Politics
2027: PDP To Challenge Tinubu With Jonathan-Kwankwaso Ticket – Party Leader Reveals
Discussions are ongoing regarding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) potentially fielding former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as their candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Since his defeat in the 2015 election, Jonathan has largely distanced himself from active politics. However, the PDP is currently engaging with him to consider a return as the party’s presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming general election.
Multiple reports have also confirmed that party leaders are in discussions with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to woo him back to the PDP and possibly run alongside Jonathan.

BBC quoted sources as saying, both officially and through the efforts of some of its leaders — including governors — moves were being made to persuade them to accept the offer.
Analysts believe this move may also be intended to weaken potential alliances among other political parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, who was part of the meeting, told BBC that the former President has shown interest in honoring the party’s request.
According to Abdullahi, the push to draft Jonathan back into the race is in response to a groundswell of public sentiment calling for his return.
He said Nigerians are beginning to acknowledge the value of Jonathan’s leadership and are now seeking his return to correct the perceived mistakes of the past.
“When he (Jonathan) was in power, people believed in his capacity and leadership style. Since he remains a member of the PDP, we believe he should contest again. Nigerians have realised that what happened in the past wasn’t entirely his fault. They are now seeking his forgiveness and hoping he will return to lead them. He is a compassionate man,” Abdullahi told the BBC.
“Since we are loyal to the Nigerian people and want to act in their best interest, we have listened to their calls and are taking steps in that direction.”
Sources revealed to the BBC that some senior PDP leaders met with Jonathan in the Gambia last week in a fresh effort to convince him to run in the 2027 presidential election against President Tinubu.

However, he said while the former President has shown interest in their proposal but has set s certain conditions for his return.
One of the conditions Jonathan raised, according to Abdullahi, was clarification on vhether he would be required to compete in party primaries or if he would be presented as a consensus candidate.
He is reportedly consulting with close allies before making a final decision.
Since the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians, articularly from the North, have been calling for Jonathan’s return, citing h7e hardship faced under subsequent governments.
Many view Jonathan as a more sympathetic and measured leader compared to those who followed him.
Analysts suggest the PDP’s interest in Jonathan is partly influenced by zoning considerations, as tne presidency is expected to return to the South based on political consensus.
Professor Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja believes that if Jonathan accepts to run and is nominated without opposition- paired with a running mate from Northern Nigeria it would significantly reshape the 2027 political landscape.
If Goodluck contests, M will breathe new life into the PDP, which has been largely dormant. His candidacy could disrupt current coalition plans, particularly those who see themselves as the driving force of the opposition,” Professor Kari noted.
“His calm demeanor and his decision *O concede defeat and peacefully hand over power in 2015 have further enhanced his public image.”
He further added that another factor working in Jonathan’s favor is that he is constitutionally limited to serving only one term.
This could make his candidacy more appealing, especially to the North, with the expectation that power would return to the region after his tenure.
Politics
2027 Election: Prophet Releases Message On Tinubu’s Chances Amid Sack Plots By Atiku, Obi, Others [VIDEO]
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Prophet Godwin Ikuru, the founder of the Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, has said President Bola Tinubu will get a second mandate.
Speaking recently in a video shared on his known Facebook page, seen by Legit.ng, Prophet Ikuru described Tinubu as the most formidable candidate for the 2027 general elections.
“Some people say Asiwaju (referring to Tinubu) will not win 2027. Save your lie; he is still the man. Asiwaju still remains the man.”
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi, and several opposition leaders are preparing for the biggest battle of their political careers: to democratically unseat a man often described as a political god, Tinubu, whose first four-year presidential term concludes in 2027.
Tinubu, Atiku’s former associate, whom he nearly ran with on a joint ticket in the 2007 presidential election, according to WikiLeaks memos, will be on the ballot representing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Both men were founding fathers of the party. Despite facing significant security challenges during his tenure, Tinubu is still widely regarded as the man to beat.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), considered the main opposition, has seen its influence wane in parts of the south and north, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) grows in prominence with new high-profile members.
Within the PDP, internal divisions persist, with factions led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN) and Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), vying for legitimacy.
As Nigerians look forward to the 2027 elections, both the ADC and PDP have vowed to unseat President Tinubu.
The video can be watched here Facebook video
Politics
PDP Crisis Deepens As Another Governor Hints At APC Defection
Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has hinted at defection from PDP to APC based on constituents’ wishes Political reactions showed mixed sentiments regarding Fintiri’s potential party switch Fintiri is one of the last PDP governors amidst increasing defections to the APC
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa has spoken on the possibility of him dumping the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the possible ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor, while addressing questions on his defection plan, said he would not hesitate to leave the party if his people asked him to leave the PDP. He added that he is still consulting with his people.
Governor Fintiri said:
“There are a lot of rumours about whether Fintiri will defect to the (APC) or not. If that is the wish of my people to defect, politics is all about people. I’m still consulting, and if my people say I should move, I will move.”
Fintiri is one of the four governors who were left in the PDP, following the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Umo Eno, Agbu Kefas, Siminalayi Fubara, and Peter Mbah of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Rivers and Enugu states, respectively. Currently, the PDP has Governor Fintiri, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
However, Governor Fintiri’s comment has started generating responses from Nigerians. Below are some of their reactions:
King Dave said that the governor is on his way to the APC:
“In Nigeria, when a governor says, “I am consulting my people,” it means “I am checking the size of the federal allocation.” Fintiri is playing a high-stakes game of political chicken with the PDP. He already betrayed Atiku, and he is on his way to the APC.”
Davinci commented on the political terrain in the state:
Politics is really an interesting game. A PDP preparing to welcome an APC president. All billboards of PDP along the airport road to the Govt house have been pulled down, while APC billboard is mounted everywhere under the instruction of the Governor”.
Cassy Okosisi said:
“You all should just move, and let’s have only electronic transmission of result real time, without manual collation. Watch the fall of Apc.”
Ababakar Sadiq said the governor has recorded success under the PDP:
“Sir, you belong to the APC, Allah ya kiyaye hanya. We are glad all you’ve achieved so far is under the PDP… Mun gode.”
Toba Truth said the governor should just dump the PDP for the APC:
“Which people? Your family people, or the people that voted for you, or the APC caucus, just move to the APC as simply as ABC.”
You can watch the governor’s video on X here:
There are a lot of rumors about whether Fintiri will defect to the (APC) or not. If that is the wish of my people to defect, politics is all about people. I'm still consulting, and if my people say I should move, I will move.
– Adamawa State Governor, Adamu Fintiri. pic.twitter.com/2KXsIBfjqh
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) February 12, 2026
Politics
‘How Murtala Muhammed Was Assassinated, Other Untold Stories’
Fifty years after the assassination of former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, fresh memories have resurfaced through the emotional recollection of his former orderly, Michael Otuwe (retd.), who witnessed the failed 1976 coup firsthand.
In a rare interview conducted a decade ago and now revisited to mark the anniversary, the retired soldier recounts how the charismatic leader almost escaped his attackers, his experiences during the civil war, and the personal sacrifices that defined years of close service to one of Nigeria’s most revered military figures.
Recalling his journey into the military during the interview with Daily Trust, Otuwe narrated, “I am an Igala man from Olamoboro Local Government of Kogi State. I attended Ankpa Primary School and Ankpa Model Secondary School before I joined the profession I cherished most, the army.”
According to him, he enlisted in the Nigerian Army on September 11, 1967, at the Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos, where he underwent six months of training on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War.
“After the training I was posted to the Nigerian Army Signal Corps and incidentally, Murtala Ramat Mohammed was a Colonel then and the Inspector of Signals,” he added.
Otuwe said Muhammed personally chose him because of his discipline and neatness.
“He told me that he noticed how immaculate I was in my army dress when we do master parade. He picked me to be his orderly when I was a Lance Corporal,” he said.
He explained that he served closely with Muhammed through various postings, including during the civil war when the late General became the first General Officer Commanding of the Second Division of the Nigerian Army.
“I worked with him till he was killed, and that was 11 years,” Otuwe said, noting that during the period the General had three children, Aisha, Zakari and Fatima.
Otuwe described Muhammed as a strategic and disciplined military commander.
“He was an organiser of men and their welfare. He was smart and hardworking and thought of Nigeria first before anything,” he said.
He recalled an incident when Biafran soldiers encircled them.
“He did a wonderful tactical manoeuvre and retreated that baffled even we that were with him. When many wanted to surrender, he made a quest to fight and to win for Nigeria to continue as a united country.”
Surviving Ambushes
The retired soldier recounted several ambushes encountered during the war. He said, “We encountered many ambushes and attacks but one of the most memorable was when we were encircled at Ukpo Junction in Abbagana. Murtala did a tactical manoeuvre and withdrew and prepared for a defensive attack that led to the capture of many towns and cities.”
Otuwe added that after some operations, troops moved through Asaba and later to Idah in present-day Kogi State to prepare for further offensives.
“In 1968, there was a reshuffle that took General Murtala back to Lagos as Minister of Communications and Inspector of Signals. That meant he was doing two jobs at the same time,” he said.
Speaking on how his job affected his family, Otuwe said his wife had become accustomed to military life.
“She was married to a soldier, and she had become part of the system. When she saw us at home, it meant we were off duty,” he said.
He added that his children rarely saw him due to his demanding schedule.
“Most of my children almost forgot me as I left home at dawn and came back late in the night,” Otuwe noted.
Secret Visits, Price Monitoring
Otuwe also recounted how Muhammad disguised himself to monitor market prices in Lagos.
“I and his ADC, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinterinwa, once followed him to survey prices and the rising cost of goods,” he said.
“He wore a tracksuit, a face cap and dark goggles and rode a horse to a filling station, disembarked, tied it and entered Sangross (Lagos Island), then Ajegunle and later Agege markets. The ADC pretended that we were not together, and the ADC was writing the prices, and I was pretending to be a window shopper. A market woman told him to give other buyers a chance as people were more disciplined then, as everybody queued for their turn. After two weeks goods and meat came in ships. People tagged the meat as ‘Murtala Meat’”.
The Day Of Assassination
When asked about what happened the day Murtala was assassinated, Otuwe narrated, “He was assassinated on July 29, 1976 (Starts shedding tears). He ruled for six months from July 29, 1975, to February 13, 1976. He was a very good man, as he did not allow the goods (personal effects) of General Gowon to be thrown out, but to be removed gently, and for the house to be renovated before he relocated from Dodan Barracks. That was why he was shuttling from Ikoyi without pilot cars, motorbike outriders, armed military and security bodyguards among others. He only rode in the official Mercedes-Benz car with two flags, the national flag on the left and the armed forces flag on the right. On that fateful day, we passed through the Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi, which was undergoing renovation and covered with zinc.
“When we reached Alagbgon Junction, the traffic man did not notice the flags, he would have allowed the traffic in our direction to continue moving, but he stopped the five or six cars in front of us then I saw some people in agbada (Babanriga) and when they lifted them up they brought out AK-47 rifles and fired at us. Already a masked man had got the driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika, in the head and he feel on the arm-rest where the suit case containing the General’s mufti was. I took cover and fell on the driver.
“The General and the ADC also took cover. When the assassins left and were heading to the National Broadcasting Corporation, Radio House, to announce the takeover, one of the Majors turned and saw that when the ADC opened the door to help the General, the Major shouted and notified his colleagues that they were alive. This made them turn and rush back and empty their bullets at us. I was the only survivor as I was shot in the arm and the hip.
“The troops loyal to General Murtala came after the soldiers and they took us to the mortuary. I recovered from coma when the breeze from the air conditioner and the pain woke me up. A mortuary attendant noticed that I raised my hand, and he alerted a doctor, who said I was alive, and they took me to Dodan Barracks and then to a hospital on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.”
About his recovery from the incident, Otuwe said, “I spent six months recovering and resumed work with the Nigerian Army Signal Corps. Where I worked with Generals Adenaju, Raji Rasaki and lastly Tanko Ayuba.
Asked whether he has ever received any honour, the retired soldier responded, “No, not at all.”
Sharing his residence at the time of the interview, Otuwe revealed, “I am now staying in a rented two-bedroom house in Maraba in Nasarawa State. The street has no name not to talk of house number. But I am working in the office of Riskua Murtala Muhammed in Maitama.”
Otuwe recalled that he retired from service on December 31, 1999, as a Master Warrant Officer.
On whether he ever regretted serving in the Nigerian Army, Otuwe said: “No, no, no, not at all.”
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