A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Ogidi, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as more powerful than United States President Donald Trump, citing what he called the far-reaching authority of Nigeria’s executive office.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, Ogidi argued that the structure of Nigeria’s political system gives the president significant leverage in securing legislative backing from the National Assembly—powers he suggested exceed those of the American president within the U.S. Congress.
According to him, while certain executive proposals may face stiff resistance in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, the Nigerian president has greater influence in ensuring bills are passed.
“The president of Nigeria is the most powerful president in the world. Trump? Tinubu is stronger than Trump,” Ogidi said. “The bills that have been going to the National Assembly—Trump can’t get that done in America. He cannot get it done in the Senate or Congress. But Tinubu can.”
He added that this level of authority underscores the importance of leadership choices in Nigeria. “That is why we must be very careful who we elect as president,” he stated, noting that the concentration of executive power demands accountability and vigilance.
Beyond his remarks on executive power, Ogidi also addressed recent internal developments within the PDP, expressing disappointment over the defection of some governors from the party.
He recalled that some of the governors who recently left the party had previously participated actively in discussions surrounding the proposed 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the position of National Secretary. According to him, they had even canvassed support for the return of Samuel Anyanwu to the role amid internal disagreements.
“It’s very sad when you see your fellow party members, those you have shared discussions with,” Ogidi said, reflecting on the party’s recent challenges. He noted that conversations had been held to resolve disputes and maintain unity before the latest round of defections.
Despite the setbacks, Ogidi maintained that those who remain in the PDP are committed to democratic principles and party democracy.
“We still believe in democracy. We believe Nigeria should be run on party democracy. We are resilient,” he said, while acknowledging widespread frustration among party members and Nigerians at large.
Ogidi concluded by suggesting that some of the defecting governors may not have acted entirely of their own volition, though he did not provide further details.
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