A former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Olabode George, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to remain in the party and work for the progress of the party.

George also appealed to other PDP leaders, including former Senate President, Sen. David Mark, the arrowhead of a coalition of opposition parties which has adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC) for 2027, to return to the party.

He spoke at a social engagement tagged “Restitution of Restoration” on Thursday in Lagos.

George said PDP remained a strong political platform, offering great opportunities for members.

According to George, it is only in the PDP that the interest of the estranged party leaders can be better served.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several opposition figures, mainly from PDP, Labour Party, and others, including some aggrieved APC chieftains, recently adopted ADC as the opposition platform for 2027.

He said, “There is no coalition in today’s Nigeria that can be stronger than PDP.

The PDP is a reborn political party that has weathered all storm and can never go under. All these leaders must return to this Iroko political party.

Those forming coalition should not forget they have traveled that way before, and it amounts to nothing and it will be good they remain in the party to help build it.”

According to him, party leaders leaving the party to join an opposition coalition are desecrating the grave of the founding fathers of the party, who sacrificed everything to give birth to the party.

“It is a disservice to the party whose platform they used to get to higher position in the country,” he added.

George noted that the PDP crisis, especially at national level, had been resolved.

He added that the party had bounced back to take over its place as the major opposition party in the country.

George said with the resolution of the issues in PDP and return of peace, all the reasons cited by Atiku and others for forming a coalition were no more tenable.

“The party has weathered the storm, this party is re-born, those that have attained higher position in the country on the platform of the party should do a re-think.

They should take it easy, there is no way their congregating can pass the PDP strength.

They have done it before, there is no major issue of contention in the PDP that can make them leave the PDP,” he said.

He, however, said the party had not changed its decision to zone the presidency to the South in 2027.

“What is the contention about? Why do they want to leave the PDP? They want to be presidential candidate?

Positions are zoned in the PDP. The founding fathers of the party zoned position because lack of zoning of positions led to the collapse of the First and Second Republic,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State has called for the resignation of its members listed as coordinators of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mike Ojisi, made this call in a statement on Thursday.

Ojisi said the party is not against members exercising their fundamental right to freedom of association as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

However, the spokesman added that members wishing to join other political parties must resign from the PDP first, as dual party membership is not allowed.

“The State Working Committee (SWC) has noted a publication naming some SWC members and Chapter Chairmen as ADC coordinators in Cross River State.

“The SWC, therefore, urges those named to be honourable and either publicly denounce the publication or resign their PDP positions within 48 hours.

“Otherwise, the party will apply the relevant disciplinary provisions of its constitution against them,” he said.

Ojisi stated further that the PDP was not in any coalition, as resolved at its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting recently held in Abuja.

He charged Executive Committee members to stay loyal to the PDP and avoid activities that may be seen as defection or anti-party conduct.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged Commanding Officers and their equivalents at the tactical level of the Nigerian Army to uphold the highest standard of professionalism in their respective units and to set the bar for discipline, courage, and valour.

Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement, said the COAS gave the charge on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the Second Commanding Officers Workshop held at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos.

Lieutenant General Oluyede noted that the efficient discharge of responsibilities at their level is crucial to achieving the military end state in the campaign objectives across the various theatres of operation.

He therefore encouraged the officers to pay adequate attention to the welfare of their subordinates, stressing that a motivated force is essential for optimal performance.

The COAS further emphasised the importance of leveraging the knowledge acquired during the workshop to enhance leadership capabilities in their respective formations.

According to him, the value of such professional engagements lies in translating theory into action through improved operational planning, decisive leadership, and a renewed commitment to the values and ethos of the Nigerian Army.