Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have firmly distanced themselves from any ongoing merger speculations, asserting that the party will not dissolve into any coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) meeting held on Monday, April 15, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The meeting was chaired by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.

“The PDP remains open to welcoming individuals and groups who share our vision of reclaiming power and entrenching good governance,” the Forum stated. “However, we are not involved in, nor are we contemplating, any form of merger or coalition that compromises our identity.”

Amid recent internal controversies, the Forum reiterated its earlier decision from the Asaba meeting, emphasizing that the position of National Secretary remains zoned to the South East. Following the Supreme Court judgment, the governors recommended that the Deputy National Secretary serve in an acting capacity until a substantive appointment is made.

The governors also expressed solidarity with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing the federal government’s moves towards declaring a state of emergency in the state as “an ordeal” inflicted on the people of Rivers.

“We stand by Governor Fubara and will oppose any undemocratic attempts to destabilize the government of Rivers State,” the communiqué read.

To reinforce constitutional safeguards, the governors announced plans to seek legal clarity from the Supreme Court on the process for declaring a state of emergency.

On the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly in Plateau, Borno, Edo, and Katsina States, the Forum called for a “bottom-up security approach,” empowering state governments to serve as first responders to violent threats.

The governors condemned the recent attacks in Plateau State and extended condolences to the victims’ families and affected communities.

In a move to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, the PDP Governors fixed May 27, 2025, for a PDP Stakeholders Meeting and scheduled the National Convention to hold in Kano from August 28 to 30, 2025.

Two key committees were set up to facilitate the convention process:

Zoning Committee: Chaired by Governor Douye Diri (Bayelsa), with Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) as Vice Chairman, and Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) as Secretary.

National Convention Committee: Headed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Adam

…Your Father Never Backed Mine – Atiku’s Son Fires Back at Bauchi Gov’s Son

Tensions are rising within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election as sons of two political heavyweights—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed—engaged in a heated verbal exchange over political loyalties.

Mohammed Atiku-Abubakar, son of the former Vice President, on Monday lashed out at Shamsu Bala Mohammed, son of the Bauchi Governor, accusing him and his father of never supporting Atiku’s presidential bids in both 2019 and 2023.

This follows Shamsu’s recent comment threatening that his father will not back Atiku in the 2027 election—an assertion that provoked a sharp response.

Mohammed Atiku-Abubakar dismissed Shamsu’s remarks as “arrogant” and indicative of “an exaggerated sense of relevance,” insisting that Atiku never received political support from Governor Bala.

“The only difference now is that Shamsu has removed the mask and now we do not have to worry about the feigned impression of any support from his father,” he said in a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja.

He further stated, “Let it be known to Shamsu that never has Atiku dissipated an ounce of energy towards his father’s political travails. Atiku’s politics transcends such shenanigans, and he has consistently remained above bar.”

Mohammed also referenced remarks by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who had accused Governor Bala of covertly working against Atiku during the 2023 presidential election, a claim that has further strained intra-party relationships.

“It is noteworthy to mention that Governor Bala Mohammed’s presidential ambition is the reason for his poor management of the PDP Governors’ Forum, where he couldn’t command the respect and control of his colleagues,” he added.

While dismissing any notion of political betrayal, Atiku’s son accused the Bauchi Governor of “secret hobnobbing with Tinubu’s government,” further fueling speculations about shifting allegiances ahead of the 2027 race.

He concluded his statement by urging Shamsu to focus on meaningful political discourse “that advances our dear country Nigeria, not on needless rantings.”

The public spat underscores growing tensions and potential realignments within the PDP as the countdown to 2027 begins.

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, has taken a swipe at former Governor of Rivers State, Rufus Ada George, accusing him of having no legacy of development other than violence, political unrest, and ethnic division.

In a statement on Thursday, Olayinka challenged Ada George to name a single impactful project or reform from his time in office, saying his only notable contribution was the promotion of violent political groups and the destabilization of peace in Rivers State.

“At his age, one would expect Ada George to speak with the wisdom of an elder, not act with shameless partisanship,” Olayinka said.

He referenced findings from the 2008 Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Justice Kayode Eso, which allegedly linked the former governor to the activities of the militant group known as the “Bush Boys.” According to Olayinka, the group was responsible for orchestrating violence during Ada George’s political era.

He further questioned the former governor’s political alignment, asking why Ada George failed to support his then-deputy, Dr. Peter Odili, during the 1999 and 2003 governorship elections, and instead chose to back opposition interests.

“Instead of promoting peace, he took sides in the protracted chieftaincy crisis in Okrika. The community had no Amayanabo until Wike became governor, because of the division Ada George encouraged,” he stated.

Olayinka also accused Ada George of siding with multinational oil company Shell during the Ogoni people’s protest in the early 1990s, rather than defending the rights of the people he governed.

“Despite all this, Ada George was among those who supported suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, even as he ran the Rivers State House of Assembly with just three members out of 32, and withheld salaries and entitlements from other lawmakers,” he added.

He criticized the former governor’s silence in the face of Fubara’s alleged lawlessness and his failure to speak against the marginalization of fellow Rivers indigenes.

“Now, at nearly 85, Ada George shamelessly holds press conferences blaming the FCT Minister for the current crisis in Rivers, including the appointment of sole administrators and alleged state of emergency. Where was his voice when democratic institutions were being trampled upon?” Olayinka asked.

He recalled that Ada George also dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to mediate the Rivers crisis, labeling the President a “meddlesome interloper” and describing his intervention as “executive rascality.”

“It is laughable that those who opposed peace and took sides are now crying foul when the consequences of their bias unfold,” Olayinka said.

He concluded with a word of caution: “True elders lead with wisdom and neutrality. Once you abandon that path, you lose the moral authority to speak. Ada George should reflect on this and refrain from further embarrassing himself in public.”

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has taken a swipe at former Rivers State Governor, Rufus Ada George, over comments alleging that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is behind the ongoing political unrest in Rivers State.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Olayinka described Ada George’s remarks as “funny and unfortunate,” accusing some elders of behaving like “children who lost their most prized toys” after initially supporting what he called Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s controversial actions.

“When Governor Fubara withheld the salaries and entitlements of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and masterminded the burning and demolition of the Assembly complex, supposed elders like Ada George applauded him,” Olayinka said.

He accused the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, led by Ada George, of compromising their neutrality during the crisis and lacking the impartiality expected of true elder statesmen.

“Unlike those masquerading as elders, genuine elders adopt a neutral stance in times of crisis to help broker peace and offer credible solutions,” he said.

Olayinka also recalled Ada George’s harsh criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis, labeling it “executive rascality” and accusing the President of constitutional overreach.

“They even called the President a meddlesome interloper, despite the fact that all parties had agreed to his intervention. They opposed anything that didn’t suit Fubara’s excesses,” he stated.

He further alleged that, even after a clear ruling from the Supreme Court, Ada George and his allies failed to advise Governor Fubara to respect the law, thereby enabling what he termed “arrogance and lawlessness.”

“Fubara openly issued threats, and the result was the sabotage of vital infrastructure, with oil pipelines set ablaze,” Olayinka said.

According to him, the deepening crisis in Rivers is the result of elders like Ada George choosing to take sides rather than offer guidance to the younger generation.

“They’ve even stooped to monitoring when Wike visits Rivers, as if it is now a crime for a Minister to return to his home state,” he added.

Olayinka concluded by urging Ada George and his colleagues to reflect on their role in the crisis.

“The moment an elder takes sides in a conflict between two children, he loses the moral right to mediate. That’s the mistake they made, and now they’re trying to play the victim,” he said.