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.

The Lagos State High Court has invalidated the recent leadership change in the Lagos House of Assembly, declaring the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker unlawful.

In a landmark ruling delivered in Ikeja on Wednesday, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro ruled that the January 13, 2025 proceedings that led to Obasa’s removal did not follow constitutional requirements.

The court specifically found that the actions of the majority lawmakers, including Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda who had assumed the Speaker position, were conducted without proper legal foundation.

Justice Pinheiro’s judgment not only reinstated Obasa to his position as Speaker but also nullified all resolutions and decisions that emerged from the controversial January 13 sitting.

Additionally, the court awarded damages of ₦500,000 to Obasa.

The ruling effectively restores the previous leadership structure of the Lagos State House of Assembly, ending a period of constitutional uncertainty in the state’s legislative body.

Analysts say that the judgment has significant implications for the legislative activities conducted during the period of contested leadership.

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

This was contained in a special announcement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika.

Worika disclosed that the summons forms part of an official inquiry into appointments made during the Fubara administration over the past two years.

According to the statement, Fubara has been directed to present comprehensive documentation and records related to appointments made while in office.

This includes, among other things, the rationale and procedures that guided those decisions.

The full statement reads:
“RIVERS GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
“The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has formally summoned the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Dr. Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him for an inquiry into the appointments made under their administration over the past two years.

“Sir Fubara is directed to present all relevant documents and records pertaining to appointments, including justifications and procedures followed during his tenure. The session will also serve as an opportunity for the suspended Governor to provide a clear and detailed explanation as to why he believes he should be reinstated to office.

“Both parties are expected to appear in person as follows:

Date: Friday, 18th April, 2025
Time: 10:00am Prompt
Venue: Conference Room, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

Attendance is mandatory. This process forms part of the Sole Administrator’s ongoing efforts to restore transparency and accountability and lasting peace in the governance of Rivers State.
Signed:
Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika
Secretary to the State Government”.