The Director-General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, on Thursday, resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
His resignation was contained in a letter dated July 17, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP, Ward 5, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Andrew Esemuede.
Iduoriyekemwen cited recent developments within the party at both the state and national levels as the reason for his decision.
The letter read, “I am writing to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ward 5, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.
“This is a painstaking decision for me, as the PDP has played a vital role in my political journey and personal development. For this, I remain deeply grateful and will always cherish the platform the party provided me.
“However, recent developments within the party—both at the state and national levels—have made it difficult for me to remain a member.
“The values and principles that once defined the PDP, as laid down by our founding fathers, appear to have been eroded. What we see today no longer aligns with the vision they had for a truly democratic, inclusive, and people-centred political party.”
He added that his decision was not driven by anger or haste, but by reflection and a commitment to his personal values.
“In view of this, I have decided to resign my membership of the party to enable me to concentrate fully on my family and business engagements.
“This is not a decision made out of anger or haste, but one rooted in deep reflection and a sincere desire to preserve my personal values and integrity.
“I sincerely thank the party leadership and all members of Ward 5, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, for their love and support over the years. I wish the PDP well in its future endeavours.”
Veteran journalist and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing what he described as the party’s hijack by “antidemocratic forces.”
Momodu’s resignation was contained in a letter dated July 17, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of PDP Ward 4 in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In the letter, Momodu stated that his decision takes “immediate effect,” describing it as a necessary step to uphold democratic principles.
“My reason is simple and straightforward. Our party has been unarguably hijacked by antidemocratic forces, from within and outside, in broad daylight,” the letter read.
The media mogul further described the PDP as a “carcass” in the hands of those he accused of undermining internal democracy, stressing that it was honourable for him to exit the party at this point.
“It is, therefore, honourable to abandon the carcass of the party to them while the majority of us earnestly sign up with the new coalition party known as the African Democratic Congress,” he declared.
Momodu, who contested the PDP presidential ticket in the 2023 general elections, expressed gratitude to party members who supported him during his stay.
“I will forever treasure the kind support you gave me at all times,” he added.
The development comes amid a wave of defections rocking the PDP in recent months, as some party members and leaders complain about alleged imposition and lack of internal democracy.
Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said that the letter announcing his principal’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party was leaked.
Ibe stated this during an interview on Wednesday night on Arise News, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the timing of Atiku’s exit from the PDP, which coincided with the nation’s mourning of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was buried on Tuesday.
Ibe claimed that individuals opposed to Atiku’s political ambition, including some members within the PDP and their allies in the All Progressives Congres orchestrated the leak and not voluntarily released.
“We’re here because people who never wished His Excellency Atiku Abubakar well leaked a communication of his. Yes, it was leaked,” Ibe stated.
He further criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for commenting on the matter, accusing him of abandoning pressing aviation challenges.
“It’s unfortunate that the Minister of Aviation, who rather should be concerned with serious issues of aviation matters and there are plenty of them, like runways and better infrastructure, jumped into this fray as though knowing what caused an accident even before investigation,” Ibe said.
He insisted that the leak resulted from “rogue elements in the PDP working in cahoots with APC members,” stressing that the matter should not overshadow national reflection over Buhari’s death.
“Those who claim to know why he resigned, are they clairvoyants? I would rather say we speak on something else and not this particular issue, considering the fact that the nation is still in mourning and the memories of the late President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was just interred yesterday, are still fresh,” he said.
Atiku formally resigned from the PDP via a letter dated July 14, 2025, submitted to his local ward chairman in Adamawa State and shared publicly by his media aide on X.
In the letter, he cited “irreconcilable differences” and noted his disappointment with the party’s current trajectory, which he believes has strayed from its founding principles.
Contrary to the usual practice of placing caskets in an aircraft’s cargo hold, the body of former President Muhammadu Buhari was flown to Nigeria in the main cabin of a Nigerian Air Force jet.
The decision, it was gathered, followed the discovery that the casket could not fit into the aircraft’s cargo compartment.
Rather than resorting to the use of a body bag that would fit into the hold, handlers resolved to transport the casket in the aircraft’s cabin.
To make this possible, the front seats in the cabin were collapsed and tables unfolded to create a bed-like platform where the casket could be securely and respectfully laid.
A source said, “You would have noticed that the remains of the former President were not in the cargo hold, as is the standard procedure, but in the main cabin.
“The corpse was brought in a casket draped with the Nigerian flag. However, it could not fit into the aircraft’s hold, which isn’t designed for such items, and the British airport authorities wouldn’t budge due to safety concerns.
“So, to avoid using a body bag, it took considerable time and persuasion to properly wrap the remains and drape them in the national flag. The front seats were then collapsed and the tables unfolded to create a bed-like space for the remains to be tied down.”
As a mark of honour, a joint team of nine senior military officials served as pallbearers, laying the flag-draped casket on a trolley.
The team, coordinated by Maj Gen Mike Alechenu, included Maj Gen Mohammed Usman, Maj Gen Oluwafemi Williams, Maj Gen Shuaibu Nuhu, Rear Adm Suleiman Dahun, Rear Adm Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Adm Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka.
In a slow march synchronised with the hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” the pallbearers wheeled the casket through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries walked behind the trolley in a solemn procession.
The pallbearers then conveyed the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour trip to Daura, where funeral prayers and interment took place.
The state funeral featured full military honours, including a 21-gun salute.
Earlier, Tinubu, accompanied by Vice President Shettima, received the casket at the foot of the aircraft.
Also present were President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau; Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine; former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou; and Buhari’s immediate past Vice President, Prof Osinbajo.
Tinubu had arrived at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, at 1:42 pm, and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force jet conveying Buhari’s remains landed at exactly 1:51 pm.
A large crowd flooded Daura to pay their last respects, with many youths seen climbing trees for a glimpse of Buhari as he was laid to rest at his residence.
Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Mourns the Passing of the Awujale of Ijebulan
The Group Chairman of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking KOF, has paid glowing tribute to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. He described his passing as the end of an era and the ascent of a legend into the realms of the immortals.
In a solemn and emotionally resonant message, he extolled the virtues of the late monarch, whom he described as a towering symbol of identity, unity, and pride for the Ijebu people and the Yoruba nation.
Oba Adetona, who died at the age of 91, reigned for an extraordinary 65 years, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Nigerian history. His reign, according to Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, was not only notable for its longevity but for its profound impact on the cultural, social, and economic transformation of Ijebuland.
“His Royal Majesty reigned not merely by the sceptre, but by the rare power of vision, intellect, and integrity,” Aare Adetola stated. “He embodied royalty in its purest form, not as a relic of the past, but as a living force that shaped the present and laid the foundations of the future.”
Reflecting on the monarch’s legacy, the real estate mogul highlighted Oba Adetona’s role as a custodian of heritage, a voice of wisdom during national turbulence, and a bridge across generations. “He was not just a king, but a colossus, a living oracle whose words stirred minds and moved mountains,” he added.
Aare Adetola Emmanuelking further acknowledged the transformation of Ijebuland under the late monarch’s watch, noting that the ancient kingdom became a beacon of cultural pride, economic vibrancy, and progressive unity. “To be Ijebu was to be proud. To serve Ijebu was to be honourable. To be under his reign was to witness greatness firsthand,” he said.
Aare Adetola Emmanuelking expressed deep condolences to the royal family and the people of Ijebuland, urging them to lift their chins in pride, having been ruled by a legend. “Now, the lion sleeps, but his roar shall echo in eternity”, he added.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the king’s soul and for his enduring legacy to continue inspiring generations to come.
The passing of HRM Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona marks the close of a remarkable chapter in Yoruba history, but as Aare Adetola Emmanuelking reminds the world, the light of the monarch’s legacy will forever illuminate the path ahead.
Dignitaries, former government officials, and political heavyweights on Tuesday began arriving in Katsina State, for the final burial rites of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
A heavy security presence was observed in and around the town, with personnel of the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigerian Army stationed at strategic locations.
Traffic diversions and crowd control measures were also in place to ensure smooth movement as thousands of mourners thronged Daura to pay their last respects.
Among the early arrivals were former Vice Presidents Yemi Osinbajo and Atiku Abubakar; former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; and former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Also present were former Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), and Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), who also served as a one-time National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Others in attendance include billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote; former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; and former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.
More dignitaries including the President Bola Tinubu, religious leaders, and traditional rulers are expected in the coming hours as the funeral proceedings continue.
A former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.), has mourned the passing of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader who was firm yet fair.
Gambo, who served under Buhari from 2021 to 2023, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that the former president embodied discipline, integrity, and a deep commitment to national service.
According to him, Buhari as a soldier, stood tall with courage, unwavering discipline and an incorruptible spirit.
Gambo added that as a statesman and former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he embodied the highest ideals of public service, personal sacrifice and national commitment.
While he recounted how Buhari appointed him as naval chief in January 2021, Gambo stated that the decision was one of the greatest privileges of his life.
“His journey through Nigeria’s turbulent political and security landscape remains a testament to his resilience, fortitude and selfless patriotism.
“I recall with immense gratitude and humility his entrusting me with the honour of serving our nation as Chief of the Naval Staff, in January 2021.
“That appointment, which lasted until the end of his tenure in 2023, remains one of the greatest privileges of my life.
“I have very fond memories of hosting him at the Navy’s Presidential Fleet Review in Lagos, a week before he left office.
“It was his last major military assignment as President and Commander-in-Chief, and an opportunity to commemorate the transformation of the Nigerian Navy under his leadership.
“In him, I found not only a Commander-in-Chief, but a father figure who was firm yet fair, deeply principled and constantly invested in the well-being and professional growth of those under his leadership,” the statement read in part.
Gambo hailed the late president’s efforts in reforming the military, especially in improving personnel welfare, modernising military hardware, and giving the service chiefs operational autonomy.
He further acknowledged his impact on his life and the lives of countless others in the military and civilian spheres, stating that it would remain indelible.
The retired admiral also praised Buhari’s austere lifestyle, anti-corruption stance, and compassion for the less privileged, describing him as “a man of honesty, simplicity, and unshakable patriotism.”
He recalled how his mother, a longtime admirer of the former president, was elated when he was appointed naval chief and later had the chance to visit Buhari after he left office.
“Though his physical presence is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in every institution he strengthened, every reform he championed, and every life he touched.
“His legacy is a light that will never fade, Insha Allah,” Gambo concluded.
The founder of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has revealed that there was no formal written agreement for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over power to him.
Bakare had a history with Buhari, serving as his running mate in the 2011 presidential election under the Congress for Progressive Change, an election they lost.
File Photo: Pastor Tunde Bakare, during a visit to the late ex-President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
Buhari later went on to become president from 2015 to 2023, following an earlier stint as military head of state from 1983 to 1985.
Despite their political past, Bakare had publicly hinted at succeeding Buhari.
In 2019, he suggested he would be Nigeria’s 16th president, following Buhari whom he referred to as the 15th.
At the time, the preacher and lawyer also mentioned he was cultivating a global political network for his future aspirations.
Bakare’s political ambitions weren’t new; he had stated in January 2018 that he wasn’t done with politics. However, his bid for the presidency in 2022 was unsuccessful as he lost the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Bakare said Buhari gave every presidential aspirant in the APC a fair opportunity to contest for the party’s ticket.
He said, “There was no written pact between us. He is late. I will never say anything unfair about him.
“He did his best. One night before the primary, he invited all the presidential aspirants. We sat with him in the conference hall of the villa.
“He said, ‘I have allowed the governors to choose who will succeed them or to go for a second term if they are going for a second term. I am asking you today to allow me to also freely choose the person I desire to succeed me.’”
Bakare said the move was accepted by other aspirants present at the meeting, including Yemi Osinbajo, former vice-president; Mohammed Badaru, governor of Jigawa; and Ogbonnaya Onu, former minister of science and technology.
Buhari died on Sunday at the age of 82 in a London clinic.
His death has continued to attract tributes from across the country and worldwide.
The Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday, described the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as an exemplary monarch who made a significant positive impact during his 62-year reign.
He stated this in his tribute to the highly revered monarch, who joined his ancestors on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 91.
The National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Jare Ajayi, in a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, quoted Afenifere leader as saying that the late monarch was one of the Obas in Yorubaland who exalt the position of royalty.
Fasoranti disclosed that right from the time the late monarch started his public service in the defunct Western Region, his conduct on his return from the United Kingdom where he studied Accountancy and all through his years on the throne, the late Awujale led a life that is worthy of emulation in terms of integrity, focus and dedication to serving the people.
“The then Prince Adetona was crowned as Awujale on April 5, 1960.
“He became a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs immediately thereafter.
“Records have it that he conducted himself well just as he did when he headed various bodies, including the Traditional Rulers Council in Ogun State.”
The Afenifere leader recalled the patriotic role played by the monarch, particularly in the imbroglio brought about by the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election.
“His reign was characterised by wisdom, dexterity, an enlightened and admirable leadership style, commitment to the Yoruba cause and the national interests,” he added.
Also commending the late Oba’s dedication to the culture and tradition of Yorubaland, the statement recalled that his reign brought Ojude-Oba celebration not only to the limelight but made it a cynosure of everyone, including the international community.
He, therefore, commiserated with the Ogun State Government, the people of Ijebuland, Yorubaland, and the royalty in Nigeria, of which late Adetona was a distinguished member and prayed for his soul to rest in perfect peace.
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, a chapter closed in Ijebu royalty, as 91-year-old Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, passed on, after reigning for 65 years.
On Monday, the deceased monarch was buried according to Islamic injunction at his Igbeba GRA residence.
Oba Adetona, who ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, at barely 26 years of age, succeeded Oba Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II.
He was from the Anikilaya family, one of the royal ruling houses in Ijebu Ode.
With his passage after a very successful reign and his interment on Monday, attention shifted to the Fusengbuwa ruling house, which is the next ruling house to produce the successor to the late Awujale.
It was gathered that many members of the ruling house eyeing the exalted throne have been making moves to enhance their visibility within their respective royal family.
The PUNCH gathered that the next ruling house, which is the Fusengbuwa, consists of four ruling houses: Jadiara, being the eldest followed by Fusengbuwa, Bubiade and then Tunwase.
The four royal families have the right to present candidates to contest for the Awujale’s throne as soon as the government gives the green light.
The royal families were said to have waited for this time to produce the next custodian of the Ijebu land cultural heritage.
Speaking with our correspondent on Monday after the burial of Oba Adetona, the Secretary of Tunwase ruling house and Under-Secretary of Fusengbuwa ruling house, Prince Kazeem Ahmed, confirmed that some members of the family were already warming up to start from where the late monarch left it off.
Prince Ahmed said that even before the demise of the Awujale, some members of the ruling family who had shown interest in the throne never hid their intentions.
“We have four royal houses and they are Jadiara, being the eldest followed by Fusengbuwa, Bubiade and then Tunwase.
“After the mourning of our highly revered king who has just been interred, this could be three months or more, people who have an interest in becoming the next Awujale from the four ruling houses of Fusengbuwa, Jadiara, Tunwase and Bubiade will begin to make known their intentions.
“We shall then take a look at those who have shown their intentions, check out their characters and influence in the community before we recommend them to the kingmakers.
“We have been seeing some of them showing interest before the demise of the king. Many people don’t want interregnum, so, left for me, I would suggest that maybe after we mourn the king for four months, then the floor can be declared open in preparation for the next king.
“We will have many people who will declare interest, but the family committee will prune and screen them down to a sizeable number of candidates to be presented to the kingmakers,” he said.
Another ranking chief from the palace, whose reaction was sought on the selection of the next Awujale, said it was too early to begin to talk about getting a replacement for the late monarch when the entire Ijebu land was still mourning the passage of the highly revered traditional ruler.
The palace chief who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, however, said the next Awujale would have the challenge of matching up to the exemplary leadership shown by Oba Adetona.
He added that he was sure that the system would not be allowed to throw up just anybody who would not consolidate on several developmental strides and efforts of the late monarch.
Pending the emergence of the new Awujale, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Olorogun Sunny Kuku, is to hold forth as the reagent and temporary Awujale.
He would see to the day-to-day administration of Ijebu land and help coordinate and midwife the process of emergence of the next Awujale.
