Routine rush to join ruling party

On Friday, December 19, 2008, Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor (May 24, 1949- October 6, 2022) from Olokoro, Umuahia South local government of Abia State declared that his party the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would rule Nigeria for the next sixty years. At the time he made the declaration, he was the fifth National Chairman of the party. Before him, the past Chairmen of the party were Chief Solomon Lar (1998-1999), Chief Barnabas Gemade (1999-2001), Chief Audu Ogbeh (2001-2005) and Colonel Ahmadu Ali (2005-2008).

Before his appointment as the Chairman of PDP, Chief Ogbulafor was the Minister of State on Economic Matters in the Presidency. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was then under him. His responsibilities as Minister of State were to formulate and issue economic intelligence guidelines for government projects, ensure monitoring of projects and progress relating to plan implementation and supervise the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC).

In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR appointed other Ministers of State and placed them under The presidency. They include Mr. Abayomi Edu (79) and Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, a consultant Physician and Cardiologist, from Ibowon, Epe in Lagos state, who is also a member of the Amala group, a group of eminent journalists who meets monthly at Bunmi Sofola’s place in Surulere, Lagos.

The schedules of these Ministers of State at that time were prepared by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette (1939-25 September 2019), assisted by the then Director of Special Duties in the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Dr. Goke Adegoroye (74) and approved by the President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

There were Ministers of State Economic Matters, Minister of State Special Project, Minister of State for Inter-Governmental Affairs, Minister of State, Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Minister of State, Civil Service matters and also Minister of State, Special Duties. Mr. Abayomi Edu was Minister of State, Special Duties. He is the son of the Billionaire Politician from Epe, Alhaji Shafi Lawal Edu (7 January 1911 – 8 January 2002) who was elected into the Western State House of Assembly in 1951. Mr. Abayomi Edu who now lives in America is expected home to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Mr. Abayomi Edu’s schedule and responsibilities at that time were to coordinate for the President: award of Titles; National Honours and Decorations (ii) Liaise on behalf of the President, with committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (iii) carry out any special duties assigned by the President.

Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Kida was the Minister of State, Inter-Governmental Affairs in The presidency. His schedule and responsibilities were to (i) formulate and implement policies and programmes geared towards enhancement of inter-governmental relations (ii) Liaison between the Federal, State and Local Governments (iii) Conduct desirable studies and collect intelligence information on Federal/State/Local Government relations and process to the Vice President (iv) initiate follow-up actions to ensure that State and Local Government fulfil their respective statutory obligations (v) Advise the Vice President on Boundary Commission Matters.

Chief Abimbola Ogunkelu was Minister of State in The presidency for Cooperation and Integration in Africa. His schedule and responsibilities were to (i) formulate policies and programmes on regional cooperation and integration in Africa (ii) Strengthening of Intra-African economic cooperation (iii) Foster relations with and coordinate ECOWAS matters (iv) Coordination of matters relating to the Economic and Social Commission of the OAU (v) Coordination and strengthening of matters relating to Joint Economic Commissions in Africa e.g. the African Common Market, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The emergence of Prince Vincent Ogbulafor as the National Chairman of PDP was dramatic. He was brought to the PDP headquarters in 2001 after serving as Minister of State.

President Umaru Musa Yar’adua GCFR(16 August 1951-5 May 2010) was eventually declared the winner of the 2007 general elections, held on April 21, and was sworn in on May 29, 2007, amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. In the Nigerian National Assembly election, the party won 260 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 85 out of 109 seats in the Senate.

At the PDP’s 2008 National Convention, the party chose Prince Vincent Ogbulafor as its National Chairman on March 8, 2008 held in Abuja. Chief Ogbulafor, who was the PDP’s National Secretary from 2001 to 2005, was the party’s consensus choice for the position of National Chairman, selected as an alternative to the rival candidate’sformer Governor Sam Egwu and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. All 26 candidates, including Dr Sam Egwu (70) from Ezzamgbo and Senator Pius Anyim GCON (63) from Ishiagu, both in Ebonyi state, withdrew in favour of Ogbulafor. Meanwhile, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje was elected as National Secretary.

When Prince Ogbulafor made that declaration in 2008 people believed that his boast could come true. He was on a solid ground at that time.

Let’s look at the situation now. In the Senate, All Progressive Congress (APC) has 58 seats, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 37 seats, Labour Party has seven seats, New Nigeria People’s Party has two seats, Social Democratic Party—two seats, All Progressive Grand Alliance—-1 seat and Action Democratic Party—-1 seat. In the House of Representative, All Progressive Congress has 175 seats, People’s Democratic Party has 118 seats, Labour Party has 35 seats, New Nigeria People’s Party——19 seats, All Progressive Grand Alliance——five seats, African Democratic Congress—-two seats, Social Democartic Party—- 2 seats and Young Progressive Party—-one seat.

The PDP governors in 2008 when Prince Ogbulafor made that prediction were Thoedore Orji (Abia State), Murtala Nyako(Adamawa), Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom), Timipre Sylvia (Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Liyel Moke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martin Elechi(Ebonyi),Olusegun Oni (Ekiti), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Ikedi Ohakim(Imo), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Namadi Sambo (Kaduna).

Others were Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari (Kebbi), Ibrahim Idris(Kogi), Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Aliyu Doma(Nasarawa), Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Olusegun Agagu (Ondo), Olagunsoye Oyinlola(Osun), Christopher Alao-Akala(Oyo), Jonah David Jang(Plateau), Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako (Sokoto), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Mahmud Shinkafi (Zamfara).

At that time the AD governors were Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole (Edo). Peter Obi was governor of Anambra (APGA), Isa Yuguda(ANPP)—-Bauchi, Ali Modu Sheriff (ANPP)—-Bornu, Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP)—-Kano, Ibrahim Gaidam (ANPP)—Yobe, Olusegun Mimiko(Labour Party)—Ondo state.

As of today, there are 22 states with APC governors, twelve states with PDP governors, one each with APGA, Labour and NNPP. The APC is yet to equal the feat achieved by the PDP in 2008.

At present the governors are Alex Otti (Abia State)—Labour Party, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa)—-PDP, Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom)—-PDP, Charles Soludo (Anambra)—APGA, Bala Muhammed (Bauchi)—-PDP, Douye Diri (Bayelsa)—-PDP, Hyacinth Alia (Benue)—-APC, Babagana Zulum (Borno)—-APC, Bassey Otu(Cross River)—-APC, Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)—PDP, Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) APC, Monday Okpebholo(Edo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti)—APC, Peter Mbah (Enugu)—-PDP, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya(Gombe)—APC, Hope Uzodinma (Imo)—-APC, Umar Namadi (Jigawa)—-APC and Uba Sani(Kaduna)—-APC.

Others are Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano)—-New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina)—-APC, Nasir Idris(Kebbi)—APC, Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi)—-APC, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara)—APC, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)—-APC, Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa)—-APC, Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger)—APC, Dapo Abiodun(Ogun)—-APC, Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo)—-APC, Ademola Adeleke(Osun)—PDP, Seyi Makinde (Oyo)—PDP, Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)—-PDP, Siminalayi Fubara(Rivers)—-PDP, Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto)—-APC, Agbu Kefas (Taraba)—-PDP, Mai Mala Buni (Yobe)—APC, Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)—-PDP.

The above may change when the gubernatorial election takes place in Anambra on November 6, 2025 this year, while that of Ekiti and Osun State will hold on July 14 and September 22 next year respectively.

To be continued tomorrow.

Eric Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.