threatening voters in the presence of a police officer.

DAILY POST report on Senator Fadahunsi

Similarly, an individual alleged to be an APC supporter was reportedly restrained by residents during the election.

The person was accused of carrying a gun and allegedly working with a former Osun State governor.

The incident reportedly occurred amid heightened tension in parts of the state, with residents vowing to resist any attempt by individuals or groups to disrupt the electoral process.

Security agencies arrest suspected thugs, imported voters

Security agencies arrested several persons allegedly involved in electoral offences and violence before and during the election.

Force spokesperson, Anietie Iniedu, told journalists during the election that security operatives carried out an operation at the residence of a political stakeholder, where hundreds of people were reportedly taken into custody.

“We have made arrests at a political stakeholder’s residence, where we located 300 unaccounted-for persons,” Iniedu said.

DAILY POST reports that security operatives also arrested a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Irewole-Isokan Constituency, Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, on Saturday morning.

He was allegedly found to have been camping more than 140 non-citizens in the state for participation in the election.

The alleged imported voters were reportedly found with newly issued Permanent Voter Cards, raising concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Sunday Bisi, was also arrested by operatives of the state police command.

The reason for his arrest was not immediately disclosed.

However, Governor Adeleke has called for the immediate release of the PDP chairman.

Politics

Osun decides: Adeleke scores highest votes, set to be declared winner

Published

33 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

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The Accord Party governorship candidate and incumbent governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has polled a total of 511,067 votes in the just concluded governorship election in the state.

This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, concluded the collation of election results from all the local government areas of the state.

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