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2023:PDP North Central Groups Declare Support for Presidency Shift to South

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From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

A Coalition of the North Central Support Groups, within the Peoples Democratic Partt (PDP), which claims to boast of “energetic men and women, and strong political stakeholders,” have declared its support for the Nigerian presidency to be zoned to Southern part of the country.

The coalition made the declaration in a communique that was issued from its meeting held on Wednesday in Kogi State.

While the spokesperson of the group is Dr. Moses Paul,
the communiqué was jointly signed by the groups’ national coordinator, Hon. Ocheme Joseph; its national secretary, Alhaji Isah Momosani Musa; and its national women leader, Hajia Agatha Ibrahim.

According to the communiqué, “The teeming members of the Coalition of North Central Support Groups, a group of energetic men and women, strong political stakeholders, have gathered and resolved to officially declare support for the Nigerian presidency to be zoned to Southern Nigeria, and further state as follows:

”That this very resolve is anchored on our firm belief in equity, fairness and justice, which characterise the basic essence and foundation of our democracy.

”That we are solidly charged  to  state that thus far the voyage Nigeria has sailed so safely and peacefully, interms of mutual understanding amongst the various geopolitical zones in our country, Nigeria, and hence the need to promote national unity.

”That the hinges that allow a political power to swing between north and south have equitably been operated upon by political actors this while, irrespective of one’s leaning and interest, just as we have recorded less power tussles in the PDP and in other political parties.

”That Lately, Nigeria, which is the big picture, super structure and a superset from where all political parties make their  calculations and permutations, form interests and ponder around, should be the focus of all political parties,  especially our party; the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, and the  All Progressives’ Congress- APC.

”That all political parties build the fulcrum of their operations, pitch their survival and existence, mostly around winning elections, especially presidential election. These are the already entrenched patterns of aspirations in Nigeria.

”That as it stands, APC has fielded and Nigeria has voted  Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And President Buhari is a northerner.

”That going by convention and the usual practice in Nigeria, Buhari will be exiting office on 29th May, 2023, after completing his constitutionally allowed eight years in office. And thereafter, we appeal  that the south should be given a chance.

”That as Nigerians, we are fully convinced that the most viable way to re-enact and foster the common and agelong cooperation of power rotation between  north and south in Nigeria is to earnestly ask and call for the general support for a President from the south, which we believe that is due and very appropriate.

”That, for instance,  going by Chapter 1, Section 7(3)(a-c) of the PDP constitution (as amended 2017), for us to ensure equity, fairness and justice, our party- PDP, will zone and rotate political offices between north and south. And as it stands , the north has just produced  Senator Iyorchia Ayu, from Benue State, from the north, as the current National Chairman of our dear party, and his tenure will last for four years.

”That ,we believe to enthrone justice in PDP and in Nigeria, the south will be supported by all to produce the next presidential flag bearer of PDP. And this is our stand in the North Central.

”That in solidarity, we call on all PDP stakeholders in the south to rise up to this task and save our country, Nigeria, from the APC misrule. And let us be reminded that southern Nigeria has capable hands and competent leaders who can rescue and govern Nigeria more than the APC – Buhari government. And we call on all PDP stakeholders and the  entire Nigeria, to support the south”.

”In conclusion, that as the political events unfold,  we, the Coalition of North  Central Support Group, have affirmed to render unflinching support, loyalty and mobilisation to PDP aspirants, and a candidate from south, that will emerge as PDP presidential flag bearer, soonest.”

POLITICS

2027: APC Leader Raises Alarm Over Poaching of Party Youths by Opposition

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

As Political realignments continue ahead of 2027 general election, the National Youth Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Dayo Israel has raised the alarm that opposition political parties are poaching the party’s youths.To checkmate the tide, Comrade Israel said that the APC has started a process of restructuring and rebranding the party to halt and frustrate plans and efforts by other parties to sway Nigerian youths and divert their votes away from the party.

The national youth leader made these remarks while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday while unveiling the newly constructed Youth Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a resource center for party youths, located at 8 Ajesa Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Comrade Israel stated that poor funding from the national secretariat of the party, lack of enlightenment and engagement programmes directed at the youth abd women population have started to have some toll and negative effect on the confidence of the target groups and may affect supporting the party and the president in the future.”We are hoping that when the APC gets a permanent site like the president directed, the youth wing of the party might even be given a whole structure as its office but before that, we have to do a lot to begin to support the youth of our nation.”The Labour Party and others are trying and doing everything possible to hijack the youths for their votes as we head to 2027 general elections. We need to be proactive and start engaging our youths now so that we can deliver their votes in the election to Mr. President. “We have developed a three-year development plan on how we want to engage the youths but we felt that it is only proper to setup this resource centre first where youths can meet and rub minds with policy makers.”Israel outlined several skills and other empowerment programmes that would be offered by the resource centre, and stated categorically that when APC youths are properly equipped and empowered, other parties will not pose any serious threat to the ruling party either before, during or after the general elections. Apart from taking proper inventory of APC youths across the country, he said, the resource centre hopes to immediately commence radical public engagement and enlightenment programmes targeting all sectors of youths including the students in higher institutions to ensure massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.

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Education

Varsity Don Advocates Establishment of National Bureau for Ethnic Relations, Inter-Group Unity

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By David Torough, Abuja

A university scholar, Prof. Uji Wilfred of the Department of History and International Studies, Federal University of Lafia, has called on the Federal Government to establish a National Bureau for Ethnic Relations to strengthen inter-group unity and address the deep-seated ethnic tensions in Nigeria, particularly in the North Central region.

Prof.

Wilfred, in a paper drawing from years of research, argued that the six states of the North Central—Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa share long-standing historical, cultural, and economic ties that have been eroded by arbitrary state boundaries and ethnic politics.

According to him, pre-colonial North Central Nigeria was home to a rich mix of ethnic groups—including Nupe, Gwari, Gbagi, Eggon, Igala, Idoma, Jukun, Alago, Tiv, Birom, Tarok, Angas, among others, who coexisted through indigenous peace mechanisms.

These communities, he noted, were amalgamated by British colonial authorities under the Northern Region, first headquartered in Lokoja before being moved to Kaduna.

He stressed that state creation, which was intended to promote minority inclusion, has in some cases fueled exclusionary politics and ethnic tensions. “It is historically misleading,” Wilfred stated, “to regard certain ethnic nationalities as mere tenant settlers in states where they have deep indigenous roots.”

The don warned that such narratives have been exploited by political elites for land grabbing, ethnic cleansing, and violent conflicts, undermining security in the sub-region.

He likened Nigeria’s ethnic question to America’s historic “race question” and urged the adoption of structures similar to the Freedmen’s Bureau, which addressed racial inequality in post-emancipation America through affirmative action and equitable representation.

Wilfred acknowledged the recent creation of the North Central Development Commission by President Bola Tinubu as a step in the right direction, but said its mandate may not be sufficient to address ethnic relations.

He urged the federal government to either expand the commission’s role or create a dedicated Bureau for Ethnic Relations in all six geo-political zones to foster reconciliation, equality, and sustainable development.

Quoting African-American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, Prof. Wilfred concluded that the challenge of Nigeria in the 21st century is fundamentally one of ethnic relations, which must be addressed with deliberate policies for unity and integration.

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POLITICS

Bye-election: Exclude Our Party, Risk Nullification of Poll, Labour Party Cautions INEC

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The leadership of the Labour Party has cautioned that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) goes ahead to conduct the August 16, 2025 bye-election without publishing the names of its candidates, and ensuring that its logo appears on the ballot, it will seek the nullification of the election in line with the provision of the law.

The party has also called on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Prof Mahmood Yakubu led INEC to respect the Nigeria Constitution and the Electoral Law by discharging its duties as specified by the laws of the land and avoid wasting tax payers money.
It accused INEC of working for interests that are anti democratic.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Labour Party said that by the electoral Act 2022, any political party which is excluded from participating in any election is expected to approach the court for remedy.I”NEC is gambling with the huge resources of the country which are being expended in the conduct of the bye-election that is scheduled to hold on the 16 of August, 2025. “We are not going to be helpless as the law has provided adequate remedies for any act or omission by the commission that has shortchanged the political party or put its image in disrepute. “A political party is expected to guard its image and reputation jealously and Labour Party will not take any conduct by any agency or regulatory body intended to rubbish its reputation lightly. “One wonders what interest INEC is protecting that will make it throw the entire country into unnecessary crisis and incurring such a colossal financial waste. “By virtue of the Supreme Court decision delivered on the April 4, 2025, the court stated that the issues of leadership is an internal affairs of the party and going by the internal mechanism of the party, the party has held a convention on the 27th of March 2024 at Nnewi, which produced the current leadership as led by Barrister Julius Abure. One wonders what the problem is with INEC.”INEC under Prof. Yakubu must respect the decisions of both the Supreme Court and the leadership of the Labour Party.”

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