•Atiku Abubakar

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to emulate the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the area of political tolerance and sagacity.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze , a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State , made the call referencing the recent defection of Atiku ‘s son to APC, from the PDP.

Describing Atiku as an iconic, humane, trailblazer and sagacious politician, who has distinguished himself on the list of Nigeria and Africa’s democrats, Eze stated that by that singular act, the former Vice President equals the Abubakar Olusola Saraki dynasty in political tolerance.

Eze, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, said that the defection of Atiku’s son was historic, personal and a big moral and political lesson to Tinubu and others who parade themselves as democrats in Nigeria.

He opined that the defection of Abubakar, popularly known as Abba, has further exemplified and projected Abba’s father, the former Vice President as one of Africa’s seasoned democrats, with unblemished democratic principles and accolades.

“By supporting his son’s defection from PDP to APC, Atiku has risen the bar of democracy, thereby showing and proving to the world that he is truly in words and actions, a refined and principled democrat.

Does anyone question Atiku’s status as a democrat? Certainly, the answer is no. In deed, Atiku by all ramifications is a leading democrat in Africa.

His democratic credentials have continued to soar high by the day”.

“Atiku has now equalled the Saraki Dynasty in political tolerance, sagacity , acceptability and cohesion”, Eze said.

In a significant development amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, has granted an interim injunction restraining the Rivers State House of Assembly from proceeding with impeachment steps against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

The ruling, delivered by Justice F.A. Fiberesima on Friday following ex parte motions in two separate suits filed by the governor (Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026) and his deputy (Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026), bars the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, the Clerk of the House, and other defendants from forwarding any resolution, articles of impeachment, or related documents to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi.

The court also specifically restrained the Chief Judge from receiving, considering, forwarding, or acting on any such communications for the purpose of constituting a seven-member investigative panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and deputy.

The interim order is effective for seven days, pending the hearing of the substantive motion, adjourned to January 23, 2026.

This judicial intervention comes hours after the Rivers State House of Assembly, during its plenary on Friday, unanimously resolved to press ahead with the impeachment process.

The lawmakers formally requested the Chief Judge to set up the panel, insisting the move was in line with constitutional provisions despite earlier withdrawals and reversals by some members.

The impeachment proceedings were initiated on January 8, 2026, with the Assembly citing alleged gross misconduct by Fubara and Odu, including issues related to the demolition of the Assembly complex and unauthorized spending.

The process has seen fluctuations, with four lawmakers initially withdrawing support in favor of dialogue before some reversed their stance.

The Assembly has reportedly dismissed the court order, arguing that the judiciary lacks the power to intervene in legislative impeachment processes under the constitution.

The ruling provides temporary relief to Governor Fubara amid heightened tensions in the oil-rich state, where the political rift has drawn national attention.

The case continues to unfold as both sides prepare for the next court date.

The former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to his son’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, , saying ” It’s his personal choice.”

Atiku’s son, Abba Abubakar, defected from the PDP to the ruling APC, and pledged to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Reacting in a statement, Atiku said: “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal.

“In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect. As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.

“What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.

“I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”