Mr Nyesom Wike,  the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  has expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would survive its current adversity.

Wike stated this when he hosted the party’s stakeholders under the aegis of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, in Abuja on Monday.

Some of the stakeholders included former Gov.

Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu, former Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Also at the meeting were the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda.

Former federal and state lawmakers and some zonal and state party executives among others equally attended the meeting.

The minister, while addressing the stakeholders emphasised that the PDP should not be allowed to die, describing the concerned stakeholders as those who believe in the survival of the party.

“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party, not just talking on television or in the newspapers, but committed to the party at various levels,” he said.

He argued that the activities of the G5 Governors had stabilised the country, stressing the need to respect the constitutions of the party and Nigeria.  

“You may like us, you may hate us; the truth of the matter is if G5 did not take the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis.

“It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was, but the right thing had to be done, and we still stand by that decision.

“We have continued to emphasize that the party’s constitution and that of the country should be respected.

“If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t have been where we are today,” he said.

Wike stressed that as an opposition party, members of the PDP should not continue to act with impunity, adding that no opposition party acts with impunity.

“Ours is to continue to pacify people and bring them together and desist from saying that they should go to hell.

“Let us not allow greed; let us not allow ego to kill out party,” he advised

On his part, Ortom noted that he who pays the piper dictates the tune and challenged anyone in Nigeria to tell Nigerians who has contributed to the growth of the PDP more than Wike.

He said that President Bola Tinubu understands that the country should not be a one-party state, which was why he appointed Wike as the FCT minister.

“For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes and that is why we are where we are today”, he said. (NAN)

Political stakeholders from Lafia Local Government Area have urged the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to contest the Nasarawa governorship position in 2027.They made their position known at a stakeholders’ engagement on Monday in Lafia.Speaking at the event, Prof.

Mohammed Mainoma, former Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said the decision to urge Adamu to contest for governorship was borne out of his pedigree in public service. Mainoma, chairman of the occasion, described Adamu as an administrator par excellence throughout his career in the police force.He maintained that Nasarawa State needed such a man who had distinguished himself both nationally and internationally to steer its affairs to greatness.“We want him to come and replicate what he did at Interpol for more than 10 years, and as Nigeria’s IGP, to ensure peace and security in Nasarawa State.“We want Nasarawa State to leverage his wealth of experience and international connections to ensure rapid growth and development of the state.“Adamu is bold, accountable, knowledgeable, and resourceful to steer the ship of Nasarawa State to greater heights in 2027.“We therefore, urge him to heed the clarion call of the people he is so passionate about, to contest the governorship in the next general election,” he said.Also, Barr. Musa Hussaini, an associate of the former IG, said that since 1999, there had never been a time when key stakeholders in Lafia would unanimously endorse a particular person until now.“I dare say that we have never experienced an occasion where the entire Lafia LGA will rise in one voice to endorse a particular person.“There is no voice of dissent, no criticism, everybody that is supposed to be somebody in Lafia is here to attest and to support the endorsement of our governor to become in 2027,” he said.He charged the people to do their bit by registering to be members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their wards, to participate actively in the electoral process that would ensure Adamu’s victory in 2027.Hussaini noted that at the last count, 30 imminently qualified persons had indicated interest in vying for the Nasarawa State governorship position.He, however, pointed out that Adamu stands tall above them given his leadership qualities and experience.In his remarks, Alhaji Abubakar Sarki-Dahiru, member representing Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said Adamu deserved to be Nasarawa State governor in 2027 describing him as peace-loving and accommodating.He urged the former IG to accept the call to contest and charged the people to rally around him to succeed for the betterment of the state.Responding, Retired IG Adamu said that although he had no intention to contest for the governorship of Nasarawa State, he would not turn down the request of the people since he had led all his life serving the people.He, however, said that he would still be consulting with stakeholders across the state in the interest of Nasarawa. (NAN).

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom on Friday finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).Eno, speaking at the banquet hall, Government House, Uyo, said he had to join the APC to support President Bola Tinubu to continue with the reforms he had started.

The governor said that he did not want to speak from both sides of his mouth and had to come out to join the progressives formally. to avoid anti party activities.Eno said that he had done wide consultations with critical stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project to explain and inform them on his movement.“Earlier this morning, I submitted a formal letter of resignation from the PDP to the ward Chairman; same copy has been sent to both the state chairman and the national chairman,” he said.The governor thanked the PDP for the support and love and for working with him in the past two years of running the affairs of Akwa Ibom.He said he had taken his decision after due consultation with all critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of the state for the past three months.“I believe no one that has ever moved or changed party has ever consulted the way I have done.“I did that because of the respect I have for all of you, stakeholders in project Akwa Ibom. I did that knowing that each and everyone of you needed to be consulted and informed.“I needed to explain why I am moving, and at this point, that consultation culminated into meeting all the critical stakeholders in PDP last night in this hall, where I took time to explain to you why we must move.“We must be able to interpret the time and flow with the time and not run against the tide.“Having completed the rounds of my consultation, as your servant that you have elected to serve you, I therefore have decided to progressively move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).‘Today, I have made the bold declaration to join that train,” Eno said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Udeme Otong, in his goodwill message, said he and the 25 members of the house of assembly would move with the governor.Sen. Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South in the national assembly, in his goodwill message, also promised to move with the governor.Eno was received into APC by the Akwa Ibom party chairman, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, who commended the governor for his action.Ntukekpo said that the governor’s action was for the interest of all Akwa Ibom people to transform the state beyond party lines.In his remarks, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, who is also the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, thanked all those who joined to move with the governor voluntarily.He assured the governor and Akwa Ibom people that APC would support the state, stressing that the governor would not regret the decision taken to move.“I want to assure you that you will not regret this decision. The decision to join APC will be supported, and collectively, we will deliver dividends of democracy to not just Akwa Ibom people but all Nigerians,” he said.Report says that among dignitaries present at the event were Govs. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Bassey Otu of Cross River. (NAN)