A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Hamma Saleh, who contested the PDP governorship ticket against former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, announced his decision in a press statement made available to journalists in Gombe.

Following his defection, the former aspirant called on his supporters across the state to join him in the APC and support the party’s candidates in the 2027 general elections.

His decision comes amid controversy surrounding the PDP governorship ticket in Gombe State. Pantami’s initial emergence as the party’s candidate was challenged in court, prompting a rerun of the governorship primary election.

Meanwhile, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has declared that the PDP remains the only political party to have survived the collapse of other parties since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, expressed confidence in the party’s resilience, insisting that it had remained relevant despite the political changes that have shaped the country over the years.

He made the remarks during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Council at the party’s state headquarters in Dutse, Jigawa State.

According to the former governor, the PDP has endured challenges that have weakened or eliminated other political parties since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

“Since 1999, almost all political parties have collapsed, leaving the PDP as the only surviving party to date.

“It has seen yesterday, today and, by the grace of God, it will see tomorrow,” Lamido said.

The former governor also urged Nigerians not to repeat what he described as the mistake of voting for the APC in previous elections.

He advised voters to assess the achievements of previous PDP administrations alongside the performance of the current APC-led government before deciding which party to support in the 2027 general elections.

Lamido maintained that Nigerians should carefully evaluate the records of both administrations before making their electoral choices.

“I believe Nigerians have learnt from their mistakes. Therefore, they must critically examine the achievements of previous administrations under the PDP and compare them with those of the current administration before deciding who should lead them,” he said.

He further accused the APC-led government of failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians, arguing that the country and Jigawa State required experienced and capable leaders to tackle their numerous challenges.

Lamido also raised concerns about the condition of healthcare and education in Jigawa State, alleging that both sectors had deteriorated under the current administration.

“Today, Jigawa is facing serious challenges in accessing quality healthcare. Hospitals lack adequate medical services and essential drugs, while the education sector continues to deteriorate,” he said.

Despite the challenges facing the party, Lamido assured PDP supporters that it was prepared to campaign vigorously for its candidates in the 2027 elections.

He said the party would contest positions at all levels, including the presidency, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

The former governor also pledged that the PDP would conduct peaceful campaigns, avoiding insults, intimidation and personal attacks against political opponents.

According to Lamido, the party’s priority is to restore good governance and rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s political leadership.

Veteran Nollywood actor Kola Olaiya has accused his colleague, Pete Edochie, of being overly proud and failing to acknowledge the contributions of senior theatre practitioners who helped lay the foundation for the Nigerian entertainment industry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Olaiya made the allegation during an interview with Oyinmomo TV, where he argued that Edochie should recognise the achievements of veteran entertainers who had established themselves in the profession long before the celebrated actor began his career.

He specifically mentioned the late theatre icon Hubert Ogunde, whose contributions to Nigerian theatre and filmmaking predated Edochie’s entry into the industry.

According to Olaiya, Ogunde ventured into theatre in 1944 after leaving the police force and had already produced films and recorded popular songs before Edochie was born.

The veteran actor argued that although Edochie might consider himself without a senior within his own ethnic group in the South-East, such a claim could not reasonably apply to the entire Nigerian entertainment industry.

Speaking during the interview, Olaiya said he had known Edochie for a long time and believed pride was responsible for his alleged reluctance to acknowledge the elders who contributed to his rise.

“I have known him for long that pride is in his blood. That is why he cannot pay homage to the elders that made him.

“Ogunde had been acting before Pete was born. After that, some people like Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladipo, Kola Ogunmola, were joining. Where was Pete Edochie then?

“If Pete says in his own tribe, he doesn’t have a boss, I wouldn’t know, but here in the whole Nigeria, no,” Olaiya stated.

The actor also reflected on his professional relationship with Ogunde, describing the late theatre pioneer as a father figure and mentor who played a significant role in shaping his personal life and acting career.

Olaiya’s comments have drawn attention to the contributions of early Nigerian theatre practitioners and the importance of recognising the pioneers whose work helped shape the country’s modern entertainment industry.

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the only political party to have endured the collapse of other parties since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, expressed confidence in the party’s resilience, saying it had weathered years of political changes and would continue to play a significant role in Nigeria’s political future.

He made the remarks during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Council at the party’s state headquarters in Dutse, Jigawa State.

According to the former governor, several political parties have disappeared or collapsed since 1999, while the PDP has continued to survive.

“Since 1999, almost all political parties have collapsed, leaving the PDP as the only surviving party to date.

“It has seen yesterday, today and, by the grace of God, it will see tomorrow,” Lamido said.

He also urged Nigerians not to repeat what he described as the mistake of voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in previous elections.

Lamido called on voters to assess the performance of previous PDP administrations alongside that of the current APC-led government before deciding which party to support in the 2027 general elections.

“I believe Nigerians have learnt from their mistakes. Therefore, they must critically examine the achievements of previous administrations under the PDP and compare them with those of the current administration before deciding who should lead them,” he stated.

The former governor criticised the APC-led administration, accusing it of failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians. He argued that both the country and Jigawa State required experienced and capable leadership to address their pressing challenges.

Lamido also expressed concern over the state of healthcare and education in Jigawa, alleging that the two sectors had deteriorated under the current administration.

“Today, Jigawa is facing serious challenges in accessing quality healthcare. Hospitals lack adequate medical services and essential drugs, while the education sector continues to deteriorate,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Lamido assured party supporters that the PDP was prepared to campaign for its candidates across all levels of government, including the presidency, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

He further pledged that the party would conduct its campaigns peacefully, without resorting to insults, intimidation or personal attacks against political opponents.

According to Lamido, the PDP’s central objective is to restore good governance and rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s political leadership.