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Supreme Court Has Ended PDP Factional Crisis, Confirmed Party’s Unity — Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged united and free of internal factions following a decisive ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Guzape, Abuja, Wike said the apex court judgment has finally laid to rest all disputes over parallel leadership structures within the party.
He dismissed insinuation that the Supreme Court affirmed the suspension of the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, saying there was no such issue for determination before the court.
“Today, the Supreme Court has brought to an end the so-called factions of the PDP. There is no more faction in the party. There is only one PDP,” he said.
The minister explained that the court dismissed appeals challenging earlier judgments from lower courts, thereby upholding the legitimacy of the party’s convention and its current leadership.
According to him, attempts by aggrieved groups to overturn the outcome of the convention failed at all judicial levels.
“The Supreme Court has validated our convention and set aside all claims to any parallel structure. What this means is that the PDP has come to stay as one united party,” Wike stated.
He stressed the need for political actors to operate strictly within the framework of the law, warning against actions capable of undermining party constitutions and electoral regulations.
“The fact that you are in a position does not mean you can act outside the law. There are rules guiding party activities, and those rules must be followed,” he added.
Wike also dismissed the relevance of some defectors who exited the party during the crisis, describing them as politically insignificant, while leaving the door open for others to return.
“Those who left are not electoral assets; they are liabilities. However, those who left out of uncertainty may reconsider and return now that the situation is clear,” he said.
On ongoing coalition talks among opposition figures, the minister ruled out participation in alliances that lack clear national interest or constructive engagement.
“We do not believe in opposition for opposition’s sake. Our approach is constructive, not destructive,” he said.
He further noted that recent judicial pronouncements in political matters reinforce the need for due process, urging aggrieved parties to always seek redress through the courts.
Wike maintained that the PDP remains Nigeria’s foremost opposition platform, expressing confidence in its readiness to provide credible alternatives in the country’s democratic process.
“The PDP is stable, united and ready to play its role effectively. What has happened today is a victory for the rule of law and internal democracy,” he added.
Electricity supply in Lagos has been significantly disrupted following a major shutdown at the Egbin Power Station and a simultaneous fault on a key transmission route feeding the state, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the operator warned that the combined incidents could lead to prolonged power shortages across Lagos, Nigeria’s largest electricity consumption hub.
The disruption reportedly began late on April 28 when Egbin Power Station experienced a critical operational failure that forced an immediate halt in generation. Power output dropped sharply from about 641 megawatts to zero within a short period.
The system operator explained that the plant’s shutdown was triggered by a failure involving its central compressor unit, alongside a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, necessitating a full safety shutdown of all generating units.
The statement noted: “The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the general public of a significant reduction in power generation currently affecting electricity supply across the country, particularly within the Lagos region.
“Egbin Power Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant on the national grid and a major contributor to daily power supply in Nigeria, experienced a major operational disturbance.
“At approximately 8:21 p.m. on April 28, 2026, Egbin Power Station recorded a total loss of generation, dropping from about 641MW to zero output.
“This incident was caused by the failure of the plant’s central compressor, in addition to a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, which necessitated an immediate shutdown of all generating units to safeguard the facility.”
The agency also noted that the disruption has been compounded by an unrelated fault on the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, a critical corridor responsible for evacuating electricity into Lagos.
According to the operator, the transmission failure has further limited the volume of power that can be delivered into the Lagos electricity network, worsening the supply shortfall.
“Power supply to the Lagos region is currently further restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, thereby limiting the evacuation of available generation into the Lagos load centre,” the statement added.
With both generation and transmission constraints in place, system operators have begun implementing load-shedding measures to maintain grid stability and avoid a wider system collapse.
Emergency interventions currently underway include redistribution of available power across distribution companies, with priority given to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, security installations and essential services. Operators are also working to optimise output from other generation plants to cushion the impact on consumers.
“Consequently, this loss of generation has created a significant supply shortfall, necessitating immediate load-shedding measures to maintain grid stability and prevent a wider system disturbance.
“System operators have since deployed contingency measures, including the reallocation of available load across distribution companies, with priority given to critical national infrastructure.
“In addition, efforts are ongoing to optimise generation from other available power plants to mitigate the impact of this development on electricity consumers.”
The operator expressed regret over the disruption, particularly its impact on residents of Lagos and surrounding areas, and assured that restoration efforts are ongoing in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“We acknowledge the inconvenience this situation has caused electricity consumers, especially within Lagos and surrounding areas, and we assure the public that all relevant stakeholders are working closely to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
The Egbin Power Station, located in Ikorodu, is the largest thermal power facility connected to Nigeria’s national grid, with an installed capacity of over 1,300 megawatts.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s high-level engagement with Plateau stakeholders in Abuja has begun to yield tangible gains, with fresh commitments on security, relief funding, and, most significantly, a historic political reconciliation among the state’s leadership.
At the heart of the breakthrough was the unprecedented convergence of all living former governors of Plateau State under one roof for the first time, an outcome Governor Caleb Mutfwang described as a major step toward lasting peace in the crisis-prone state.
The meeting, which stretched into the evening at the Presidential Villa, brought together a powerful delegation including former governors Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, and Fidelis Tapgun, alongside traditional rulers and key political figures.
Beyond the symbolism of unity, the Abuja trip delivered concrete outcomes, including President Tinubu’s approval of N2 billion relief support for victims of the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.
The President also took a firm stance on security, vowing to deploy the full weight of federal authority against individuals identified as sponsors or instigators of violence in the state.
“If you identify and you know the name of troublemakers… we will use the instrument of office to deal with them,” Tinubu told the delegation, while charging Plateau leaders to take ownership of the peace process.
A major institutional gain from the meeting was the endorsement of a new peace committee comprising former governors, effectively placing them at the centre of reconciliation efforts. The President directed the committee to review past reports, harmonise recommendations, and drive implementation of sustainable peace strategies.
In what could signal long-term structural reform, Tinubu also renewed his push for the establishment of state police, describing it as critical to addressing Plateau’s unique security challenges.
Governor Mutfwang, reflecting on the outcomes, said the Abuja engagement had helped depoliticise key issues and foster a renewed spirit of unity among Plateau leaders.
“The coming together of the former governors has never happened before. This is the first time it is happening, and I believe that is a step we can build upon,” he said, adding that the state was now better positioned to “rise above all divides of religion and ethnicity.”
Remarkably, the President also directed inclusive governance measures, urging the state to integrate non-indigenes more fully into its political and administrative structure as part of confidence-building efforts.
Traditional rulers at the meeting, including the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, pressed for enhanced security deployment, technological surveillance, and the urgent resettlement of displaced persons—issues the Federal Government signalled readiness to support.
For many observers, the Abuja meeting marked more than a routine consultation—it represented a strategic reset, combining political unity, financial intervention, and a clearer security roadmap, all anchored on a rare consensus among Plateau’s past and present leaders.
Confusion erupted in the early hours of Thursday after suspected herdsmen reportedly attacked an Army Estate in the Kurudu area of Abuja.
However, one of the assailant died in the attack.
The incident, which occurred around 12:15 a.m. on April 30, occurred at Kurudu Post Army Estate, Phase 5.
According to eyewitness accounts, between 30 and 40 armed men believed to be herdsmen stormed the estate, causing fear among residents.
However, occupants of the estate quickly raised an alarm, prompting an immediate response from soldiers stationed at the estate’s gate.
During the confrontation, one of the suspected attackers was shot dead, while others fled the scene.
It remains unclear whether the attackers intended to carry out a robbery or a kidnapping operation, as authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant as investigations continue.
Blackout looms in Lagos as Egbin power station shuts down
Plateau Leaders Unite In Abuja As Tinubu Approves N2bn Relief
Sad: One dead as suspected herdsmen attack Army Estate in Kurudu, Abuja
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