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Atiku: “I bear no grudges against PDP Members’ Defectors to APC “

Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights

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Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election wrote today on his official Facebook page :

“I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party.

Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights.

Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.

As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment.

Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics.

We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.

During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida.

So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.

Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics.

When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance.

But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!

Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering.

The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing.

Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.

This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure.

We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.

The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on and no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent.

And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board. -AA”

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Politics

Senate Should Give Nigerians What They Want on Electoral Act Amendment, says Atiku

Nigerians were expecting real-time electronic transfer to the various levels of the elections. But what we got is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which is going to cause more confusion or chaos…

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Former vice president Atiku Abubakar urged the Senate to give Nigerian electorates what they wanted ,warning that including both manual and electronic transmission of results in the bill will cause further confusion.

Atiku called on the lawmakers the previous day when he visited ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida alongside Oyo State Governor ,Seyi Makinde, at his home in Minna, Niger State.

He said:

” Nigerians were expecting real-time electronic transfer to the various levels of the elections. But what we got is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which is going to cause more confusion or chaos,” the chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (APC) told reporters after the visit.

“At this point, this is not about me contesting elections. It is about Nigerians who want electronic transmission of election results,” he said.

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ADC, PDP to boycott Kano by-elections

The ADC State Chairman, Musa Shu’aibu Ungoggo, said the party decided to boycott the exercise because it had no confidence in the credibility of the process.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State have announced that they will not participate in the state assembly by-elections scheduled for February 21, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Similarly, the Kano State Chairman of the PDP, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, announced that his party would also boycott the polls, citing what he described as inadequate notice by INEC.

The ADC State Chairman, Musa Shu’aibu Ungoggo, said the party decided to boycott the exercise because it had no confidence in the credibility of the process.

“The party believes the by-elections would amount to an “appointment” rather than a genuine electoral contest,” he said .

Ungoggo said he had personally observed several previous by-elections, which he described as a waste of time, adding that the ADC was focusing its energy on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

He further alleged that some political parties contesting the by-elections were doing so under the influence of the ruling party in the state.

Ungoggo claimed that he was approached to involve the ADC in the race but turned down the offer, insisting that the party would not be part of what he described as the “drama” associated with by-elections.

Kibiya said the timeframe given to the party was too short to allow for proper preparation and effective participation.

“Although we have written to INEC, we have not received any response. I have also informed the party headquarters about the situation,” he said.“Therefore, I want to inform our members that we will not be participating in the upcoming by-elections.”

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Nenadi Usman unfolds agenda as Labour Party’s Chairman

The LP chairman assured members nationwide that her leadership would focus on repositioning the party and strengthening its structures across the country.

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Senator Nenadi Usman-led national caretaker committee of the Labour Party has formally taken over the party’s National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, declaring that the party was entering a new phase of rebuilding and expansion following the court judgment affirming her leadership.

Addressing party faithful, stakeholders and journalists shortly after resuming duties at the secretariat yesterday, Nenadi Usman described the development as symbolic and significant for the party’s future.

She noted that the event marked the first official activity at the party’s national secretariat since the Supreme Court judgment of April 4 last year, which brought to an end the protracted leadership crisis within the party.

What we thought would be a smooth process took a long time, but with patience, today we are here,” Usman said.

The LP chairman assured members nationwide that her leadership would focus on repositioning the party and strengthening its structures across the country.

Usman commended members of the party’s caretaker committee for their efforts since its inauguration, describing their work as critical to the transition.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who chairs the party’s National Steering Committee on membership revalidation and new registration, said the committee had recorded significant progress.

Since December, we have recorded millions of registrations, and e-registration is still ongoing,” he said.

Emetu thanked party supporters for their loyalty during the legal battles and urged stakeholders to work together to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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