I Stand With PDP South Africa Chapter

30/07/2025

One Day, One Destiny

A new wave of reform is brewing in Nigeria’s democratic journey. The House of Reps has proposed a bold idea, hold all elections presidential, governorship, Senate, House of Reps, and state assemblies on a single day in 2027. As expected, this has sparked debate. While many Nigerians, civil society groups, and opposition parties support the move, the ruling APC is crying foul claiming it’ll overwhelm the system and spark chaos. Yet closer inspection shows the opposition’s fear isn’t about logistics it’s about survival.

At its core, the proposal is about efficiency, fairness, and cost-cutting. Nigeria spends billions each election cycle, dragging polls across weeks or months. This wastes resources, exhausts voters and officials, and opens doors for manipulation, suppression, and bandwagon effects where early results influence later ones. One‑day elections would reduce distortion and better reflect the people’s true choices.

Critics argue INEC can’t manage such an operation in one day. But similar doubts arose before the introduction of BVAS and electronic transmission yet INEC adapted. By 2015, INEC deployed the card reader to authenticate voters. By 2023, BVAS was verifying identities and uploading results in real time, cutting fraud and streamlining operations. By 2027, even more advanced tools and platforms are likely to ease same‑day elections and eliminate the bulkiness critics fear.

INEC doesn’t need less responsibility it needs support, funding, and political will. Capacity is built through ambition, not retreat. If other large democracies with fewer resources can hold all elections on one day, Nigeria can too.

The real resistance is political. The APC knows that a one‑day election levels the field. It removes the psychological advantage they have when presidential polls come first, letting them claim early victory and influence subsequent races. With all contests decided together, there’s no room to rig momentum or intimidate voters based on earlier results. This terrifies the ruling party it strips them of a weapon they’ve long relied on: staggered advantage.

More importantly, the people are exhausted by insecurity, hunger, economic hardship, and a government that feels out of touch. The APC fears that if all elections happen in one day, Nigerians will vote them out completely in one swift, irreversible sweep. No fallback. No second chances. No mid‑course strategy tweaks. Just a clean, democratic reckoning. That’s what they fear not INEC logistics, not ballot length just the people’s judgment, unfiltered and final.

Opponents cloak their fear in technical language, invoking past legal setbacks and questioning constitutionality. But laws evolve. What failed in 2003 doesn’t have to fail now. Nigeria has grown. Our electoral system has matured. Political awareness of the masses has deepened. And crucially, we now have tech capacity that was absent in 2003. What we need is a system matching that growth one ensuring no one rides into power via scattered elections and manufactured momentum.

A one‑day election is more than procedural it’s a step toward electoral justice. It sends a message that all offices matter equally, every vote counts the same, and democracy must not be manipulated by the calendar. Let us not be held hostage by fear. Let us embrace reform not for politics, but for progress.

Borrowing from the 2nd Republic political party the NPN slogan One Nation one destiny the 2027 election should be One day, One ballot. One destiny. The time to adopt this is now.

24/07/2024

Goodluck Jonathan Assembled “Nigeria’s Finest Brains” To Run His Govt - Can Tinubu Learn? You say Jonathan ran a very corrupt government…I won’t argue. You allege that he was a hopeless drunk…I no sabi. You say he’s promiscuous and a cheat…I don’t care
But… Will you question Jonathan’s genuine intention for Nigeria - especially by assembling the “best brains” to run the major sectors of the economy. In fact, his cabinet was fondly called a “star-studded” cabinet. A majority of them became most sought-after, upon leaving office in 2015, to head top positions across the globe - largely because of the wealth of knowledge, experience, and capacity they’re blessed with.
No 1:
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy/Finance Minister. She initially rejected an offer to join Yar’Adua government. But Atedo Peterside and a few others persuaded her to join Jonathan’s government. In her book, she revealed how Jonathan, although not knowledgeable in economics, was willing to listen and act when necessary. Her words, “We had a good discussion on the economy, and even though he kept saying he did not know economics, he was clear on the direction he wanted to take the country.” Of course, Madam Ngozi’s expertise and dogged dedication, collaborating with her team of experts saw Nigeria move up to become Africa’s Biggest economy. One special thing she did was to set up a dedicated “economic team” and “smaller economic implementation team.” The economic team would meet regularly - once a month and at intervals - to oversee broader economic policies. While the implementation team would meet once a week to coordinate between economic portfolios and get things done.” Madam Ngozi would go on to become Word Trade Organization (WTO) Director General (DG). Today, she sits on the board of Twitter and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Even more, she serves as the Senior Adviser at Lazard and a Director at Standard Chartered Plc in the United Kingdom, etc.

No 2.
Akinwunmi Adesina - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. He was one of Jonathan’s most visible ministers because of the innovative programmes he regularly launched in the Agricultural sector. This included implementing an innovative electronic wallet system that provided farmers with subsidised farm inputs using their mobile phones. This would eventually end the 40 years of corruption that bedeviled the fertiliser sector. At least, we can recall the N122million grant his Ministry disbursed to 27 Nagropreneurs in each of the six geo-political zones. Adesina once narrated how Obasanjo and a few other prominent Nigerians convinced him to work with Jonathan. And when he eventually accepted to work under him, Jonathan gave him the best support - as President. Adesina would go on to become the President of African Development Bank Group (ADB).

No 3.
Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate - Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. Mr Ali’s bold and revolutionary vision for Nigeria’s health sector and his resolve to bring into reality that vision were clear and visible. He would go on to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Vaccine Alliance - which remains world’s largest global health fund, worth about $21 billion. The organization was able to cover more than 100 countries through the pandemic period from its base in Geneva, Switzerland. He proceeded to work as an Associate Professor at America’s Duke University where he taught comparative health systems for a two-year period. Since he left, as Minister, he’s engaged in international development projects (particularly in the health sector) across the United States, the East Asian Pacific, South Pacific, East Asia, and East and Southern Africa. Needless to mention that he’s the Senior Adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based in Washington DC.

No 4.
Dr. Omobola Johnson - Minister of Communication Technology. She is often referred to as one of Nigeria’s “boardroom gurus” for her unrivaled wealth of knowledge and experience. On 30 May 2013, she presented the Nigerian National Broadband Plan for 2013 to 2018 to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan - a catalyst for innovation in the ICT sector. Recall how she launched the NigComSat-IR Satellite - which improve on our fibre connectivity and provide greater bandwidth. She currently chairs the Board of Guinness Nigeria. She’s also the Chairperson of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited as well as the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet.

No 5.

Ms Arunma Oteh - Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The story of her dogged f!ght in cleaning the mess in the sector and bringing about innovative change is known to every Nigerian who has followed conversations in the polity. It wasn’t surprising that Nigeria’s equity grew in geometric proportions, and by the time Jonathan’s government departed in 2015, the market had tripled in size to $10bn in value. Just two months after she left office, she was appointed the Vice President and Treasurer at the World Bank.”

No 6
Amina Mohammed - Ms. Mohammed served as Minister of Environment. She was also a Senior Adviser to the president on Millennium Development Goals. Of course, her story still reverberates amongst Nigerians. She spent over 30 years, as a technocrat, creating impacts on the global scene. Many Nigerians became aware of and interested in climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment because of the efforts of her ministry. Her milestone achievements and soaring profile earned her an appointment as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General in 2016. Of course, it’s a long and overwhelming list of “intellectual stars” - technocrats who didn’t emerge from and were not tainted by the stinking, muddy waters of Nigeria’s politics. They stand in sharp contrast to the “clique of quacks” Buhari appointed, by virtue of favouritism, tribalism, and affiliation in kleptocracy. Buhari gave Tinubu a template to jumpstart his “Presidential career,” and in just a year, he overtook Buhari by merely assembling surrogates who only pay allegiance to his “mafia system”
- square pegs in round holes who can best be defined by their level of cluelessness and ineptitude. Today, they’ve utterly rubbished every single progress Nigeria, destroyed the economy, and sent the country to dark, primitive ages. Will Tinubu learn from Goodluck Jonathan? - NO. He doesn’t have the impulse for learning “good governance.”

07/01/2024

Summary of

1. President Bola Tinubu few days ago announced the suspension of one Halima Shehu, the CEO of National Social Investment Program (NSIPA), an agency under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Allegation, for financial misconduct.

2. EFCC operatives subsequently arrested Halima Shehu. During interrogation, it was discovered that she moved a whopping N40bn belonging to NSIPA to personal and corporate bank accounts linked to her.

3. Halima Shehu also informed the operatives that she moved the N40bn to private accounts linked to her because Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was transferring monies from the NSIPA account to personal accounts. She reportedly alleged that over N3billion has been moved so far by Betta, and her action was taken to block her from accessing the N40 billion.

4. While that conversation was ongoing, a memo written by Betta Edu to the Accountant General of the Federation seeking authorisation of payment of N585 million to the personal account of Oniyelu Bridget for GVG program in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Ogun States, surfaced.

It was inappropriate in the public service to transfer payments for projects to personal accounts.

5. Betta Edu issued a statement confirming the authenticity of the memo, and claiming that she obtained necessary approvals. She also claimed that the beneficiary of the money, Oniyelu Bridget, is a Project Accountant of GVG scheme.

6. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, issued a counter-statement disowning Betta Edu. The AGF in her statement stated that her office declined Betta Edu's request, and further informed her of the illegality in her action.

7. Since the AGF did not authorised the payment, under which authority did Betta act upon to transfer a whopping N585 million to the account of Oniyelu?

8. It is against Financial Regulations for any public officer to transfer agency funds into personal accounts of individuals, not even the President.

9. The honorable thing for Betta is to resign as minister to allow for unbiased investigation by relevant security agencies. Alternatively, her suspension or sack should be a priority if the President is serious with his anti-corruption rhetoric. After all, Halima Shehu was suspended as CEO of NSIPA.

10. We will not allow this scandal to be swept under the carpet.

08/11/2023

With two weeks left of Muhammadu Buhari's presidential reign, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, his senior special assistant on SDGs, had N147.1m for the building of classrooms and a skill acquisition centre in Lagos. Guess where the money was sent to? The account of a restaurant!

Read the whole article… when we are ready to take Nigeria back, we will take it back!

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know what you are talking [about], please. I just came in, they gave me that... let me find out...

04/11/2023

PEACE IS PRICELESS

MY DEAR GOOD PEOPLE OF RIVERS STATE.

I CONSIDER IT NECESSARY TO ISSUE THIS PRESS STATEMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS IN OUR DEAR STATE.

LATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT, 29TH OCTOBER 2023, I WAS INUNDATED WITH REPORTS THAT THE HALLOWED CHAMBER OF THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN GUTTED BY FIRE. THE BLAZE WAS SUCCESSFULLY PUT OUT BY THE FIRE SERVICE, AFTER WHICH SECURITY AGENCIES TOOK CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.

MY VISIT TO THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX ON MONDAY, 30TH OCTOBER 2023 WAS TO ASSESS THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE AND UNDERTAKE REMEDIAL MEASURES TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX. I CHARGED THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND REPORT TO ME.

SHORTLY AFTER, I GOT REPORTS THAT THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN INTO TWO FACTIONS: ONE CLAIMING TO HAVE IMPEACHED AND SUSPENDED THE HOUSE LEADER AND 3 OTHERS PREPARATORY TO INITIATING AN IMPEACHMENT ACTION AGAINST ME, AND THE OTHER RIVAL FACTION IMPEACHING THE SPEAKER AND DEPUTY SPEAKER, THUS SPARKING OFF SOME FORM OF POLITICAL CRISIS.

I WISH TO THANK THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR , FOR HIS FATHERLY INTERVENTION WHICH OPENED A SERIES OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS TO FACILITATE THE TIMELY RESOLUTION OF THE FESTERING CRISES. I WISH TO ALSO THANK OUR ELDERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INTERVENING IN THE MATTER.

LET ME CLEARLY STATE THAT MY ACTIONS ARE AIMED AT RESTORING PEACE AND STABILITY IN OUR STATE. I AM A MAN OF PEACE AND AS GOVERNOR, THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR STATE IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. CONSEQUENTLY, NO SACRIFICE IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO MAKE TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE.

FURTHERMORE, IT IS THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST GOVERNOR AND MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF BARRISTER, EZENWO NYESOM WIKE , GSSRS, LIFE BENCHER AND MY HUMBLE SELF, TO LEVERAGE ON OUR POSITIONS AND INFLUENCES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE STATE TO ADVANCE THE PROGRESS, SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PEOPLE.

WE MUST THEREFORE NOT ALLOW CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD RE**RD ALL EFFORTS AT ACHIEVING GREATNESS FOR OUR PEOPLE TO PREVAIL.

ON MY PART, I AM ALWAYS WILLING AND READY TO EMBRACE THE PATH TO LASTING PEACE AND TRANQUILITY WITH A COMMITMENT TO CONSUMMATING ALL EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES BY MR. PRESIDENT AND OTHER WELL-MEANING NIGERIANS, INCLUDING MY BROTHER GOVERNORS AND THE ELDERS.

I ASSURE THE GOOD PEOPLE AND YOUTHS OF RIVERS STATE, THAT PEACE WILL CERTAINLY PREVAIL AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE PEACE, SECURITY, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STATE.

AS GOVERNOR, I SINCERELY APOLOGISE TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF RIVERS STATE FOR THE REGRETTABLE ANXIETIES OF THE LAST FEW DAYS, WHILE THANKING YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONCERNS, AND CONTINUED SUPPORT, LOVE, AND PRAYERS.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR DEAR RIVERS STATE.

Signed

HIS EXCELLENCY,
SIR SIMINALAYI FUBARA, GSSRS,
GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE.

03/11/2023

To my Kogi people, Dino is the real deal, below are some of the projects he attracted to the state as a legislator, now imagine what he will do as a governor.👇👇👇
www.kogireports.com/dino-melayes-l…

03/11/2023

AMAECHI DID NOT BETRAY THE PDP.

It is rambunctious for pontification a matter that has a beginning without end. I was on AriseTv on Saturday speaking on National issues and the issue of Rotimi Amaechi betraying the People's Democratic Party (PDP) popped up and I was enthused that anyone would contemplate that Amaechi ever betrayed the PDP.

Two events shaped and supported my argument.

When the Buhari train, consisting of , Bisi Akande, and Tom Ikimi was in Rivers State in 2013 to woo Amaechi to join the APC his response to them was he would need to consult the President and leaders of his party in the state. The late political Adviser of President Jonathan Ahmed Gulak issued a statement saying Amaechi could go ahead and join the APC as there was no need to consult with the President, insisting that he never consulted with Jonathan when he joined the PDP as such he could exit in the same manner. Amaechi perhaps took the statement with a pinch of salt coming from a presidential aide.

Again when the mother of the then First Lady Patience Jonathan died in the same year Amaechi was on hand to receive Mr President and his entourage at Port Harcourt International Airport and they rode on the same helicopter to Okirika the venue of the event. At the event center, Amaechi was everywhere, singing dancing, and consoling guests and family members. It was as if he was the bereaved, it was indeed a sight to behold, even as it was a sad situation. I was in Okrikika on the entourage of the then VP Arc Sambo to the event. I had the opportunity to chat with Amaechi and his perspective was revealing. The statement by Gulak was never denied as such he was waiting for Jonathan to refute the statement credited to him from his political adviser and engage him in discussing the situation, with firm assurances that his interest would be adequately protected as they journeyed back from the event venue to enable him resolve to remain in the PDP.

He judged that his state was PDP he didn't want to swim against the tide. But it seems Jonathan had decided on Wike and there was no going back.

That decision by Jonathan infuriated and galvanized Amaechi to fight to save himself and his political career, the rest is now history.

It is therefore safe to conclude that the PDP rejected Amaechi as he never intended to exit the party all he wanted was to be accorded his right as the leader of the party in the state and be allowed to choose his successor. It was too late as Madam Patience had secured a place for Wike in the heart of Jonathan, therefore all the roads led to Wike. The only option available to Amaechi was to find an alternative, and the reigning alternative then was the APC.

03/11/2023

IMPUNITY AND IMPOSITION IN EKITI & ITS IMPORT.

The Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) is reputed for enforcing the twin evil of impunity and imposition and other sappy & spirited decisions responsible for its unfortunate downward fortunes from 2015 to 2019. One of which is in the Ekiti Gubernatorial elections in 2022.

As a build-up to the 2015 general elections, so many events that will later shape and define an apparent PDP defeat at the polls from state to national level kept reoccurring. The states were the hub of impunity and imposition. In Benue state for instance, Gabriel Suswam the Governor then had presented Samuel Ortom to the elders of Benue state as his successor and they had accepted and endorsed him as such only for him to renege and opt for Terhemen Tarzoor as his preferred candidate. It gave Ortom an easy opportunity to cross over to the APC and eventually succeed as he was the anointed one by the elders. That was one of the careless losses of the PDP due principally to impunity and imposition.

Secondly in Plateau State, the clamor was for a power shift and all was set for power to move to Plateau South but Jonah Jang did not hear of such he brought in his distant cousin Gyang Pwajok as the candidate. The clergy and the political class appealed to Jang to respect the zoning agreement but he turned a deaf ear. The Presidency had at some point got wind of the revolt by the clergy and secretly sent a peace mission to appeal to them to support Jang but they will have none of that. The result was the eventual election of Simon Lalong as the Governor of Plateau State.

In Kwara state, the preferred candidate was Dele Belgore but some mischievous elements went ahead to sponsor Simon Ajibola who was twice a senator and a Christian minority as the party’s flag bearer. Conscious that the Kwara state population constitutes 80% Muslims making it practically impossible for that ticket to fly. All appeals to make amends fell on deaf ears, and the result led to Gbemisola Saraki and some notable party heavyweights defecting to the opposition party, leaving the party to its fate.

Adamawa also witnessed a similar scenario as the party manipulated the process to install Nuhu Ribadu who was very unpopular amongst the voting population in the state. It was not difficult for Jibrilla Bindow to clinch the coveted seat effortlessly. Jigawa, Niger, Nasarawa, Anambra, Ondo, Ogun, and Edo all suffered the effect of impunity and imposition which led to woeful defeats.

The notoriety of former Gov of Ekiti in imposing flag bearers is legendary. Ayodele Péter the Rock Fayose the Oshokomole had promised Nigerians that he and his deputy were serving only one term before exiting the scene to pave the way for fresh hands to continue where they had stopped. He not only reneged on such a promise but shut all doors to credible aspirants leaving his deputy Prof Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola Eleka as the candidate. The result was a sorrowful loss to the APC. This however did not serve as a deterrent to him, Sen Olujimi and Segun Oni credible aspirants were not only demystified but denied the opportunity to contest the party primaries. Relatively unknown Bisi Kolawole whose only pedigree is membership of Ekiti State House of Assembly and being the State Chairman of the PDP was imposed. The outcome was shameful. The PDP coming a distant third. If Segun Oni had gotten the ticket victory would have been guaranteed as all hands would have been on deck to salvage the state from the misrule of the APC.

The Ekiti election brings to the fore the lackluster performance of the current NWC of the PDP. The party did not even organize a rally to garner support for the PDP candidate.

Unless the present system that lays more emphasis on the old war horses is discarded and vibrant youths are brought in and effectively engaged towards rebuilding the fortunes of the party, the road to perdition may not be far-fetched.

03/11/2023

As it stands, Nigeria does not have national priorities for growth and development beyond documentation and rhetorics. Every budget proposal and legislation are tailored to hustle money out for graft and cheat the Nigerian people. Gaslighting always follows to tell us that we are not educated or open-minded enough to see the actual and intended benefits. It seems like the only intelligent people in Nigeria right now who can decipher government intentions are those who are strategically positioned to benefit from them personally!!!

Nigerians are dying of hunger and starvation our leaders are only interested in cruising on a yacht. It clearly shows how deficient our budgetary resources are siphoned to service the greedy few. We are in a big mess.

01/11/2023

A TWISTED COMMUNIQUE:

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors were reported to have held a meeting yesterday at the Oyo State Governors Lodge in Abuja. At the end of the meeting, a communique was issued and read to the media by the chairman of the forum Sen Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

The curiosity about the communique is worth remarking on. The text of the communique in circulation is different from what was read out to the public. While the text did not convey any congratulatory message to the ruling party, the copy read by Bala Mohammed was laced with a litany of commendations. Why such discrepancies should occur between written and spoken texts beat my imagination. Somebody somewhere is playing Phranks as much as to the gallery. The Governor of Bayelsa state was reported to be present while media reports place him in Yenogoa having received the Chief of Defence Staff in audience in his office.

The party's spokesperson Debo Ologunagba released a statement titled Presidential Appeal: Supreme Court Judgment is Disappointing, Concerning -PDP
…Says Apex Court Has Failed Nigerians. Atiku himself said no less in his press conference but the Governors arrogating to themselves superior powers over and above that of the party not only refused to adopt the party’s position but downplayed the significance of the party’s as well as that of Waziri.

While we note with concern their respective appeals pending before various levels of the court process, we believe that patronizing the President as well as the judiciary is never a recipe for justice. The presence of the party chairman during the presentation does not presuppose that he was part of the decision since his name was not part of the attendees.

The need to absolve ten out of the thirteen Governors for being first-timers is edifying. Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, and Seyi Makinde’s culpability cannot be excused. While one is an open member of the G5 the remnants were quiet members whose ambition was critical and relied on the support of Waziri Atiku during the elections hence their phony allegiance to him and confidential romance with the leader of the G5 Group Wike.

It was Bala Mohammed who received the G5 group in Bauchi on their solidarity visit. He wanted them to flag off his campaign when he realized the folly of such a move and aborted it. His court case is similar to that of Ahmed Lawan, he was busy trying to become the presidential candidate of the PDP, and another person clinched the gubernatorial ticket.

The trio of Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri are admirers and open partners of Wike and secret adversaries of Atiku Abubakar. Bala views Waziri as his stumbling block to a Northern Presidency, perhaps his over-bloated assessment of himself lends credence to this assertion. Fintiri is desirous of shaking off from a prevalent godfather. While Makinde is a Wike protege. The communique and their previous actions speak eloquently to this fact.