Politics
SDP Presidential Candidate Consults Obasanjo, Rules Out Alliance With Other Parties
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, on Friday night held a closed-door meeting with former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Adebayo, who was accompanied by the leaders of the party, met Obasanjo at his penthouse residence in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Adebayo also held separate meetings with the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and the Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade, at their palaces in Abeokuta.
The closed-door meeting with Obasanjo lasted for about two hours.
Obasanjo had two weeks ago endorsed the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as his preferred candidate.
The SDP candidate told newsmen after the visit that the meeting with Obasanjo “was more of a family visit and not political nature.”
When asked on how he felt about the endorsement of Obi by Obasanjo, Adebayo said he was not bothered by the former president’s endorsement of Obi, saying Obasanjo has the right to do so.
He said, “We looked at him as a (former) Head of State. He is a Nigerian. He is also a free person who has the right to go with anybody. So, we don’t feel that way. The election is still far.
“The essence of democracy is getting people to change their minds by talking to people. Even when we win the election, we still have to negotiate with Nigerians. You still have to get the people who are not on your side to be on your side. So, it is a continuous exercise. We don’t have any problem at all.”
Addressing his loyalists during the Flag off of the presidential and governorship campaigns at the Ake palace ground in Abeokuta on Saturday, Adebayo ruled out working with the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
He described the leading political parties as confused.
Adebayo admitted that some candidates may step down for one another, but, foreclosed alliance with other presidential candidates.
He said, “You can take this to the bank, we will never work with APC or PDP. Nobody who loves Nigeria at this time will want those people the way they looked confused, to come back at all. APC is a confused party.
“And I am not saying it as an insult, they are confused. They are in power and they are saying they are going to change the government when they are in power.
“PDP will never repent. God doesn’t mind sinners, but the job of sinners is to repent.
“If you were in government for 16 years and you have been out of federal power for eight years, and you are still sluggish as before, as fraudulent as before, as deceptive as before, as comical as before, then you never change.”
Speaking on alliance with Peter Obi, he said “Let me make it very clear, when I mentioned APC and PDP, it includes Peter Obi because he is still PDP. He is just borrowing Labour Party for one week.”
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.