A group, the Concerned PDP Youth of Gombe State, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step back from active political contest and pursue an advisory role in shaping the future of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The chairman of the group, Jamilu Adamu, made the call at a press conference on Thursday in Gombe.

Adamu commended Atiku’s significant contributions to the party and Nigeria’s democratic development, describing him as a respected statesman with a notable legacy in the nation’s political history.

He emphasized the need for generational renewal in the PDP, and advised its leadership to create more opportunities for young members to emerge and contribute meaningfully towards rebuilding the party.

“We believe that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s experience and wisdom can still benefit the PDP if channelled into mentoring and supporting emerging leaders,” Adamu said.

According to him, the call was not intended as an attack on the former vice president, rather a respected suggestion for strategic repositioning of the party.

The chairman said that PDP must adopt fresh perspectives to give younger voices a central role in party decisions.

Adamu, while reaffirming their commitment to the party, enjoined stakeholders to work towards building a more inclusive, united and dynamic opposition capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

“We are hopeful that our message will be received in the spirit of progress and dialogue,” he added.

The Rivers State Judiciary has disassociated Justice Boma Diepiri and any other judge of the State High Court from any judgment involving the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and others.

In a statement issued by the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Rivers State, David Ihua Maduenyi, the judiciary described as false an online news report alleging that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara secured a court victory over President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike at the Federal High Court.

The report also said the court has ordered the sole administrator to vacate the Government House.

The statement noted that the report falsely claimed Justice Diepriye presided over the case and ruled that the appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of a state, following the removal of a democratically elected governor, was illegal, null, and void.

Ihua-Maduenyi clarified that Justice Diepiri is not a judge of the Federal High Court but of the Rivers State High Court and is currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on Monday, April 14, 2025.

He emphasized that the mention of Justice Diepiri’s name in the report was both false and misleading, reflecting what he called the “crass ignorance” of the reporter, since the Federal High Court and the State High Court are distinct institutions.

The Chief Registrar further stated that no judge of the Rivers State High Court had issued any orders relating to the emergency rule in the state.

He expressed concern over the growing trend of bloggers and online reporters sacrificing professionalism for traffic and financial gain.

Ihua-Maduenyi urged members of the public to seek proper clarification from the court or its officials before publishing or sharing court-related information.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed that the coalition of opposition forces he is championing would adopt any platform that ensures good governance in its bid to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of National Opinion Leaders.

In a video of the meeting which was shared on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, he assured that the “coalition train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades.”

His comment came just two days after the PDP Governors’ Forum, at the end of their meeting in Ibadan, distanced themselves from any planned coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku had in March announced the formation of a coalition of opposition parties to challenge President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

At the announcement, he was flanked by Dr Yunusa Tanko, who represented Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Following Atiku’s recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna alongside other coalition members, expectations were high that the PDP governors’ meeting in Ibadan would clarify the party’s stance on the alliance.

However, after the meeting, which began on Sunday and ended Monday, and was attended by acting PDP National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and other party leaders, the governors disassociated themselves from any coalition or merger discussions.

They nonetheless expressed readiness to welcome any individual, group or party willing to join the PDP to “wrest power and enthrone good leadership in 2027.”

While addressing the youth-dominated delegation of National Opinion Leaders, Atiku urged them to remain focused and not be swayed by short-term inducements.

“Don’t be disrupted by people giving you pennies or kobos here and there, and nairas here and there, and then abandon your future, and the future of your children,” he said.

“Now, because of that, that’s why a number of us leaders from the parties I have mentioned—APC, PDP, Labour, and others—have come together to say we are going to have what I call in Hausa Sabuwar tafiya, which in English means a new path, a new pathway to a new Nigeria.”

“And we have been meeting, and by the grace of God, very soon we will announce, and we hope and we appeal to you all to be part of this movement.”

The former vice president said the primary objective of the coalition was to ensure good governance.

“Whatever vehicle that will give us good governance in the future of our children and grandchildren, that is the vehicle we are going to ride on,” he declared.

He concluded by urging the delegation to start planning and mobilising support.

“Get to planning and working together and getting as many Nigerians as possible to get converted to this new pathway,” he said.