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Wike lacks moral standing to block Obi’s return to PDP — Peter Ameh
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has no integrity to decide whether Peter Obi should return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has declared.
Speaking on Daily Politics on Trust TV, Ameh blasted Wike for questioning Obi’s sincerity, saying the former Rivers governor had broken his own promises and could not serve as a moral compass for the PDP.
“Wike said he would never be a minister after office — today he is one. He said joining the APC was about seeking forgiveness for sins — today he works for Tinubu. He vowed to stand by PDP but openly campaigned against it. So, what moral standing does he have to stop Obi?” Ameh asked.
He emphasised that Obi has a constitutional right, as stipulated in Section 40, to belong to any party, and that many PDP leaders are already urging his return due to his significant political influence. “If PDP wants to survive beyond 2027, it needs credible candidates like Obi. Reducing the party to Wike’s whims is political suicide,” he warned.
Ameh added that Obi remains a registered Labour Party member but said discussions on coalitions and alliances are ongoing across opposition platforms. “The fact that multiple parties are seeking him only shows his national appeal. That should worry APC, not Wike,” he said.
“Any party serious about surviving beyond 2027 must put discipline in its ranks and present credible candidates. Without Obi, PDP risks irrelevance,” Ameh warned.
On Obi’s recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president, Ameh said it was a deliberate commitment to restore trust in leadership and respect Nigeria’s tradition of silent power rotation. “Four years is enough for a leader with competence and discipline. Tinubu destroyed this economy in just two years. Obi’s promise is about integrity. He wants to show Nigerians that leaders can make a promise and keep it,” he explained.
Speaking further on the upcoming 2027 general election, he indicated that President Bola Tinubu is heading for a crushing defeat as hunger, poverty and disillusionment sweep across Nigeria.
Chief Ameh, a close ally of Obi, dismissed the APC’s string of off-cycle victories as “illusions of strength,” arguing that manipulated by-elections cannot mask the deep anger on the streets.
“Governors dominated those elections. PDP won nearly all the by-elections before 2015 but lost the presidency. The same mistake is being made today. Nigerians are not smiling; they are waiting anxiously for 2027 to vote Tinubu out,” he declared.
Ameh warned that the APC is relying on “false comfort” from recent by-election and council poll victories, insisting they are poor indicators of national popularity.
“Governors dominate off-cycle elections and manipulate outcomes. That’s why you see APC or PDP win 100 per cent in their states. In 2015, PDP won almost all by-elections, yet it lost the presidency. What happened then will happen again in 2027,” Ameh said.
He dismissed APC’s claims of growing strength, arguing that the real verdict lies in the worsening economic realities Nigerians face daily.
“Hunger is on the streets. Over 30 million people have been pushed back into poverty. Even the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Enugu showed a consensus that Nigeria is worse off today than it was when Tinubu came into office. People are not smiling; they are waiting for 2027 to vote him out,” he stated.
Backing former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai’s recent warning that Tinubu might not even come third, Ameh argued that incumbency is no guarantee of victory.
“Ask Jonathan what happened in 2015. When Nigerians decide they have had enough, no state resources or security agencies can save an unpopular government,” he said.
Ameh further noted that young Nigerians, who now make up over half of the voter register, would be decisive in 2027. “Vote-buying thrives in rural areas with older voters. But the youth have seen how their parents’ futures were stolen. They are less likely to sell their votes,” he argued.
Ameh also accused Tinubu of being disconnected from citizens. “He travels abroad more than he engages Nigerians at home. A government that is truly performing doesn’t struggle to advertise itself; the people will speak for it. But today, Nigerians contest every claim the government makes. They live the reality of hyperinflation, hunger and insecurity daily,” he said.
With the countdown to 2027 already dominating political debate, Ameh insists the odds are stacking against APC: “Tinubu believes he can repeat 2023, but he is standing on quicksand. The streets are angry, the youth are mobilising, and the signs are clear — Nigerians are waiting to vote this government out.”
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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