… insists it’s a courtesy visit

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday held a private meeting with his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He however denied speculations that the visit was linked to the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking to journalists after the two-hour closed-door meeting, Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, insisted that his visit had nothing to do with politics or future elections.

“It is a courtesy visit. I’m not going to talk about 2027 or politics. I’m not here because of 2027,” the former Vice President declared.

“I was not in Abeokuta to see Obasanjo because of 2027,” he stated, describing the meeting as purely a courtesy visit.

Despite persistent questions, Atiku declined to discuss Nigerian politics, leaving room for speculation about the nature of his engagement with the former president.

Atiku arrived at the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta around 12.36pm quickly went to the Penthouse arm of the facility to meet his host, Obasanjo who was waiting for him for close door meeting.

He was joined in the closed – door meeting with members of his entourage, including a member of the Senate representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Obasanjo’s personal friend, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe among others.

Atiku also visited Obasanjo in the build up to the 2023 Presidential election.

After a clean sweep of the three senatorial seats in Delta State with the recent defection of Delta North’s Senator Ned Nwoko, a major realignment in the power structure in the state House of Assembly is looming as 10 members are set to dump PDP for APC.

A far reaching shift in the House is inevitable with the possible emergence of APC law makers as the majority party.

Speaking at a grand reception of Chief Itiako Ikpokpo aka Malik, two-term chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area into the APC fold at Uro-Irri on Saturday, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate in the 9th Session and leader of Delta State APC, revealed that 10 members of the State House of Assembly are poised to dump PDP for APC. With seven seats won in the 2023 general election, the opposition party may become the majority party and prompt a change in the House leadership.

Omo-Agege described PDP as a party that represents retrogression and lacking the ideas to rev up the economy, stating that its dominance in Delta is rapidly crumbling. He highlighted the historic gains APC made in the 2023 election, securing two senatorial seats, two House of Representatives seats, and seven House of Assembly seats—a feat never before achieved by an opposition party in the state.

The former Deputy Senate President said Ikpokpo’s move is pivotal, describing it as a turning point for the APC in Delta State. He revealed that he had persistently pressured Ikpokpo to join the party, and after a long wait, his efforts had finally paid off. According to the APC gubernatorial flag bearer in the 2023 election, Ikpokpo had shown unwavering support for him as the APC candidate even while still in the PDP, a testament to his alignment with the progressive movement.

Omo-Agege said the imminent defection to APC of 10 PDP law makers in the State House of Assembly will bring the total to 17 lawmakers, setting the stage for an APC-controlled legislature.

He attributed APC’s change in fortunes to President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which, he said, has created an enabling environment for economic growth despite initial challenges. He pointed out that Delta State’s revenue had surged under Tinubu’s administration, with the state receiving over ₦1 trillion in allocations within a period of one and a half years —a stark contrast to previous years. He insisted that these financial improvements were proof of Tinubu’s effective governance and that more politicians were aligning with the ruling party as a result.

In his remarks, Chief Itiako Ikpokpo pledged to work tirelessly to strengthen APC’s structure in Delta State. He urged party members to welcome new entrants with open arms, stressing that unity was critical in defeating PDP in 2027. He vowed to help expand APC’s reach, expressing confidence that the party upstage PDP in 2027.

APC Isoko South Chairman, Vincent Egbogbo, also hailed Ikpokpo’s defection as a sign of greater victories ahead. He declared that the party was preparing to take over Delta State in 2027, urging members to consolidate their efforts in ensuring PDP’s total defeat.

With the momentum shifting rapidly in favor of the APC, Delta’s political landscape is set for a major shake-up in the coming months. The defection of more lawmakers could tip the scales in favor of the ruling party, setting the stage for an unprecedented political realignment in the state.

The event was attended by top APC leaders, including the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu; Chairman of the governing board of NDDC, Chiedu Ebie; former Delta state Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Ovuozourie Macaulay; leader of APC in Isoko nation, Chief Lucky Esigie; Chief Lucky Okper, Comrade Mike Akpobire and a host of others.

Elected and appointed political office holders from the Delta North senatorial district have resolved to adopt legal processes to reclaim the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatorial mandate from Senator Ned Nwoko, who has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This was the outcome of a meeting convened and presided over by the Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Monday Onyeme.

Onyeme said: “Delta North should remain a PDP-dominant senatorial district. We must consolidate our position as the main determinant for all elections in Delta State.”

The deputy governor also advised local government council chairmen to properly connect with the grassroots by complementing Governor Oborevwori’s More Agenda through projects that would add value to the lives of the people.