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EXCLUSIVE: Atiku set to dump PDP for ADC, picks Obi as running mate

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Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi

 

Barring any last-minute change of plans, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is set to resign his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he intensifies preparations to contest the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Ekwutosblog gathered from multiple impeccable sources that Atiku, who has made several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, has finalized plans to actualize his long-held ambition through the ADC.

As part of the new political alignment, Atiku’s camp has reportedly settled on former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2027 polls.

Sources familiar with the high-level negotiations disclosed to PlatinumPost that Obi has given his approval to join forces with Atiku after several months of behind-the-scenes talks.

Ekwutosblog  learnt that the breakthrough came following the intervention of a former Nigerian president, who played a pivotal role in convincing both camps to unite in the interest of national stability and strategic political advantage.

According to insiders, who told this Newspaper that the negotiations reached a turning point when Obi’s group, initially hesitant due to concerns about the political implications in the South-East and among his staunch supporters—the Obidient Movement—was assured of a robust plan to manage the anticipated backlash.

 

To mitigate discontent in the South-East and across parts of Southern Nigeria, key political figures, including the aforementioned ex-president and influential northern leaders, have agreed to set up a high-powered committee of prominent Igbo elders. This committee will work quietly but effectively to pacify stakeholders and garner support for the alliance.

To this end, the former President advised the parties involved to keep the deal close to their chest as consultations on how to calm fraying nerves are ongoing before the matter goes to public domain.

PlatinumPost further gathered that the power-sharing formula reportedly agreed upon includes a firm commitment from Atiku to serve only one term if elected, after which power would shift to the South-East with Obi receiving full backing from the North to succeed him. This arrangement is seen by many as a strategic step toward finally realizing an Igbo presidency in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Political analysts and stakeholders behind the alliance believe that only a united Atiku/Obi ticket can pose a formidable challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

“The North is ready to support Obi after Atiku,” one source said. “It’s a win-win arrangement that will heal the nation and restore balance in the political structure.”

The committee’s primary mandate is to communicate this promise of succession to the South-East electorate and ensure broad-based acceptance of the Atiku/Obi ticket.

Commenting on the state of political alliances ahead of 2027, Kenneth Okonkwo, a former presidential spokesperson for the Labour Party, recently stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today that no single candidate can defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 without a broad coalition.

Though Okonkwo did not name who might lead such a coalition, the emerging Atiku-Obi alliance appears to fit the mold he described—a strategic merger aimed at ending Tinubu’s grip on power through a united opposition front.

Reacting to the report, Paul Ibe, spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, said he was unaware of any plans by his principal to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“These are just speculations. Is he supposed to join all the political parties? As of this morning, he remains in the PDP, and there’s nothing to suggest otherwise at the moment,” Ibe told PlatinumPost on Friday.

He added that the rumors were aimed at creating distractions ahead of the 2027 elections.

“These are the handiwork of certain individuals trying to cause distraction,” he said.

Similarly, Yunusa Tanko, interim national coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide and spokesperson for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, said the former Anambra State governor has not informed him of any plans to join the ADC or run as Atiku’s running mate in 2027.

“As far as I’m concerned, no such story has come to my desk. I’m not aware of it,” Tanko said.

“Although a lot of people are making calculation on how best to save the country , Peter Obi has not make such information known. So I count it as calculation of some individuals who are working on how best to save the country,” he added.

Politics

I’m sorry, was naive to have criticized you – El-Rufai’s son begs Goodluck Jonathan

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House of Representative member from Kaduna North, Bello El-Rufai, has said he was naive to have criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bello, who is son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said he is sorry for criticizing Jonathan’s administration.

The Kaduna lawmaker noted that he failed to realize that Nigeria had a good governance under Jonathan due to his naivety.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, the lawmaker said he is wiser now.

Bello said his naivety came to the fore when he saw his father preparing to visit Jonathan for political consultation.

He recalled paying his father a visit and noticed that he was going out. He asked where he was going.

Bello said: “And he said he was going to see President Jonathan, and I paused because when I was naive or when I thought ego or gratification mattered, I used to be very active in criticising President Jonathan.

“I even forgot in my naivety as many young people do, that we had governance then and I found my father saying that he is going to consult President Jonathan. I said, ‘please when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now’.

“The system is a problem. Now, why did I mention President Jonathan? It takes a lot, particularly in Africa, to lose an election and leave, he did that.”

El-Rufai initially had a good relationship with Jonathan and he even urged him to contest the 2011 presidential election.

Reports said after Namadi Sambo’s emergence as Vice President, El-Rufai and his family members heavily criticized Jonathan’s administration.

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This is an abuse of power, Soludo cannot hold democracy hostage in Anambra by imposing illegal and undemocratic fee of N50m for campaign billboard advert— Moghalu Campaign organization ‎

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‎Governorship candidate in the upcoming Anambra state election, Chief George Moghalu of the Labour Party and his campaign organizers described the N50m advert levy imposed on candidates contesting the election as extortion.

‎In a statement released on Thursday, the campaign organisation said it rejected the decision. According to the statement signed by Dr. Ikenna Agu, Director, Media and Publicity “The George Moghalu Campaign Organisation (GMCO) condemns in the strongest possible terms the outrageous and undemocratic imposition of a N50 million campaign billboard fee by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), under the directive of Governor Charles Soludo’s administration.

‎”This illegal directive is nothing short of a well-calculated attempt to muzzle opposition voices, entrench tyranny, and commercialize our democracy to serve the narrow interests of the ruling party”

‎”The action by ANSAA, which demands an extortionist N50 million from each of the 16 governorship candidates before they can legally advertise their campaigns, is a shameful assault on the fundamental democratic principles of fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity”

‎”This illegal levy is a direct attack on our democracy and must be resisted by all well-meaning Anambrarians and lovers of freedom”

‎”Let it be made clear: Governor Soludo and his agents cannot use state power to gag other candidates. They cannot use financial roadblocks to eliminate competition. They cannot hold democracy hostage in Anambra”

‎They demanded for the immediate reversal of what they tagged “oppressive directive” stating that If the Soludo government has any respect for democratic values, it should allow all candidates to access campaign infrastructure on an equal and affordable basis, as guaranteed under the electoral laws and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‎The George Moghalu Campaign Organisation called on INEC and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene swiftly and hold Governor Soludo’s government accountable for what they see as an “abuse of power”

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PRESIDENT TINUBU RESCUED NIGERIA’S ECONOMY FROM THE TIPPING POINT—- Gov Chukwuma Soludo

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Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration salvaged Nigeria’s public finances from the brink of collapse.

In an address delivered on June 12 at The Platform Nigeria, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade and The Covenant Nation, Governor Soludo praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms. He called for a nationwide ethical and ideological rebirth to drive sustainable national development.

Speaking on the theme “Rebuilding Our Nation,” Soludo urged political parties across the country to unite along ideological lines as a first step toward a new, issue-based political culture.

“The audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point.”

 

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