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PDP has not zoned presidency to North – Former National Legal Adviser

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not zoned its presidential ticket to the Northern part of the country, a former national legal adviser of the party, Mark Jacob has said.

Jacob, who is also a former attorney general and commissioner of justice in Kaduna state disclosed this when he appeared on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, on Monday.

“Nobody has discussed anything on zoning in our party. We have not zoned our party’s presidential ticket to the North. In fact, the feeling among members is that it should be zoned to the Southern part of the country”, he said.

 

According to him,  though it’s democracy and every member has the right to their opinion while the party would not take unpopular opinion from any of its members.

A national newspaper recently reported that there is a high likelihood that the PDP will pick its presidential candidate for the 2023 elections from the northern part of the country.

The paper also said the party’s stakeholders are set to zone the chairmanship position of the party to the South.

But during its 92nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend, the party had announced that it would arrive at a zoning formula for the National Working Committee (NWC) at a meeting billed for September 9.

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This comes as the struggle for political power among the political gladiators hots up ahead of the party’s national convention slated for October 30 and 31, the paper had reported.

It will be recalled that as a way of resolving the contestation over which zone produces the presidency in 2023, the leadership of the PDP had earlier in the year appointed the Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed as chairman of the party’s committee charged with a responsibility to review the factors that led to the party’s loss in the 2019 election and to make recommendations for the way forward.

One of the highlights of Bala’s committee report was the recommendation that zoning of the PDP presidential ticket for the 2023 poll be jettisoned.

The report however, added that the committee received numerous memoranda from diverse groups and interests calling for the party’s joint presidential ticket to be zoned to the Northeast and the Southeast.

It is believed that the contestation will be laid to rest after the October 31 elective convention where a new NWC will be produced.

In line with the North/South power zoning arrangement, should the North produce the chairmanship, then the South will be in a position to produce the party’s presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, a political commentator, Adetayo Balogun, has warned the PDP against zoning its presidential ticket to the North.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday,  Balogun said discussions about the region to produce the next President has begun and the PDP shouldn’t make the mistake of giving the ticket to the North.

“In searching for the next President, there’s a debated preference for a Southerner to emerge; however, a section of the populace and those in the political space have clamoured for a united approach to the determination of the next President”, he said.

But on his part, Katch Ononuju, the Director-General of the Heritage Centre, in an interview argued that there’s no politician of the northern extraction that can bring Nigerians together again.

Ononuju said many Nigerians would prefer to see a Southerner become President, as the current administration has shown a nepotistic obsession with the North, which may affect the chances of any Presidential candidate from the region.

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Holds Exclusive Prerogative to Choose Deputy – Malam Inuwa Waya

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Malam Inuwa Waya, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, has reaffirmed that the constitutional prerogative to appoint a new Deputy Governor rests solely with His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Malam Waya cautioned against undue interference from individuals on social media who have been attempting to dictate the Governor’s choice following the resignation of the former Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.

“It is only Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who has the prerogative to choose his deputy. People should stop coming to social media to tell him who to appoint. The constitution does not mandate him to select from any particular zone; it is entirely his decision,” Malam Waya stated.

He further explained that while political balancing may encourage consideration of candidates from Kano North or South since the Governor hails from Kano Central, such arrangements remain political strategies rather than constitutional requirements.

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Malam Waya also commended Governor Yusuf’s infrastructural strides, noting that within two years, the administration has revived water projects, advanced public-private partnerships in power, and accelerated development across education, agriculture, and investment.

“The Governor has revived the glory of Kano. With the infrastructure projects ongoing, it will be an easy sail for all of us as we prepare for 2027. He has put Kano first, and that is what matters,” he said.

On the issue of inclusivity, Malam Waya emphasized that all stakeholders, including former APC members, are being carried along in governance. He urged the people of Kano to unite behind the Governor’s vision.

“We, the old APC members, have no problem with Governor Yusuf. We are knit together in Kano, and our priority is Kano first, not any individual. The Governor knows who he will pick as his deputy, and we trust his judgment,” he concluded.

Malam Waya also extended prayers for the acceptance of Ramadan fasting and congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Kano for celebrating Sallah peacefully.

 

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ADC Reports Surge in Membership Following Kwankwaso’s Defection, Calls Him ‘Game Changer’

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially welcomed former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into its fold, touting his defection as a pivotal move that strengthens a growing coalition for political realignment in Nigeria.

In a statement released for immediate effect, the party described Kwankwaso as a “game-changer,” announcing that he has directed his network of supporters nationwide to join the ADC. According to the party, this call has already triggered a significant uptick in registrations on its online platform over the past 24 hours.

The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, framed the defection as part of a broader recognition among Nigerians of the need for a credible political alternative. The statement emphasized Kwankwaso’s experience in governance, grassroots influence, and capacity to unify as assets to the party’s ambition to “rebuild Nigeria.”

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Notably, the ADC highlighted the presence of several high-profile leaders at the defection event, including the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and leading presidential aspirants such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. Their attendance, the party stated, reflects a united front and growing momentum.

The party characterized the surge in online registrations as evidence that Nigerians are aligning with what it called a “different path forward.” In its appeal to Kwankwaso’s supporters and the broader public, the ADC positioned itself as a vehicle for restoring dignity, opportunity, and public trust in governance.

“Change does not happen by chance,” the statement concluded. “It happens when people come together with purpose.”

The development marks a significant realignment in Nigeria’s opposition political landscape, with the ADC seeking to position itself as a converging point for influential politicians and their followings ahead of future elections.

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Foreign Affairs Minister Resigns to Pursue Bauchi Governorship Election

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has resigned from his position in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pursue the governorship of Bauchi State in the 2027 election.

Tuggar submitted his resignation on Monday, in compliance with a presidential directive requiring all political appointees with electoral ambitions to vacate their posts by the March 31, 2026, deadline.

The directive, issued through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, aligns with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It affects ministers, advisers, and heads of federal agencies intending to contest in the 2027 general elections.

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Reports have it that his resignation positions him to seek the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Bauchi State gubernatorial race.

Tuggar’s entry is expected to significantly reshape the state’s political landscape, intensifying an already competitive contest for the APC nomination. His background as a career diplomat and serving minister is seen by political observers as a potential advantage, offering national visibility and extensive political networks.

With less than 24 hours remaining before the deadline, additional resignations from the Federal Executive Council are anticipated as other appointees move to formalize their electoral ambitions.

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