A political pressure group `Jagaban Apex Alliance (JAA)’, has called on Gov. Hope Uzodinma-led Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to work together for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The PGF had recently opposed Wike’s’Rainbow Coalition political initiative’, warning that it could weaken the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Director-General of JAA, Harry Ajentekebia said in Abuja on Wednesday that both sides should work closely to ensure Tinubu is re-elected for a second in office.

Ajentekebia, who reiterated the imperative of re-electing President Tinubu in 2027, urged the APC governors and Wike to settle their differences and work together in the interest of President Tinubu.

“All I have to say is this: the PGF and Wike must deliberately create room for peace, understanding and genuine collaboration.

“The singular task before us is the successful re-election of President Bola Tinubu, come January 2027,” he said.

He warned that public disagreements of this nature could embolden their political opponents against the project of re-electing President Tinubu if not properly checked.

According to him, these political missteps must be firmly and decisively addressed by the leadership of the APC and by President Tinubun himself.

The JAA leader, therefore, appealed to all APC state governors and the party’s leadership across the 36 states and the FCT to continue partnering and support the movement for a successful re-election of President Tinubu.

He said JAA is the only verifiable organic grassroots force committed to delivering President Tinubu and the victory of all APC candidates in 2027, saying its members should continue to work relentlessly for the victory of all APC candidates. (NAN)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nyesom Wike appear to be operating on parallel lanes regarding the 2027 presidential poll as the party insists on contesting the election despite Wike’s declared support for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It noted on Wednesday that Wike’s decision remained personal and must be separated from what the PDP as a political party had decided it must do in 2027.

The PDP said much as its presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, and Wike held talks over the matter, whatever the two discussed was a “friendly” understanding between two friends that would have no impact on the focus of the party to contest the election on January 16, 2027.

According to the PDP, Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while exercising his personal decision, has also not stopped the PDP from contesting the election, “just that he has said it will be difficult for the party to win.”

Responding to inquiries by the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday on the prospects of the PDP contesting the election in the light of the unfolding scenario, the National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, explained that Wike’s discussion with Onor was at best a friendly engagement, which did not alter the plan of the party.

“He (Wike) told Nigerians that Sandy (Onor) is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend.

“It is not a discussion between the minister and the PDP. And the PDP has maintained its stance for a very long time. And we still maintain that stance”, Mohammed stated.

He also claimed that Wike’s position that it would be “difficult” for the PDP to win the election did not altogether mean that the party would not be able to win it.

“I think the minister did not say PDP won’t be able to win. He said it would be difficult.

“Once something is difficult, that does not automatically mean impossible. It means it is surmountable. So, yes, he has said that”, Mohammed added.

The minister, while appearing on an Arise News interview on Tuesday night, emphasised his undiluted support for President Tinubu’s re-election despite his own party (PDP) fielding Onor.

He admitted inviting Onor for a discussion where he clearly told him his stance.

The minister also said his support for Tinubu did not mean the PDP could not still field candidates in other elections, including governorship and National Assembly polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed.

On Saturday, when INEC released the final list of presidential candidates for the 2027 polls, Senator Onor was listed as the PDP’s presidential candidate.

Incidentally, Wike, who is the national leader of the Mohammed-led NWC, is backing Tinubu to emerge victorious on January 16, a development setting both the party and its main financier on parallel tracks.

Asked when the party would inaugurate its presidential campaign council, Mohammed told the newspaper that every arrangement to that effect remained in top gear and would be announced at the appropriate time to buttress the PDP’s determination to contest the number one seat.

“Our preparations are in top gear. And at the appropriate time, as usual, once everything is concluded, the presidential campaign council is fully populated, we will make it public; we will inaugurate, and we will go into campaigns the usual way we used to do”, he disclosed.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Presidency has challenged former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to honour his pledge to quit the 2027 presidential race if claims about his administration’s financial record in the state are proven wrong.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, issued the challenge in a post on X on Wednesday, following a fresh response by the Anambra State Government to Obi’s defence of his record in office.

Onanuga recalled that Obi had claimed he left Anambra without debt and pledged to stop campaigning if anyone could establish otherwise.

“Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise,” Onanuga wrote.

He said the Anambra State Government had now presented figures alleging that liabilities remained after Obi left office, including outstanding obligations to Water Corporation workers, teachers, pensioners and beneficiaries of gratuities.

“Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,” he said.

“The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?” Onanuga asked.

The development followed Obi’s rejection of allegations by the Anambra State Government that his administration left behind various financial liabilities, including contractor obligations and unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities.

Obi had maintained that his administration cleared more than ₦35 billion in historical gratuities and arrears and left office without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

He also disputed the government’s claim concerning an ecological fund, saying more than ₦2.13 billion was left untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

However, Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, disputed the claim in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mefor said the First Bank account cited by Obi was an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Consolidated Revenue Account and not an ecological fund account.

According to him, the state government obtained a certified printout of the account covering its history from 2011 and found no record of the amount claimed by Obi.

“From 2011 when the account was opened until date, there has never been any such amount whether as inflow or balance in the account,” Mefor said.

The commissioner also disputed Obi’s wider claims about the state’s financial position, saying eight external loans contracted during his administration remained outstanding.

The state government put the outstanding balance of the loans at about ₦127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, based on the exchange rate used in its calculation.

Mefor further alleged that the Soludo administration had cleared about ₦22 billion in inherited gratuity arrears, while some legacy liabilities involving retired teachers and Water Corporation workers remained.

The government also disputed Obi’s claim that his administration left more than ₦75 billion in savings, asking him to provide records to substantiate the figure.

Obi, however, has continued to defend his record, insisting that his administration settled inherited liabilities and did not leave unpaid obligations for salaries, pensions, gratuities or certified contractor bills.

He also challenged anyone capable of disproving his account of the state’s finances to do so, declaring: “If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.”