The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to a lawsuit filed in Kaduna’s High Court to prevent the party from conducting its National convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.

The party urged members and supporters to ignore all distractions as the party prepares for its convention on October 30 and 31. The party stated that the convention is not intended to be a witch hunt or to shorten anyone’s mandate.

Those who approached the High Court in Kaduna in an attempt to block the party from conducting its national convention were labeled as misguided members by the party’s Secretary, National Convention organizing Committee (NCOC) and governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde.

The statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) is using this medium to alert members of our party and members of the public that we are aware of the actions of a few misguided PDP members who have approached the High Court in Kaduna in an attempt to prevent our great party, the PDP from holding its National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.

“Notwithstanding their right to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to air their grievances, we maintain that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has acted in good faith in fixing our convention for October 30 and 31. It is not meant to witch-hunt anyone or to truncate anyone’s mandate.

“Therefore, we call on all members and supporters of the PDP to ignore this distraction as we prepare to host a convention that will send a clear signal to Nigerians that the PDP is the only party that has the will and the might to rescue Nigeria from the catastrophe that we have been enduring for the past six years.

“We are aware that a clearly united PDP is a threat to the forces that seek to divide us. Therefore, we urge our teeming supporters nationwide to keep the faith as we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that we will not be distracted from our goal.

“We are determined to strengthen our party structure and put in the work needed to unify and restore our great nation back on the path to economic prosperity and greatness.

“We therefore urge all party faithful to continue to rally support as we prepare to host our National Convention on October 30 and 31, 2021.”

…Says He’s Too Frail To Serve As President

The pressure on the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 is causing controversy, with some party leaders claiming that he is too fragile for the role.

Thousands of fans of the former Lagos State governor took turns over the weekend under the aegis of Tinubu Support Group (TSG) to convince the former governor to declare interest in the top position.

Hon. James Faleke, the group’s convener, dubbed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu “the maker of modern Lagos” and urged him to declare his intention to run for President immediately.

“We are calling on our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to formally proclaim his presidential aspiration on behalf of the millions of supporters of Tinubu Support Group,” Faleke added.

He went on to say that despite leaving government, this is a man who has remained popular because he is dedicated, steady, and relentless.

In Nigerian politics, he has been a pivotal role.

According to him, the ruling party was fortunate to have someone with Tinubu’s political clout.

However, some APC leaders believe the party has more options than the former governor, who recently returned from London where he underwent knee surgery.

According to Alhaji Isah Danladi, an APC chieftain in Lafia, Nasarawa State, the former Lagos State governor “represents a recycling process that has left the country in ruins.”

Tinubu, he said, is “no better than Buhari.”

His type should be concerned with leaving a decent legacy as a statesman who contributes to the stability of our democracy in conscience-based communities.

He formed a robust and virile party through extensive consultations that was able to depose a ruling party.

That, not this juvenile thirst for power, which I believe is self-serving,” says the author.

Dr. Garus Gololo, an outspoken APC leader and social analyst, said, “These individuals are jokers.”

You’re implying that a bunch of people will band together and, in good conscience, try to persuade an obviously frail and fatigued man to run for president.

“How many times has Buhari left the country on medicals abroad? More than five times. And we want to bring another like him,” he added.

This is as he called on the APC leadership to give the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, to opportunity to lead the nation; adding that both men have proven track record of performance and are strong enough to get the job done.”

Dr Gololo equally disclosed the readiness of some party members to move to other political parties “if APC as much as contemplates giving Tinubu the opportunity to vie for the presidency.”

An APC youth leader in Kaduna State, Mallam Abdulazeez Ayinfa told Daily Independent that “giving Tinubu the party’s Presidential ticket for 2023 is similar to nailing the coffin In its victory at the polls.”

“It may not augur well for the party,” he lamented.

Following a collision of ambitions with Senator Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is prepared to wage the presidential battle of his life.

After being snubbed in London by the former Governor of Lagos State, Osinbajo was left with no choice but to throw his hat into the ring, according to a recent article in one of the sales.

Tinubu returned to Nigeria earlier this month following a medical vacation in London that lasted over three months.

The two-term governor of Lagos State, whose health has been a point of contention, is said to have had knee surgery in London.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) were among the leaders who paid him a visit in London.

The House of Representatives’ northern caucus, led by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase, also paid a visit to the APC national leader and endorsed his candidacy for the presidency in 2023.

However, a source close to Osinbajo said yesterday night that Tinubu ignored him during his medical vacation in London.

“Essentially, Osinbajo arrived London to attend a conference and then, see Tinubu. As he arrived, he was supposed to see Tinubu the next morning but Tinubu left town by 6 a.m. the next morning to avoid seeing him. Even Adeboye (General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye) had arrived a day earlier and they planned to see Tinubu,” the source said.

The source further disclosed that the vice president has to make up his mind after his failed bid to see Tinubu.

“Tinubu has ramped up his campaign and Osinbajo also wants to be president and both cannot be president.

“So, now the die is cast for the battle of his life. He has not decided to run but a lot of people are mobilising him to run,” the source explained.

However, according to a source close to Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State had been in London for two and a half months, adding that if Osinbajo wanted to come and see him, he had enough time.

“The president came to see Asiwaju; other leaders came; Osinbajo did not come. If Osinbajo had wanted to come, he had enough time to do so. Tinubu wanted to return because he wanted to avoid the crowd in Lagos. And he returned when he did,” he explained.

Strong indications that Osinbajo may part ways with his political mentor over the 2023 presidency had emerged during his birthday in March 2020 when Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who delivered an address on behalf of the APC Progressives Governors Forum, hinted that Osinbajo is a good candidate to succeed Buhari.

Osinbajo’s supporters, under the aegis of the Progressives Consolidation Group (PCG), were the first and only support group that has received the approval of the APC to canvass support for his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

The approval was contained in a letter titled, ‘Letter of Recognition as a Support Group,’ dated October 4, 2021, and signed by the Director of Administration of the APC, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.

The letter, which was addressed to the PCG, read in part, “We write to inform you that the National Chairman, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, has approved your recognition as a support group of the party.”

Even though the supporters of Osinbajo and Tinubu have insisted that the alleged attempt to pit the two leaders against each other will fail, there are no indications that any of them will drop his presidential aspiration.

Reacting to a report where groups said to be supporting Tinubu and Osinbajo were pitted against each other over the 2023 presidency, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, had stated in a statement that neither the vice-president nor his office will endorse “this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports”.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of the same party,” the former senator said.

“Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pitch them against each other.

“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong,” Ojudu reportedly explained.