₦airaland Forum

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has rejected an invitation by the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in the state, Kabiru Garba, urging him to join the party.

Garba, at a press conference with journalists in Gusau on Friday, asked Lawal to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the ADC “for the progress of the state and the country in general.

“I am calling on Governor Dauda Lawal to leave PDP and join the ADC if he really wants to retain his seat come 2027,” Garba said.

However, Lawal said he remained in the PDP, stating that the ADC had nothing to offer him.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH , the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the governor, Mustafa Kaura, insisted that Lawal would not abandon the PDP to join the ADC.

He said, “Governor Dauda Lawal will not accept the state’s ADC chairman’s invitation to join the party. He has no intention of leaving his party, PDP, and will continue to work for the success of the PDP.”

Commenting on the plan by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to join the ADC, Kaura said, “It will not affect Governor Lawal’s decision to remain in PDP.

“The Governor has said it several times that he will not dump the PDP no matter the pressure. As such, he is a PDP supporter for life.”
Maiharaji Altine

The National Assembly on Saturday disclosed that it would transmit the report of the ongoing constitution review to 36 state assemblies before December 2025 consistent with its design and timetable.

The parliament, however, challenged all stakeholders with special requests to engage and lobby their state assemblies, noting that the National Assembly “cannot successfully review the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) without their approval.


Since the beginning of alteration of the Constitution in the Fourth Republic in 1999, devolution of powers, local government autonomy, creation of additional states and establishment of state police, among others have taken center stage at the zonal public hearing.

At the public hearing on Saturday are Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Olarere Oyewunmi; Chairperson, Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Banigo; Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Olajide Ipinsangba and Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, among others.


Addressing the stakeholders on Saturday, Bamide disclosed that the report of the constitution review committee would be transmitted to all State Houses of Assembly before December 2025 consistent with the timetable of the exercise.

According to him, we have completed the public hearing. We are now returning to Abuja to prepare our report. Part of our time table is to have final notifications before the end of the year and transmit our report to all state assemblies. This will round the process of the constitution review.

He, therefore, noted that the constitution review “is not a jamboree contrary to some dissenting views across the federation. Rather, it is designed to make consequential reforms that can guarantee our collective prosperity, more efficient governance structure and sustainable development.”

Bamidele also observed that the National Assembly would be handicapped to successfully complete the constitution review process if all the amendments proposed by the stakeholders were not approved by the two-third of state assemblies.

The zonal chairman of the constitution review committee, thus, challenged all stakeholders across the federation to lobby all state assemblies and their lawmakers to secure basic requirements for the successful amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

While he promised the National Assembly would process all the proposals it received so far and transmit them to the state assemblies, Bamidele challenged the stakeholders to decisively engage and lobby all the state legislatures if all the amendments would become part of the Constitution.

Bamidele said: “There is nothing the National Assembly can do without a two-thirds approval of all proposals by the state legislatures. All stakeholders must work with their lawmakers at the state level. We must appreciate the role of state assemblies to ensure the passage of the proposals into laws.

“State assemblies are part of the process. We have been in Lagos State in the last 48 hours, listening to people’s aspirations, concerns and will. All six states in the geo-political zone were represented by their elected representatives. We are in this process together to receive their presentations.

“The state assemblies are already anticipating the report of the constitution review from the National Assembly. They are not waiting for the report alone. They are also part of the constitution review process. I do not envisage any problem from the state assemblies.

“Therefore, we are advising all the stakeholders who are also looking for special considerations to extend their advocacies to the state assemblies. It is not just about them as elected representatives, but as representatives of people who elected them. People should be aware when they are making decisions to be sure that they are also doing so in consonance with the wishes of their constituents.”

Also at the public hearing, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and Speaker, Oyo State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin solicited for more power to be devolved to subnational governments for rapid and accelerated development.

Ogundoyin, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, said both federal and state governments should be allowed to legislate on issues that border on solid minerals, labour matters, drug and poisons, telecommunications, stamp duty amongst others.

He said: “Devolution of powers is key to this on-going constitutional amendment by devolving key items from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List in the interest of all. For instance, the removal of the electricity matter from the Exclusive Legislative List has significantly transformed many states’ power sector through independent power supply initiatives".

Ogundoyin also backed the establishment of state police, pointing its benefits to include improved local security, community policing, decongestion of federal responsibilities, enhanced accountability and employment opportunities.


The speaker said: “Concerning the state police, all the stakeholders will agree with me that the debate over the establishment of state policing has garnered momentum from both supporters and critics. The potential benefits of state police far outweigh the challenges.

“In essence, what the amendment seeks to address will be the powers, responsibilities and limits of the state police should be clearly defined, provide oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse and design a comprehensive framework for federal and state police to work in harmony to balance power and for effective coordination mechanisms.”

Leader of the Senate/Zonal Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele made this disclosure on Saturday at the conclusion of the two-day zonal public hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held at the Water Crest Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

ClearFlair:
There are clear videos of Peter Obi swearing-in Local Government chairmen. APC should focus on their failures of more than 10 years...the fear is too much

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will never become Nigeria’s president.

Wike made the statement on Sunday during a thanksgiving service held at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, in honour of the successful completion of project commissioning by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While addressing the congregation, Wike said Obi’s time had passed and dismissed the possibility of his emergence as president in the future.


Wike said, “They say Peter Obi will be President, President where? Out of emotion, most of you are just following someone you don’t know".


He also accused Obi of not conducting any local government elections while he was the governor of Anambra State for eight years.


“For eight years, Obi was a governor but he never conducted local government elections. Now he is saying that democracy is not working but it worked in his time.

“Only Obi was governor and chairman of all the local governments in Anambra State at the same time. The time has passed, he won’t have the opportunity again”.

The remarks come shortly after Obi, who is part of the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), expressed willingness to serve a single term as president if the coalition’s agreement requires it.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met with a delegation of Gombe State political stakeholders on Saturday to get support for his 2027 presidential ambition.

Mr Abubakar, 78, who will turn 80 by 2027, announced the outcome of his meeting with members of the African Democratic Congress team from Gombe State in a post on X.

Posting a picture of his meeting with a delegation of Gombe stakeholders led by a former minister and Senator Idris Abdullahi, Mr Abubakar said,

“I am further inspired by the Gombe stakeholders’ pledge of total support and loyalty to the decision of the coalition by joining the ADC. I vowed to stand against the stealing of elections and oppose bad governance.’’

Mr Abubakar’s meeting with Gombe ADC stakeholders followed opposition politicians’ adoption of the party to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in 2027.

The former president will be taking his seventh shot at the presidency, having contested the presidency six times.

In 1993, Mr Abubakar contested on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform. After serving two terms as vice president upon return to democracy in 1999, Mr Abubakar in 2007, contested on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform, losing to Umar Ya’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He challenged former President Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP’s primaries in 2011 and lost. After joining the All Progressives Congress in 2014 ahead of the 2015 election, Mr Abubakar lost the presidential primaries to Mr Muhammadu Buhari.

The former vice president returned to the PDP in 2017 and lost the presidential election to Mr Buhari of the APC in 2019. He contested against Mr Tinubu in 2023 and also lost.

The backlog, which spanned years, severely constrained operations, delayed payments to joint venture partners, and eroded investor confidence across the oil and gas value chain.

“This is the first time we have a national energy company focused on production targets, not distracted by unrelated mandates. It’s staffed by the right people in the right places,” Irune said.


“Charity begins at home, and NNPC has begun that charity. They are tackling security, OPEX, and even streamlining contracting processes. The rest of us must align.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has cleared its legacy debts and now operates with improved financial alignment and discipline, a development he described as “a game changer” for indigenous oil producers.

Speaking during a high-powered panel session titled “Harnessing Africa’s Energy Shift – From Acquisition to Optimisation” at the 2025 Nigerian Oil and Gas conference on Wednesday in Abuja, Brown praised NNPCL for its renewed focus on operational efficiency and partnership.

Brown said, “Yesterday (Tuesday), you heard from the GCEO (of NNPC) talking about what NNPC is doing. One of the big things is cash flows and ensuring that, and I will tell you a story. When we listed in 2014, we raised $500m, that is half a billion dollars. And NNPC owed us $550m. More than we raised in our IPO. And that is a thing of the past.”

According to him, the NNPC has since transformed its payment and cash flow structure, creating room for smoother partnerships with independent producers.

“Cash flows have been paid. A very clear line from the NNPC now is alignment. It’s a partnership. And that’s what the indigenous players are bringing to the party here,” he said.

Recall that the NNPC had long struggled under the crushing weight of multi-billion-dollar debts owed to both local and international suppliers of petroleum products.

The backlog, which spanned years, severely constrained operations, delayed payments to joint venture partners, and eroded investor confidence across the oil and gas value chain.

In 2024, domestic and foreign suppliers of petroleum products stopped supplying the commodity due to about $6bn debt.

Reflecting on Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore assets in 2024, Brown said indigenous companies were now better prepared to operate and optimise divested assets.

“So when we completed the Mobil acquisition last year, we were ready for it. The indigenous sector is thriving because we understand the terrain, we engage communities directly, and we play for the long term,” he said.


He added, “When things go wrong, which they inevitably will, we don’t panic. In 2016, our pipeline was shut down. In 2017, we didn’t run away. You can’t run from your own home. That’s the mindset we bring to these prolific assets in the onshore and shallow water offshore space.”

Brown noted that Seplat currently holds 11 blocks, eight of which it operates, across oil and gas terrains, with a growing focus on domestic gas monetisation and exports through LNG and CNG.

“We are already supplying NLNG. But we’re also preparing for LNG projects under development, and we’re investing heavily in domestic gas to meet local demand,” he added.

Also speaking on the panel, the Managing Director, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, Dr Ainojie Irune, lauded the NNPC’s strategic focus and improved collaboration with independent operators.

“This is the first time we have a national energy company focused on production targets, not distracted by unrelated mandates. It’s staffed by the right people in the right places,” Irune said.


“Charity begins at home, and NNPC has begun that charity. They are tackling security, OPEX, and even streamlining contracting processes. The rest of us must align.”

According to him, indigenous companies, once considered fringe players, are now the backbone of Nigeria’s energy future. “Independents have moved from the base of the pyramid to leading Nigeria’s upstream strategy. With a reliable partner like NNPCL, the future is very achievable,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria, Ronald Adams, has announced that the Ubonga North oil project, which reached Final Investment Decision in December 2024, is expected to add up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Nigeria’s production capacity by mid-2027.

madridguy:
President Tinubu should order him to quit his office as the minister of Power so he can face his political career.

You cannot be a minister and still be going around to be a governor. Power sector is a big sector that requires your time, focus and dedication as a minister.

Babangidapikin:
So two years is not enough for the Constitutional Amendment to go through, but Two years was enough to pass a Tax bill , which I hope would allow small upcoming firm breath and I hope they also remove the sanctions on status of company. Not everyone can remember to be filing return when you aren't making money from a company.

Babangidapikin:
What about Baba that won't allow us rest with devolution of power, Oransanye's report .. the only thing he did successfully is removing fuel subsidy which is substituted with electricity subsidy...Oga Atiku and Oga Obi knows the North East never chop , I don't know if I add Ex President Nnamdi Azikwe as the South East eating...

Also, Tanko Yunusa, coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said Obi’s philanthropy and clear message have helped him gain support. “Even the Pantami Emirate in Gombe gave him a traditional title recently. That means a lot,” he said.

As preparations for the 2027 presidential election begin, many political leaders and groups in Northern Nigeria have reacted differently to Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term if elected president.

While some believe his offer is a good step toward unity, others fear it may be another political trick.


Former Jigawa State Governor and top PDP member, Sule Lamido, said he would support Obi if the planned coalition of opposition parties chooses him as their candidate. Although he made it clear that he remains a PDP member, Lamido said that leadership should not be about tribe or region, but about competence and vision. He also said the idea of zoning power between the North and South was created for peace after the annulled 1993 election, but it has now become a problem. “If the coalition picks Obi or anyone ready to rescue Nigeria, I will support them,” he said.

Also, Tanko Yunusa, coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said Obi’s philanthropy and clear message have helped him gain support. “Even the Pantami Emirate in Gombe gave him a traditional title recently. That means a lot,” he said.


Skepticism and Doubts in the North.

Former Minister Ibrahim Nakande said the promise was simply political and questioned whether people from Obi’s region would even allow him to step down after one term.

Alhaji Muhammad Danlami, of the Arewa Youth Assembly, warned that the North had been deceived before, especially by Goodluck Jonathan, who also promised to do just one term but ran again in 2015. “We’ve seen this play before. The North won’t fall for such promises again,” Danlami said.

Some Call for Merit Over Zoning

The Arewa Defence League (ADL), led by Alhaji Murtala Abubakar, strongly disagrees with the idea of zoning or forcing a one-term presidency. He said Nigeria needs leaders based on merit, not regional deals. “The best candidate should win—North or South. Zoning leads to weak leadership,” he said.

Others Prefer Tinubu Finishes Two Terms

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, an elder statesman, said if Nigerians want a Northern president, President Tinubu is in the best position to hand over in 2031 after completing two terms, as the constitution only allows two terms.


While Peter Obi’s promise of a single four-year term has impressed some groups, especially in the Middle Belt, many in the far North remain cautious. Memories of past unkept promises, especially from 2011, make it difficult for some leaders to fully trust him. As 2027 draws closer, it’s clear that the North remains divided over whether Obi’s promise is sincere or just another campaign strategy.

A former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, has said Peter Obi’s proposal to serve only one term if elected president in 2027 is unlikely to gain traction in northern Nigeria.

Speaking during a Channels TV interview on Monday, Sani said the North views power rotation as a matter of balance, not sentiment, and would question why power should remain in the South after President Bola Tinubu.

“Obi can say he’ll do one term, but northerners will ask: after Tinubu, why should power stay in the South?” he said.


Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, had said during an X Space conversation on Sunday that he was open to a single-term presidency if that aligns with his coalition’s zoning arrangement.
But Sani dismissed the idea as unconvincing to northern stakeholders, who still place value on the informal North-South power rotation agreement.

“The principle of eight years North and eight years South still holds. With Tinubu likely seeking re-election, Obi’s offer appears to be a shortcut that won’t sit well in the North,” he said.

He also questioned Obi’s ability to keep such a promise, citing past leaders who reneged on reformist pledges once in power.

“We’ve seen it before. People come in shouting reform and later try to alter the constitution to extend their stay. Peter Obi is no saint; he’s not from another planet,” Sani said.

He argued that the realities of incumbency, state capture, and political pressure make it easy to abandon promises.
“So many people won’t take Obi’s one-term talk seriously,” he added.

“I ask Mr President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC, to make Amaechi’s wife explain how she spent N4 billion naira on training Niger Delta women,” he said. “It was [former Attorney-General] Malami that killed that report. That’s how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist — four billion naira every month to train Niger Delta women,” Wike revealed.

The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress has rejected the opposition party coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, and others.

Musa Matara, the spokesman for ADC, disclosed on Thursday at a gathering of the party’s youth wing.

This comes as Wednesday, Atiku, Amaechi, David Mark, and others adopted ADC as the opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

At the event, a faction of the party led by Raph Nwosu had handed the leadership to the opposition coalition with David Mark as interim chairman and Aregbesola as secretary.

Reacting, Matara said the party’s structure cannot be handed to a coalition of what he described as old people who spoiled Nigeria in the past.

According to him, the ADC youths and members will not succumb to the hijacking of their party in the name of opposition coalition.

He faulted claims by Raph Nwosu that all executives of the party have resigned their positions.

“The Opposition coalition were the people who spoilt Nigerian government in the past.
“They are old politicians who have no ideology. ADC is a party with ideology.

“We don’t want any new members to hijack the party.

“Who appointed the interim national chairman, Secretary and others? Is it the National Executive Committee or the National Working Committee?

“We are still in ADC; we don’t have any other party other than ADC.

“They can come and join us, but not to hijack the party,” he stated.

Earlier, DAILY POST reports that the presidential candidate of ADC at the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, said that the interim said that the emergence of David Mark as the party’s factional interim national chairman is a disservice to Nigerians.

He added that the aim of the opposition coalition was to hand power to Atiku in 2027.