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Hardship: Nigerians Groaning Under Your Watch, Reps Caucus Reminds Tinubu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has reminded President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are currently experiencing hardship under his administration and deserve better treatment, stressing that many things have gone wrong, which he ought to urgently address.
The caucus raised the red flag at a press conference after its emergency meeting in Abuja, held to support the decision of the party leadership at its earlier meetings in Zamfara State.
Leader of the caucus, Hon. Fred Agbedi, said: “Nigerians are groaning. Mr. President, ensure that you pay attention to the sufferings of Nigerians. We also urge Nigerians to insist on good governance, to insist that in 2027 they will choose the right person and the right party to lead them. They must be resolute in voting the APC out.”
The PDP lawmakers also urged the Federal government to pay protesting contractors, noting that while foreign contractors were being settled, Nigerian contractors were left unattended.
They vowed to ensure that indigenous contractors who have delivered services are paid what they are owed so that they can feed their families, sustain their businesses, and support the economy.
“As a caucus, we will continue to ensure that we put this government on its toes. We will make the right laws to help Nigeria. We will bring to light all illegalities perpetrated by this government and ensure that Nigerians benefit from our efforts.”
On party affairs, Hon. Agbedi congratulated Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, who emerged as the new National Chairman of the PDP after serving as Acting National Chairman for several years.
He continued: “The PDP, being a party that complies with its constitution, rules, and conventions, has once again demonstrated its commitment to due process. Yesterday, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, former Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was duly elected and mandated to lead the party until the convention in November, after which a new executive will be sworn in by December.
“We are proud of the peaceful conduct of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, the unity demonstrated, and the overwhelming support from the Governors’ Forum, former ministers, state party chairmen, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, and other organs of the party. This shows that the PDP remains the only party Nigerians can rely on.”
Hon. Agbedi also called on the Tinubu-led APC administration to respect the court judgment on the local government elections in Osun State.
The convention produced the Tanimu Turaki-led factional national executives of the party.
Attention has shifted to the Supreme Court, which has fixed April 30 (today) for judgment in the leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba will resolve the appeal filed by the David Mark-led faction concerning the authentic leadership of the party.
Also on Thursday, the court is expected to determine the leadership dispute rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Two PDP factions—one led by Kabir Turaki and the other by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike—are laying claim to the leadership of the party.
The Supreme Court had on April 22 reserved judgment in the ADC crisis to a date to be communicated to the parties involved in the tussle.
However, on Tuesday, the ADC formally wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, pleading for the quick delivery of judgment in the leadership tussle at the national level.
The party claimed it would suffer irreparable harm if judgment in the protracted battle was not delivered within the period allowed by the Electoral Act for fielding candidates for the 2027 general elections.
It stated in part: “Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
At the April 22 hearing, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who represented David Mark, urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal, arguing that the apex court had earlier, on March 21, 2025, held that “no court has jurisdiction to entertain matters bordering on the internal affairs of political parties.”
During the hearing, Okutepa urged the apex court to hold that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
However, Robert Emukperu, SAN, who represented the first respondent, Nafiu Gombe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court, which held that the suit was premature.
It will be recalled that a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal, ruling that it was premature and filed without leave of the trial court.
In the PDP matter, the first appeal, marked SC/CV/164/2026, stems from a decision of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who restrained the party from proceeding with its planned convention pending the determination of a suit filed by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
On November 14, the court issued a final order restraining the PDP from conducting its national convention.
Justice Lifu held that Lamido was “unjustly denied” the opportunity to obtain a nomination form to contest for national chairman, in violation of the PDP constitution and internal regulations.
The Court of Appeal later upheld the decision on March 9, prompting the PDP to appeal.
The second appeal, SC/CV/166/2026, was filed by the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and National Executive Committee (NEC).
It arose from a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which stopped the party from holding its Ibadan national convention.
The Court of Appeal upheld that decision, agreeing that INEC should not validate the outcome of the convention.
After hearing all arguments, the Supreme Court reserved judgment, stating that the date would be communicated to the parties.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu over insecurity bedeviling the country.
In an interview with News Central, Obasanjo said any government that cannot protect lives and property of its citizens has no basis to exist.
The former leader was reacting to the recent wave of insecurity, which has confronted Nigeria, resulting in the killing of several citizens and abduction of others.
“Let me tell you, the government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizen has no right of existence.
“The elected members of our National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary and their own emolument.
“It’s not in our constitution for them to do that. It’s the revenue mobilization and allocation commission that should do it,” he said.
