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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

Only healthy, living people do politics – Prophet Iginla warns Nigerian leaders

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Prophet Joshua Iginla of the Champion Royal Assembly has urged some top political office holders to prioritize their health over politics.

Iginla, who spoke on Sunday while releasing prophecies on the state of the nation, particularly said three major Nigerian leaders need to take care of their health.

According to him, life is more important than politics, stressing that politicians “need to be alive to play politics”.

He said, “If I were the people in power now, I would take care of my health. Three major important people should take care of their health.

“It is only the living that can do politics, spend time taking care of their health, all these permutations are not up to health permutations”.

Although the man of God failed to disclose the public office holder currently having health crisis, reports indicate that some top politicians have been secretly seeking medical attention abroad.

An ex-presidential media aide, Bashir Ahmad recently confirmed that former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is currently recovering in hospital from an unnamed illness.

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Peter Obi ‘reduced to Amaechi’s level’, now Commander-in-Chief of lies – Presidency

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President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, on Monday described former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi as the “Commander-In-Chief of misinformation and falsehood”.

Bwala spoke while reacting to Obi’s remark that Tinubu has borrowed more than former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari.

Posting on X, Bwala wrote: “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the commander in chief of misinformation, disinformation and falsehood; Peter “Gbajue” Obi.

“The Gbajue movement have found a new hero called “grok” but sadly, each time they asked grok for comments about me, they got what they never wanted to hear.

“We are focused on substantive issues raised by Gbajue and are on high alert to take down falsehood and disinformation.

“They said we are having sleepless nights yet we are only reacting to Gbajue’s obsession about our president and our government.

“In fact, why wasting our time with someone that has been downgraded and relegated to a second fiddle and is now left to struggle for that position with Rotimi Amaechi?”

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Enugu: Tension rises in Ekwenu community over Igweship tussle

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A community leader in Ekwenu autonomous community, Obolo-Affor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu state, Chief Emma Ugwu, has warned of a looming crisis in the area over alleged plan to issue a certificate of return to one of the contenders for Igweship stool despite a court order against such action.

Ugwu said if Governor Peter Mbah does not call the Enugu State Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs to order, the officials would plunge the community into avoidable chaos.

The community, who is an Igweship nominee and Plaintiff in suit no: OB/40/2024, raised the alarm in a statement he made available to journalists.

He accused the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs of planning “to commit another contempt of the court, obstruct justice and throw the Enugu community into mayhem over a contentious chieftaincy stool.”

He said it came to the notice of the people of alleged plan by one Chinwe Eze of the same community, in conjunction with the Commissioner for Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo and the Chairman of Udenu Local Govt Area, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, to ignore a subsisting court order “and issue him (Chinwe Eze) a certificate of recognition as the Igwe (traditional ruler) of the said community”.

He claimed that some traditional rulers had also been drafted to back the alleged illegality.

He further alleged that this would be the third time the respondents would be flouting the court order.

He said apart from purporting that Chinwe was elected, the local government chairman also announced that he was presenting Chinwe Eze as Igwe-elect to the people, adding that “all these were against the subsisting court order”.

Ugwu said the same people were planning to deceive the state government into presenting a certificate of recognition to Chinwe Eze as Igwe of the community, “just to drag the governor into this contemptuous illegality”.

“We want to caution political appointees not to abuse their office by engaging in lawlessness.

“We insist that a matter that is subjudice with a valid court order should be respected.

“Deacon Okey Ogbodo should know that his duty is to uphold the law and order. The office he is occupying is not his personal estate.

“Chinwe Eze is contesting the Igweship stool of the autonomous community but the court has issued a restraining order barring any action regarding the stool pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“Chinwe Eze had earlier filed a motion to set aside the restraining order, but the court threw away the motion.

“Again the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs had also filed a motion to set aside the order but the court rejected the motion.

“Chinwe Eze filed another motion asking the court to stay the order, again the court refused.

“Chinwe Eze further filed an appeal at the Appeal Court over the refusal of the High Court to vacate the order. The Appeal is still pending at the moment.

“The subsisting order of the High Court is that anything pertaining to Igweship stool of Ekwenu Autonomous Community should be put on hold pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“But instead of allowing the court process to run its natural course, Chinwe Eze is resorting to self-help,” he further alleged.

The community leader appealed to Governor Mbah to intervene on the matter.

“The State Governor should please take note of this ugly development and attempt to compromise the rule of law, which has the potential of throwing the community into chaos and violence.

“The governor should intervene through the Attorney General to nip this potential time-bomb in the bud and call the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs to order.

“The Commissioner, Okey Ogbodo, should not be allowed to compromise the due process of the law and in the process disrupt the peace and orderliness in any section of the state.

“Enugu as a leading state in the South East should not be subjected to this kind of lawlessness and abuse of office,” he appealed.

Both the commissioner and the Udenu local government chairman are yet to respond to the claims as of the time of filing this report.

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