A former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, on Saturday warned that the increasing visibility of the military in the country was unhealthy for the democratic system being practised in Nigeria. Ehindero, who spoke on behalf of retired IGs at the launch of two biographies of former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, in Abuja, said while the military plays a crucial role in national security, its expanding presence in civil spaces should worry policymakers. The retired police chief noted that the country’s security architecture needed to be restructured to address this concern. He said, “The security architecture of this country needs to be rejigged. With apologies to the military here, too much military visibility in a democracy is not good. While I praise them for the work they are doing — they are doing marvellously — it is not their fault. They should concentrate more on our borders to prevent these miscreants from coming into the country. Our territorial integrity must be maintained and protected.” Ehindero also corrected some positions earlier expressed at the event, especially on policing, leadership continuity in the force, and the size of the Nigeria Police. He dismissed claims that the country’s growing police population was a result of bad governance, arguing that Nigeria’s large population and persistent security challenges required an expanded police force. “We are about 230 million people. When people retire, die or are dismissed, the police must be replenished. I disagree with the notion that we have more policemen because of bad governance,” he said. The former IG, who had opposed state police for decades, said he now supports the idea following the introduction of new checks and balances in the proposed model. “I have been against the establishment of state police for 30 years. But this time, when I saw the details, I embraced it. It is a step in the right direction, considering banditry, terrorism and other crimes,” he said. He also urged the government to include retired police officers in ambassadorial appointments, recalling instances where senior officers were previously appointed as envoys. On internal security leadership, Ehindero rejected criticism of the current National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for being a former police officer, noting that several retired IGs had occupied similar national security roles in the past. The former police chief’s remarks come at a time when the military is deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in support of the police to tackle banditry, terrorism, communal clashes and other security threats. His comments also follow a series of recent coups in West Africa — including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea — developments that have heightened concerns about democratic stability in the region and intensified debates about military influence in governance. Earlier, former IG Usman Alkali Baba expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as renewed efforts to restore “police primacy” in internal security. He praised the President’s recent directive withdrawing police personnel attached to what he called “undeserving” personalities. “I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for his consistent action directed at restoring dwindling police primacy in the internal security architecture. This was again made manifest by the recent Presidential Order on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to undeserving personalities. “As far as my memory serves me, this is the first time that such an order will emanate directly from a sitting President. We tried to do it as IGPs, but we couldn’t make it. Let’s see how this one will work.

A total of 12,060 Nigerians have tested positive for Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) across 12 states in 2025. The HBV and HCV patients were confirmed positive among the 210,947 individuals screened for the viruses, according to the 2025 Health Statistics published by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The report, which was obtained by our correspondent on Friday, showed that 129,602 individuals were screened for HBV, while 81,345 were screened for HCV so far in 2025. The report stated, “In 2025, 9,066 persons were reported to be reactive to the Hepatitis B virus. In the general population, about 15–20 per cent of HBsAg-positive adults qualify for treatment; this translates to about 906 (lower threshold) who needed treatment. Only 179 (25 per cent) were reported to be on HBV treatment.” According to the World Health Organisation, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of infectious and non-infectious agents, leading to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal. The 2024 Global Hepatitis Report by the WHO revealed that viral hepatitis infections are the second leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per year, the same as tuberculosis, a top infectious killer. A breakdown of the report showed that in Adamawa State, 2,633 people were screened for HBV infection, out of which 298 tested reactive. A total of 11.3 per cent were HBV positive. For HCV, 1,941 people were screened, and 74 were reactive. In Delta State, 1,049 people were screened for HBV, with 14 reactive cases. Two people were newly started on HBV treatment, and HBV positivity was 1.3 per cent. For HCV, 781 were screened, and 2 were reactive. In Jigawa State, 380 people were screened for HBV, and 24 were reactive. HBV positivity was 6.3 per cent. For HCV, 321 were screened, and 22 were reactive. In Kano State, 28,461 people were screened for HBV, and 2,231 were reactive. Seventeen people were newly started on HBV treatment, and HBV positivity was 7.8 per cent. For HCV, 12,730 people were screened, and 66 were reactive. In Katsina State, 149 people were screened for HBV, with 28 reactive cases. HBV positivity was 18.8 per cent. For HCV, 44 people were screened. In Kebbi State, 193 people were screened for HBV, and 8 were reactive. HBV positivity was 4.1 per cent. For HCV, no screenings were recorded. In Kwara State, 3,627 people were screened for HBV, and 54 were reactive. HBV positivity was 1.5 per cent. Twelve people were screened for HCV. In Lagos State, 41,982 people were screened for HBV, with 2,042 reactive. Thirty-one people were newly started on HBV treatment, and HBV positivity stood at 4.9 per cent. A total of 27,962 people were screened for HCV, and 460 were reactive. In Nasarawa State, 38,035 people were screened for HBV, and 3,348 were reactive. One hundred and four people were newly started on HBV treatment, and HBV positivity was 8.8 per cent. For HCV, 37,227 people were screened, and 2,097 were reactive. In Niger State, 3,486 people were screened for HBV, and 668 were reactive. HBV positivity was 19.2 per cent. For HCV, 2,523 were screened, and 242 were reactive. In Taraba State, 223 people were screened for HBV, with 41 reactive cases. HBV positivity was 18.4 per cent. For HCV, 223 were screened, and 29 were reactive. In Zamfara State, 9,384 people were screened for HBV, with 310 reactive. HBV positivity was 3.3 per cent. For HCV, 104 people were screened, and two were reactive.

Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Adedamola Adebayo have expressed contrasting interpretations of the Supreme Court ruling on the issue of withheld local government allocations. This is as each claimed victory while issuing warnings to their supporters and opponents. These reactions were expressed in separate statements made available to THENEWSCREDIT on Saturday in Osogbo. The Osun APC through its Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the party applauded the Supreme Court’s judgement, describing it as a reinforcement of the July 2024 ruling which affirmed financial autonomy for local government councils in the state. The party said the verdict again nullified the actions of the alleged illegally elected PDP chairmen and councillors. The APC, however, criticised the Osun State House of Assembly for passing the Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025, shortly after the judgement was delivered. It described the move as “unconstitutional and an attempt to undermine the court’s decision.” The statement read, “The bill is unconstitutional and a failed attempt to scuttle the Supreme Court’s judgment in July 2024 over financial autonomy for the local governments, which was by implication reinforced today in another Supreme Court judgement where the Osun State Government and ‘sit-at-home appointed chairmen and councillors’ lost gallantly.” The party questioned the speed with which lawmakers passed the bill, alleging that the legislators were “ignited by the fire of legal battle they ignorantly and maliciously initiated.” It insisted that the rule of law had prevailed with the latest verdict. The APC which added that the legislation was intended to weaken the authority of local government chairmen and councillors reinstated under its platform stressed that the bill will not stand and urged members of the public to hold the lawmakers accountable. It warned the Assembly against measures it claimed were designed to mislead residents. The party also alleged that some individuals were impersonating members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, describing the act as criminal. The statement added, “In case the ‘sit-at-home’ purported local government council chairmen do not have an adviser, recourse may be made to knowledgeable people to educate them that their useless suit at the Supreme Court was struck out.” Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun election, Adebayo, also welcomed the ruling but offered a different interpretation of its implications. Adebayo, who secured 919 votes in the party’s primary held on Tuesday, said the verdict paved the way for PDP-elected chairmen to assume office. In a statement issued in Osogbo, he urged party members to celebrate the judgement peacefully and cautioned them against any form of lawlessness. He noted that the party had maintained decorum throughout the legal proceedings and should continue to do so. Adebayo said, “We received the verdict of the Supreme Court with joy as it eventually affirmed our position all the while. The PDP is the ultimate beneficiary of the sound judgement of the court and, by extension, those elected on the platform of the party should also celebrate this victory.” He warned political opponents against violence and vowed to use legal means to ensure that PDP-elected council leadership assumed control of the local government areas without disruption. The governorship candidate commended the discipline displayed by PDP members since the case began, adding that such behaviour would contribute to the development expected from those elected to public office. “I urge our supporters to remain committed to the party as the next election approached,” he said. Our correspondent had reported that the Supreme Court on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Osun State Government seeking to compel the Federal Government to release withheld allocations to local governments in the state. A seven-member panel ruled six to one that the suit lacked legal competence. Earlier reports indicated that both the PDP and APC-aligned Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON members had claimed victory following the ruling, each welcoming the court’s decision

Criminals’ use of foreign internet services makes it difficult for security agents to track bandits in Nigeria, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said. Bwala stated this while speaking in an interview with Nigeriainfofm, posted on their Instagram page on Friday. He explained that while security agencies can trace Nigerians using local social media platforms, tracking criminals who rely on services outside the country is more complicated. “There is a regulatory body in Nigeria that has the database of Nigerians and their phone numbers. There is also a body that deals with internet service provision, where if you are using an internet service covered within the sphere of Nigeria, they can trace through the IP address,” Bwala said. He added, “If you are using Starlink, we cannot trace it because Starlink is not registered in Nigeria; it is in space. That is the problem they have in Ukraine and Russia. These terrorists most of the time are using cellular services from neighbouring countries and not from Nigeria, so it becomes tricky.” Bwala’s comments highlight the technological challenges facing security agencies in the fight against banditry and terrorism across the country. Nigeria has faced a surge in insecurity, with banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings increasingly affecting communities, particularly in the northwest and northeast. In the last few months, there have been multiple attacks on villages, abductions of schoolchildren, and raids on highways, causing widespread fear and disrupting local economies. Recent reports indicate that some criminal groups are increasingly using social media and digital communication tools to coordinate their activities. In May 2025, a report by The Guardian stated that jihadists in the northeast were reported to be using TikTok to spread propaganda, risking youth recruitment and showcasing an arsenal of weapons and cash in videos accessible to millions. In recent months, reports indicate that some suspected terrorists and bandits have turned to social media platforms such as TikTok to post videos of weapons, cash, and their hideouts. These videos sometimes include threats, flaunting of ransom payments, or calls for support, creating a front that spreads fear and may aid recruitment. There are also documented cases where kidnappers and bandits flaunt ransom payments and loot on TikTok.

The contest for the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland has taken a dramatic turn with the formal entry of Fuji music legend and long-time ally of President Bola Tinubu, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate. At 67, K1 brings a rare combination of cultural influence, national recognition, and political connections to a succession process closely watched across Yorubaland. According to a now-circulating letter dated December 3, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, his candidacy is formally guided by the provisions of Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws. “I, Otunba Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Olasunkanmi Omogbolahan Anifowoshe, MON, hereby formally notify the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of my intention to be considered for the vacant stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland, subject strictly to the provisions of Ijebu customary law and the Ogun State Chieftaincy Laws,” the letter partly read. K1 emphasised his ancestry as a key qualification, citing his royal lineage. ”I was born on 3rd March, 1957, and I am a bonafide son of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Agunsebi Quarters, tracing my ancestry to the Oba Jadiara lineage, which qualifies me to present myself for consideration in accordance with established tradition,” he wrote. The Oba Jadiara lineage is a historic branch of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which has the exclusive right to present candidates for the Awujale stool, according to rotational custom. Beyond lineage, K1 highlighted his decades-long service to Ijebuland and Yoruba culture. “I have devoted over five decades to the promotion of Ijebu, Yoruba, and Nigerian culture through music and cultural enterprise,” Kwam 1 said. He noted that his music career and public engagements have been instrumental in promoting the identity and heritage of Ijebuland nationally and internationally. K1’s letter also referenced key honours that underscore his prominence. “I have devoted over five decades to the promotion of Ijebu, Yoruba, and Nigerian culture through music and cultural enterprise,” Kwam 1 said. He cited his installation as Mayegun of Yorubaland in 2020, the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger in 2022, and his conferment as Olori Omo-Oba and Otunba Afidipotemole of Akile Ijebu in 2023 by the late Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona. These titles, according to him, demonstrate recognition of his cultural and civic contributions. K1’s declaration followed a formal request from the Ijebu-Ode Local Government, signed by the LG Secretary on behalf of the chairman, Oke Adebanjo, for the Fusengbuwa Ruling House to commence the selection process. “You are hereby requested to submit the name(s) of nominated candidate(s) within 14 days from the date of this letter to the Executive Chairman’s Office through the prescribed traditional procedure,” he said. The council also outlined a succession ritual, saying, “On Tuesday, 2nd December 2025, the Ogbeni Odi will officially carry the Awujale’s Staff of Office along with the undersigned as the next phase of the succession rite.” The letter reminded the ruling house to conduct the exercise “peacefully, transparently, and in line with the traditions of Ijebuland.” Before K1’s entry, the race had already attracted notable candidates, including a 45-year-old prince from the Adeberu lineage of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Olaseni Ottun, and prominent engineer and entrepreneur Otunba Babatunde Alatise. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is expected to submit its nominations within the stipulated 14 days, following the rotational and customary guidelines governing the Awujale stool.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, reiterated that his administration would continue to strengthen the security architecture of the state in order to secure the lives and properties of residents. The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Bayo Lawal, stated this during the commissioning of the Moniya Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, which was reconstructed by Akinyele Local Government. Makinde, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, the state capital, also commissioned two motorised boreholes situated at the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Challenged in Isabiyi Ward 6 and Akuro Community, Olorisaoko, Ward 11. The governor maintained that the construction of the new Area Command of the Nigeria Police in Moniya is part of the commitment of the government to securing lives and properties in the state. He said that the government remains ready to proactively combat security challenges. Makinde highlighted that Moniya and, indeed, the council area, is rapidly becoming a centre of attraction with massive urban expansion due to several vast infrastructure development projects of the state government, including the ongoing Circular Road, the Ilutuntun Business District and the Dry Port, among others. The governor stated that these projects have and will continue to attract more people to the council and that the government must expand its capacity to secure the people, a development he noted was demonstrated by the construction of the Command Headquarters in Moniya. While stating the strategic importance of the project, the governor added that the infrastructure development has projected Akinyele Local Government economically, noting that it requires robust security to ensure both public safety and a stable environment for investment. “This project has a lot of facilities in it, which will help the officers to perform their duties effectively. This also comes with a borehole and I want to commend the local government chairman for it. “As a community, I want to urge us to say something when we see anything strange. In the state, we have decided to really confront insecurity head on. Most of the needs of the security agencies are being met regularly to the extent that if you see any car carrying the logo of the Nigeria Police Force, just know the state government donated it. “I attend the NEC meeting on a monthly basis and I keep interrogating at the higher level in Abuja; look, you say it is the Nigeria Police Force but go to the states, in terms of equipment, mobility, the only thing states do not do is to buy arms and ammunition. “The rest of the responsibilities are being done by the state governments and we will continue to do this in the state. This is because we are appreciative of what the Police Force is doing for us in terms of security. For this Area Command, if there are things that must be put in place beyond the ability of the local government, please escalate it to the state government. “The contract for the road in front of this place has been awarded and they have started working on it, and it would be completed in due course. In the whole of South-West, the state stands as the safest; we have the statistics and records, and we are proud of the status in South-West Nigeria.” Earlier, the council chairman, Akinwole Akinleye, said the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Moniya is meant to reposition the command to secure borders and safeguard the people of the state in the face of mounting insecurity in the country. He added that the newly built area command has facilities that will enable policemen to effectively perform the task of tackling security issues associated with urbanisation as represented by the opening up of Ilu-Tuntun Business District and the ongoing Circular Road Project in Akinyele Local Government. While commending Governor Makinde for strengthening the security architecture of the state, he assured the people of the state of more dividends of democracy. Also in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Isiaka Salahudeen, urged the residents of the state to cooperate with the government by providing useful information to the security agencies to tackle insecurity and other social vices in their communities, adding that securing the state is a responsibility for all. He assured of the police’s readiness to work with other security agencies to support the government to progress and achieve good results. In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola; the Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in the state, Sikiru Sanda and an elder statesman, Julius Akinsola, lauded Makinde’s initiatives on security. They equally commended Akinleye for complementing the efforts of the government through the projects. They charged the Police Force and the people of Akinyele Local Government to utilise and maintain the projects to reduce the menace of insecurity in the state. The event had in attendance the Chairman, Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe; Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency; Hon Abideen Adeaga; traditional leaders and other top government functionaries, among other dignitaries.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has barred several top politicians including former deputy governor and ex National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, as well as another former deputy governor, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi from taking part in its December 13, 2025 Osun governorship primary. Also disqualified were Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), and Babatunde Haketer Oralusi. According to the report submitted on Friday, by the seven-member screening committee led by Barrister Obinna Uzor, only Hon. Mulikat Adeola Jimoh and Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji fulfilled all necessary conditions and are cleared to participate in the primary election. According to the committee, both aspirants “fulfilled regulatory conditions as stipulated by the party’s guidelines, the Constitution and the Electoral Act”, thereby earning full clearance. However, the panel forwarded the cases of the six disqualified aspirants to the National Working Committee (NWC) for a final assessment and possible clearance ahead of the shadow election. In its six-page report, endorsed by all members, the committee stated that its decision was influenced by a petition submitted by the Osun APC Renewal Group. The petition requested the disqualification of two aspirants, alleging that they did not meet the mandatory nominator requirements outlined in the party’s constitution and guidelines. The panel stated that “upon careful review, the Committee found the issues raised in the petition to be weighty, substantial and germane to the integrity of the screening process.” It added that, in the interest of fairness and uniform application of the rules, the same standards were applied to all nine aspirants. “Accordingly, the Committee extended the same scrutiny to all nine aspirants, ensuring that every sponsor (nominator) of an aspirant was assessed on the basis of compliance with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the Guidelines,” the report noted. At the end of the two-day exercise, the committee confirmed that only Jimoh and Oyebamiji “satisfactorily met all constitutional and guideline requirements of the APC, including proper nomination by the requisite number of fully registered, financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area.” The committee noted that Senators Omisore and Omoworare, along with Babayemi, Ogunbiyi, Alabi, Adegoke, and Oralusi, did not satisfy the mandatory requirement of securing nominations from at least five financially compliant party members in each local government. This condition is stipulated in Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution, as well as Paragraph 6(c) of the 2025 Governorship Primary Guidelines. Meanwhile, the Screening Appeal Committee, led by Senator Tola Odebiyi, is expected to convene on Saturday in Abuja to consider petitions from the seven disqualified aspirants and any other aggrieved party members.

President Bola Tinubu Has Sworn In Former Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, Rtd, As The New Minister Of Defence. Our Correspondent Reports That General Musa Took The Oath Of Office On Thursday At The State House, Abuja. Recall That The Senate On Wednesday, Confirmed Him As Minister Of Defence Following A Rigorous Five-hour Screening. During The Session, The Former CDS Was Grilled Over Recent Security Lapses, Including The Controversial Withdrawal Of Troops From Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, In Kebbi State, Shortly Before Schoolgirls Were Abducted On November 17. General Musa Told Lawmakers He Would Immediately Set Up A Full-scale Investigation Into The Troop Withdrawal Once He Assumed Duty. The New Defence Minister Also Vowed To Probe The Killing Of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba In Borno State, Along With Other Attacks On Senior Military Officers.

Terrorists who kidnapped 10 residents of Isapa town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have given the community a one-week ultimatum to pay N300 million ransom or risk the execution of the captives. Our correspondent reports that the victims were whisked away last Sunday, and despite days of negotiation, none has been released. Recall that the assailants had initially demanded N500 million but later reduced the ransom to N300 million. The kidnappers warned that failure to meet their demand within the ultimatum would trigger another violent attack on the town, aimed at killing many more residents. The threats have reportedly heightened fear and tension across Isapa. Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, the Chief Hunter of Isapa, Mr A. Adeyeye, confirmed the latest communication from the kidnappers, saying that the community pleaded with the criminals and offered N5 million, but the gunmen rejected it outright. “Despite pleas from the community offering N5 million, the armed group rejected the offer, describing it as unacceptable and far below their expectations,” Adeyeye said.

The Osun State Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives has warned Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to “stay away from Osun affairs.” The caucus rejected what it described as illegal governorship primaries that, on Tuesday, produced Adebayo Adedamola as PDP’s governorship candidate for 2026. In a statement, signed by six members of the caucus on Wednesday, the lawmakers called on Makinde to desist from actions “capable of threatening the political stability of Osun State.” Signed by Bamidele Salam, Mudashiru Alani, Akanni Ademola, Adewale Adebayo, Adetunji Olusoji and Oladebo Omoleye, the statement condemned the purported primaries as being orchestrated “with thugs and political jobbers” allegedly imported from Ibadan, Oyo State. According to the caucus, this conduct portrays Makinde as “a treacherous character whose desperation for regional political influence has pushed him into untoward conduct.” They said, “It is laughable that the Oyo State governor does not understand, or chooses to ignore, the fact that the PDP has laid down procedures for the conduct of primaries, which include elections of ward ad-hoc delegates and national delegates, without which no valid primaries can be conducted. “Unequivocally reject the fraudulent conduct of a purported primary,” warning that anyone parading themselves as the PDP’s candidate would be “tantamount to a criminal impersonation and an attempt to provoke the peaceful and law-abiding leaders and members of the PDP in Osun state.” They also chided Makinde for exporting “impunity, recklessness and sham to Osun State,” even though Osun already has “a decent sitting governor who carries everyone along in major decision-making.” The lawmakers pledged to uphold the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and counselled that anyone interested in contesting the 2026 Osun governorship election must “play by the rules.” They further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the purported primary results and to align with the PDP constitution and guidelines. The root of the present mess stems from a deep internal leadership crisis at the national level of the PDP. Factions led by different power blocs — including a wing associated with Governor Seyi Makinde (notably the faction led by Kabiru Turaki) are at odds with rival factions loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. This struggle has disrupted the normal functioning of the party’s national organs. As a result, key national officers responsible for organising congresses and primaries and transmitting candidate names to INEC have been suspended or counter-suspended. That institutional paralysis has made it impossible for many state chapters (including Osun) to conduct legitimate primaries. On November 4, 2025, Governor Adeleke formally resigned from the PDP, blaming the decision on the ongoing national leadership crisis.