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PDP Crisis: Seven Govs Align With Sheriff
Apparently realizing that, National Chairman of the opposition Peoples democratic party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff holds the aces in the ongoing leadership tussle; five out of the eight governors, who had initially taken sides with the Senator Ahamed Makarfi, led caretaker committee may have shifted camp having been noticed holding secret meetings with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Our Correspondent also reports that, of the 12 Governors of the PDP, only Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, his Ondo State counterpart, Olusegun Mimiko and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike have not visited Sheriff secretly in the last one week ostensibly having realized that the man holds the ace in the unfolding crisis. Some of the Governors were said to have told Senator Ali Sheriff that they have realized their mistakes in trying to remove him through the back door, even as one of them was heard as telling Modu Sheriff that they are too big to be used by Governor Ayo Fayose to advance his political godfather, senator Buruji Kashamu. nationalTRAIL gathered that, Governor Ayo Fayose may have used his colleagues Governors to aid his political war against his estranged political godfather, Senator Buruji Kashamu, who is one of the leading supporters of the Sheriff’s leadership of the PDP. Kashamu who bankrolled Fayose’s election was reported to have condemned the Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose’s role in a letter to the BoT of the Party. He stated in the letter that, “It was Governor Fayose who came to me and said we should work for Senator Sheriff. He said I should start a heavy campaign for Sheriff because he has the capacity to save the party and that the Governors are with him. Now it was the same Fayose that is using his colleagues against Sheriff for his political interest. “We would not continue to fold our arms and watch some party leaders acting as law to themselves and carrying on with impunity irrespective of whether their actions are in the interest of the party. Such actions, if not checked, could further stigmatize the party as a lawless organization” The police at the weekend put the PDP Wadata House under lock and key following an agreement with the parties in the conflict as a means to dousing the escalating tension, occasioned by the presence of thugs. Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, had brokered a truce between the two factions as a means of giving peace a chance and allow the warring factions
come to term and reconcile their differences. It was gathered that, though none of the faction took the first step towards reconciliation since the opportunity was created last week; party supporters and political watchers are of the view that, Sheriff may have taken the day with pointers showing that he has followed lawful means since the crises began following the declaration of the Makarfi caretaker committee at the Port Harcourt convention, which was also said to be illegal. It could be recalled that, the crises in the PDP was assuming a state of complete lawlessness when thugs from Kano and Kaduna were said to have stormed the Wadata House allegedly on the order of Makarfi to manhandle workers and Senator Sheriff followers, who earlier occupied the PDP secretariat, having been allowed entrance by the police coming with court order as lawful occupants of the PDP secretariat.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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