₦airaland Forum

LAGOS — As political parties tidy up their primaries this week, this is not the best of times for opposition parties, whose ambition of stopping President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 elections appears disarrayed by factional squabbles.

Most of the leading opposition parties, with the exception of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and Accord, are producing multiple presidential candidates.

The NDC has former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as sole presidential aspirant and has fixed its primaries for May 29.

Accord has former presidential candidate and business tycoon, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, as sole presidential hopeful.

Factions snarl

Parties caught in the factions snarl include the Social Democratic Party, SDP; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Already, the SDP has two presidential candidates: Prince Adewolu Adebayo of the Prof. Sadiq Gombe-led National Working Committee, NWC; and Abimbola Atanda of the Shehu Gabam camp.

A faction of the ADC, which is loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, on Sunday, chose Kachikwu as ADC’s 2027 presidential standard bearer.


However, the Senator David Mark-led ADC, which is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, held its primaries, yesterday, to pick a candidate from three men — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayattu-Deen.

The outcome of the nationwide primaries was not ready at press time. However, party leaders told Vanguard that the primaries committee, chaired by 2023 APC governorship candidate in Abia and former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Chief Ikechi Emenike, will collate and announce the results today.

The main opposition PDP is also being ferried in the same boat. While the Kabiru Turaki-led NWC has announced former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential aspirant and scheduled the primaries for May 28, the Wike-backed PDP has Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential aspirant.

Also, in the loop is out-going Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who is aspiring on an alliance of the PDP and Alliance Peoples Movement, APM. Makinde belongs to the Turaki camp.

Both factions of the PDP claim victory in a recent Supreme Court verdict on the party’s leadership crisis.

The two factions sold nomination forms for the 2027 polls, with each insisting it is the authentic PDP, developments that will hurt the losing camp at the end of the day.

Duke favoured to pick PRP ticket today

At press time, three presidential aspirants, led by former Cross River State governor, Mr Donald Duke, notable economist, Dr Nnaoke Ufere from Abia State; and Yakubu Kingsley from Edo State were facing the presidential primaries of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, which outcome is expected today, with Duke favoured to emerge as winner.

LP to choose between Agada, Nwigwe May 29

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau State Primaries Electoral Committee, Stella Okotete, has dismissed earlier results announced in the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) House of Representatives primary election, describing them as unauthorized.

The committee also declared Hon Yusuf Gagdi as the winner of the primary election.


Okotete who addressed newsmen in Jos on Monday clarified that only the officially appointed returning officer, Nandom Andrew Kura, has the constitutional authority to declare the results of the primary election.


She stressed that any prior announcements made outside this mandate were invalid and should be disregarded.

Following the clarification, Kura, who served as the duly recognized returning officer, officially declared Yusuf Gagdi as the winner of the APC primary election for the PKK federal constituency, held on Saturday.

Addressing journalists after the declaration, Gagdi insisted that the process was duly conducted across all 36 electoral wards, with evidence including accreditation records, videos, and photographs to support the credibility of the exercise.

He dismissed claims of multiple results, stating that he was only aware of two announcements, one of which has now been confirmed as illegitimate.

Gagdi further alleged that an earlier declaration attributed to one Daspan Ishaya was fraudulent, noting that the individual was not appointed by the electoral committee and therefore lacked the authority to announce results.

“The constitution and guidelines of the party clearly vest the power to appoint election officials in the electoral committee.

Any declaration outside that authority is null and void,” he said.

A Nigerian-born education professor and former nonprofit executive in Michigan, Nkechy Ezeh has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme that diverted funds meant to support vulnerable preschool children in underserved communities.

Ezeh was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou. She also received a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, Ezeh stole taxpayer and donor funds intended for low-income children through the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a nonprofit she founded that provided meals, transportation, advocacy and other services to preschool children in disadvantaged communities.

At sentencing, Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” and said the scheme was “brazen and widespread.”

The judge ordered her to repay $1.4 million to the victims and $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service, and remanded her to prison immediately.

U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey condemned Ezeh’s actions, saying, “Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible.”

“She stole taxpayer and private-donor dollars meant for low-income children in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself,” VerHey said. “The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families.”

Ezeh was widely recognized in Michigan before her conviction. She was named West Michigan Woman of the Year in 2018, served twice on the state’s Early Childhood Investment Corporation Executive Committee, and held tenure as a professor of education.

Prosecutors said she used the stolen funds to finance her lifestyle, pay for a family member’s wedding, and travel to Hawaii, Europe and Africa. They also said she placed relatives on a ghost payroll and used money mules to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars to family members in Nigeria.

The fraud led to ELNC shutting down in 2023, resulting in the loss of support services for needy children and the abrupt layoff of 35 employees.

Ezeh’s former bookkeeper and co-conspirator, Sharon Killebrew, was sentenced in November 2025 to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said the case demonstrates the government’s determination to protect public funds.

“This case underscores the seriousness of misusing federal grant funds for personal gain,” Ethridge said.

“Our commitment to protecting the integrity of HHS programs remains steadfast.”

The case was investigated by HHS-OIG and IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler.

The ruling All Progressives Congress appears to have opened the political space in Rivers State, with indications that the party is positioning a leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to play a decisive role in producing the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

This comes following a closely watched screening exercise where key ministerial allies, including former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda and the state Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, were assessed by the screening committee chaired by APC Deputy National Chairman, Benjamin Nwoye.

However, on Sunday credible party sources with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the issu, disclosed that tension briefly trailed the process as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, received a “cold shoulder” from the governorship screening committee led by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.

One of our correspondents, who was at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the venue of the screening on Sunday, observed that Fubara stormed out of the venue following the alleged cold reception meted out to him by the Yilwatda-led committee.


Reacting, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, who chaired the committee due to the absence of Yilwatda, revealed that reports of the screening exercise would be released soon.

The APC commenced the sale of its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on April 28, with the exercise ending at midnight on May 6.

Screening of serving governors seeking re-election or contesting other elective positions began on May 8 and concluded on May 10.


The party slated May 11 (today) for the release of screening reports, while screening appeals are expected to hold on May 12 and May 13.

The party had earlier adopted both consensus arrangement and direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2025.

The primaries are scheduled to hold in phases, starting with the House of Representatives on May 15, followed by the Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23. Appeal committees are expected to sit after each stage to resolve disputes arising from the exercises.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

INEC also stated that political parties were to conduct their primaries and resolve all related disputes between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

According to the commission, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on September 9, 2026.

Since the commencement of the screening exercise, the committee led by Nentawe Yilwatda, tasked with screening governors seeking re-election as well as those aspiring to contest senatorial seats, has screened several state governors.


Those screened include Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.

Others include the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, and his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori.

The committee also screened Niger State Governor, Umar Bago; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu; and Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, among others.

However, the Governor of Rivers State was notably absent from the screening exercise on Friday and Saturday but appeared on Sunday, spending about seven minutes with the screening committee.

Fubara has been embroiled in a political conflict for close to three years with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over control of political structures in the oil-rich state.

Fubara reportedly obtained the APC governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination forms through a proxy, contrary to Wike’s preference.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had described Fubara as a betrayer and had, on several occasions, vowed that he would not be allowed to return for a second term as governor.


Wike, a factional national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, is in control of both PDP and APC structures in Rivers State through an arrangement he described as “Rainbow Coalition,” and has pledged that his group will produce Fubara’s successor.

Fubara on Sunday, arrived at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge for the screening at about 3.15pm but, less than 10 minutes later, he left the screening room in anger and proceeded directly to his unnumbered SUV parked at the entrance of the venue.

When approached by journalists to comment on how the exercise went, Fubara, who appeared visibly moody, simply said, “No comment.”

One of the sources confirmed to our reporter that Kingsley Chinda and Kelly were screened without any drama, as they are considered allies of Wike.

He stated, “Chinda and Kelly appeared before the screening committee. The screening exercise for the two Rivers State governorship aspirants was, from all indications, hitch-free. In Abuja, they presented their credentials and answered questions like other aspirants. The process was smooth, as both men are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“The two were not previously members of the All Progressives Congress but only recently joined after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. They were directed by Wike to obtain the APC governorship forms.

“Fubara also appeared before the screening committee, but his session was different. He was given a cold shoulder during the process. The party’s national chairman, who ordinarily would preside over the screening of governors seeking re-election or governors that are senatorial aspirants, was notably absent. Although other committee members conducted the exercise, Fubara’s screening was strangely very brief, the shortest among all governors screened.


“I am aware he was asked a few questions, but from the body language of our people and the nature of the interaction, you will know that they are not aligned with him, partly due to his strained relationship with his predecessor, Wike, who now enjoys the support of President Bola Tinubu and even the APC leadership.


“The APC national leadership has given the minister control of the party structure in Rivers State, and that is what the Presidency wants. With that arrangement, either Chinda, Kelly, or any other candidate endorsed by Wike would emerge as the party’s governorship candidate. This screening is a pointer to that fact, as the aspirants are dominated by his men.”

When approached after the exercise, the National Secretary of the APC and Secretary of the Screening Committee, Ajibola Basiru, disclosed that the report would be released soon.

He stated, “Every aspirant must appear before the screening committee; of course, it is necessary as part of the process. After the exercise, the screening committee will issue its report.

“As at now, the screening committee, when it has completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, will now sit down and come up with a report on the screening. As at now, there is no report from the screening committee.”

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, and his deputy, Duro Meseko, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls at the time of filing this report.

In response to inquiries from The PUNCH, an aide to Siminalayi Fubara said the governor did not spend much time at the screening because he was immediately cleared by the committee.

Fubara’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stated, “The governor has been cleared. There was nothing much to ask him, you know, as an incumbent governor. So, he was immediately cleared and asked to take a bow and go.”

When asked why he appeared unhappy and declined to speak to the media after the screening, he said, “Everyone has the right to speak or not to speak to the press and there is nothing wrong with that. What is important is that the governor has been cleared by the committee.”

In a related development, a Taraba governorship aspirant, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, said he was screened for the position and described the exercise as a positive experience.

He commended APC officials, noting their competence and humility, and expressed satisfaction with the process.

Sambo, who is contesting against the incumbent Governor Agbu Kefas in the APC primary, said he preferred direct primaries, describing them as more democratic and a test of popularity.

He stated, “Direct primary is more democratic, and it tests your popularity. So, if you are good, you win outright. In brief, and most importantly, you come out a winner. Other contestants should be able to come together and work with you to build a great party and a great future for the state.

“I am for development, especially infrastructure. The few months I spent as Minister of Transportation in the last dispensation is a testament to what I can do. Taraba residents will tell you that. And I will do it as governor, even much better.”


Similarly, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and a Kwara governorship aspirant, Professor Abubakar Sulieman, described his screening by the APC committee as smooth and thorough.

Speaking on the mode of primaries, Sulaiman backed consensus arrangement provided the party sets clear benchmarks for evaluating aspirants.

He stated, “What Kwara should expect is already known to the people because it is not about rhetoric or theories. What I have done before and what I am doing currently speak for me. I was the Minister of National Planning, and my records are there. I was a lecturer at the university, and my students can attest to my character and capacity. I have also spent seven years as Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, and my scorecards are there for people to see.

“Talk about youth inclusivity, gender inclusivity, infrastructure, human capital development, and workers’ welfare — my records are there for people to assess.

“So, based on what they see, feel, and have experienced under my leadership where I have worked and where I am working now, Kwara people should decide.”

Also, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and a governorship aspirant, Yakubu Salihu, expressed confidence in his ambition, saying he believes God will guide him to success. Reacting to claims that he is an “anointed candidate,” Danladi said he would welcome such support and pledged to move Kwara State to the next level if elected.

Meanwhile, a Bauchi State governorship aspirant, Nura Manu, described his screening by the APC committee as interactive and productive.


Speaking on his proposed N100bn fund, Manu clarified that the initiative was not designed for security operations as widely speculated.

According to him, the fund is intended to support the commercialisation of agriculture and boost small-scale enterprises as part of his broader development agenda for Bauchi State.

On the issue of consensus arrangements ahead of the party primaries, Manu said he was unaware of any such move in Bauchi State.

He stressed that he had been preparing fully for the election and had no intention of stepping down for any aspirant.

On his part, an APC Plateau State governorship aspirant, Commander Yilchini Jan Bida (retd.), described the screening exercise as transparent and reflective of the party’s commitment to internal democracy.

The retired military officer also expressed confidence in emerging as the party’s governorship candidate, insisting that Plateau people were solidly behind his ambition.

He stated, “I[b] am very confident that there is going to be a direct primary. They have handed over the power to the people to decide who becomes the next governor. So, Plateau people are behind me. They are waiting for me to return home, and hopefully, I will be sworn in as Governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2027.
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“If you look at what is happening now, you can see the excitement on the Plateau. When I picked up my forms, the people of Plateau celebrated and jubilated with me because they know my capability. When I submitted my forms, they also celebrated. And I can assure you that this (Sunday) evening there is going to be celebration on the Plateau because I was screened successfully. Plateau people are waiting for me, and hopefully we will all smile in victory when I emerge from the primaries.”

ABUJA, FCT

APRIL 20, 2026

PRESS STATEMENT

APC RELEASES TIMETABLE FOR 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections.

This is contained in the Schedule of Activities signed by the Party’s National Organising Secretary, His Excellency Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, OFR. The timetable outlines, among other activities, timelines for screening, appeals, and primary elections, as well as directives on the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms.

The APC reassures members, stakeholders, and Nigerians of its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent primary election that will further strengthen the Party’s internal democracy and consolidate its progressive ideals.

Signed:

Felix Morka, CON
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)

Details have emerged on how President Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress, are building a movement to secure bloc votes from the South and North-Central regions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Insiders at the APC secretariat said the move was designed to guarantee victory for the President despite growing resistance from some parts of the North.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that the plan, described by one principal party official as a “materialising countermeasure”, began more than five months ago.

The strategy, the official explained, was conceived after intelligence reports indicated potential political threats from the core North and the emergence of the African Democratic Party-led coalition of opposition leaders.


The party chieftain named the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru; and the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, as the brains behind the plan.

Northern resistance

Over the past few months, top northern groups, particularly the Northern Elders Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum, have expressed displeasure with Tinubu’s administration, declaring that they might not support him for a second term.

The groups have, at different times, accused Tinubu of marginalising the region in political appointments, project distribution and efforts to tackle insecurity.

Similarly, political figures such as a former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman; and other loyalists of the late President Muhammadu Buhari have been mobilising northerners against the President.

Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission show that of the 8,794,726 votes Tinubu polled in 2023, 5,346,686 came from the North, underscoring how crucial the region remains to his political survival.

Tinubu won six northern states: Jigawa, Zamfara, Kogi, Niger, Benue and Borno, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, polled 5,229,473 votes in the region, winning Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba states.

South, North-Central as power base

To cushion the effect of northern pushback, findings showed that the APC has intensified efforts to consolidate Tinubu’s control of the South and the North-Central.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the APC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the ruling party’s game plan was designed to ensure that all states in the South are secured for Tinubu in 2027.


“The motive behind this move is that no opposition should win any state in the South, to guard against what we experienced in 2023,” he said.

In 2023, Atiku won Osun, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states in the South with 637,196 votes.

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, won Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Cross River and Edo states.

The party source said the goal was to flip those states won in the South through “targeted alliances, elite outreach and federal influence”.

The source attributed the recent defections of PDP governors in the South to the “materialisation of the countermeasure”, saying everything was in place for the APC to win the region.

“The team has successfully delivered the South to the President. There is nothing stopping us from winning all the southern states. Except for Abia and Oyo, all other states in the South are now with the APC.

“The Governor of Osun State declared support for Asiwaju (the President) and was willing to join the APC. Once we secure the targeted bloc votes in the South, we are 50 per cent down the victory line,” the APC official said.


When contacted to give more insight into the APC’s moves to win the key Southern and North-Central states lost in the 2023 presidential election, the party’s National Secretary, Basiru, simply said, “I don’t discuss strategy on the pages of newspapers. Thank you.”

Efforts to get further reactions from the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, proved abortive as he did not pick calls or respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

Aside from losing nine Southern states, including Lagos, Tinubu also lost key North-Central states in the 2023 election, with Peter Obi winning Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a senior APC official said the party had, over the past few months, made strategic moves to reclaim the lost North-Central states ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The source said, “According to the plan on the ground, the North-Central is targeted to be the final straw that will break the camel’s back. I am aware that the team has commissioned some individuals in the region to ensure that the President secures bloc votes from there.

“Once we secure the South and the North-Central, whatever votes any opposing candidate gets from the North-East and North-West will be neutralised, and we will carry the day. Do not forget that the Vice President is from Borno, and there are efforts to ensure substantial votes from Kaduna State. The team is working hard to deliver as planned.”

Party eyes 90% votes


Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said leaders of the party from the region were working “hand in hand with the Presidency and the APC national secretariat” to ensure the region is delivered for the APC in 2027.

He said the target of the APC leadership was to secure 80–90 per cent of the region’s votes for the President.

Zazzaga said, “We have been engaged in different consultations. We are meeting with clerics, youth organisations and other groups. The task is to deliver the North-Central for the President, and we are all working to give him a massive vote.

“Since the commencement of democracy in 1999, we have not had any president who has given the North-Central special treatment like Tinubu. He has been fixing our infrastructure and has given us many juicy appointments.

“We have the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC National Chairman. With our ongoing efforts, we are going to give him 80–90 per cent of our votes.”

Asked if the Presidency or the national secretariat was coordinating the task, Zazzaga said, “We are working hand in hand with the national secretariat and the Presidency.”

He added that some businessmen and other notable individuals in the North-Central were involved in the task of delivering the region for the President.

Zazzaga also expressed optimism that a candidate from the North-Central would succeed Tinubu after his second term in 2031.

APC’s ‘empty strategy’ will fail — PDP, ADC, NNPP

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, the African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria People’s Party have described the ruling APC’s strategy as empty, saying it will not translate into victory.

Speaking with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the APC was “living in self-deception.”

He argued that the party’s declining popularity and poor governance record had alienated it from the people.

“They (APC) are just deluding themselves. They know they have lost the people. That is why they are trying to create the impression that they have control of more states,” he said.

Abdullahi noted that even the APC National Chairman had publicly admitted that many governors in the party had failed to deliver good governance despite unprecedented revenue inflows.


“Even their chairman recently said the governors have not governed well and that the people should hold them accountable. These governors have collected more money than most governments in Nigeria’s history, but there is hardly anything to show for it,” he stated.

Abdullahi questioned the ruling party’s confidence in its governors, describing them as political liabilities rather than electoral assets.

“Is it the same governors they are banking on to win the next election? How many of them can stand before their people and convince them where to go?” he asked.

Abdullahi also dismissed the wave of defections to the APC, saying such moves were driven by personal ambition, not genuine support for the party’s ideals.

“Those governors joining their party know why they are doing so. It is not because they believe in the APC. We are not worried about them at all,” he said.

The ADC spokesman maintained that the 2027 elections would be determined by the people’s experiences under the current administration, not by political alignments or state-capture tactics.

Similarly, the PDP accused the APC of attempting to stifle opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such a strategy threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, condemned the ruling party’s approach.

He said, “The APC is trying to make sure that many of the opposition parties do not have candidates in the 2027 election, and this is not good for our democracy.”

He stressed that opposition parties play a crucial role in strengthening democratic governance and must not be allowed to “die.”

Ememobong also criticised the APC for what it described as actions that “obfuscate the political oxygen” necessary for a healthy political environment.

“The ruling party should allow the people to be the ultimate determinant of the party they want in power. The beauty of democracy is having viable, different political parties engaging in healthy competition,” he said.

On its part, the NNPP said the APC would lose the 2027 elections despite the growing number of governors and political heavyweights within the party.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said the 2027 election would be a contest between the people and the APC.


He criticised governors who switch parties amid widespread economic hardship, noting that many Nigerians struggle to afford basic medical care.

“Knowing the APC and those who are there, one is not surprised that they will do anything possible to try to win elections. However, having all the governors does not guarantee victory. What will determine the election is whether the people of Nigeria will rise, organise themselves and defeat the APC at the polls.

“Even if people intend to rig and are taking steps towards it, when they are confronted with massive voter turnout, it becomes more difficult and even impossible. It will be clear to the world when any announced result runs contrary to the votes and mandates of the people.

“So, 2027 is going to be an election between the people of Nigeria and those they see as despotic or as winning and dining at the expense of the people. For every governor that defects, the people increasingly tag politicians as being against them. They are just doing what they want.

“They do not care about the people. How do you explain a governor defecting to the ruling party when people cannot afford basic medical drugs, the cost of medication or hospital care?

“The opposition stands a chance of defeating the APC in 2027 because there is still time to organise and take the fight to the APC. The election will be the people against the APC. The people themselves will speak,” Johnson said.

FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, officially joined the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the coalition-backed party he has aligned with ahead of the 2027 elections.


Coming exactly 130 days he resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a party on which platform he unsuccessfully ran for the presidency twice, ADC is the sixth party he would be joining in 38 years.

Having lost the presidency at younger ages multiple times, Atiku, who turned 79 years on November 25, will be 81 in 2027, causing pundits to wonder if he would get it right and realise his dream as an octogenarian.

Ending APC’s misrule

Atiku, who registered as a member of the ADC at his Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, said it was “the beginning of moves marking a decisive national rescue mission aimed at ending the misrule of the All Progressives Congress, APC.”

According to him, his official entry into the ADC signaled the start of a strategic political realignment to unseat the APC, adding that Nigeria was facing an unprecedented governance and leadership crisis that had reached a tipping point

Atiku boasted that his registration marked the beginning of a coordinated effort to rescue Nigeria from the rudderless leadership that has brought the country to the brink. He said that APC’s ineffectual leadership had exposed Nigeria to dangers that put the citizenry at the receiving end of existential crises threatening to consume the world’s largest black nation.

He urged Nigerians to rise above ethnic and religious sentiments and join “a national vanguard” dedicated to restoring stability, prosperity, and good governance.

Atiku can’t fix Nigeria – Oshiomhole

Pooh-poohing Atiku’s move, former National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, said the former vice president lacked the capacity to lead Nigeria because he could not build the PDP.

“If Atiku, as a former vice president under PDP could not fix the PDP, he could not reconstruct it, he could not provide leadership and use his influence which he had built, how can you lay claim to fix Nigeria?” Oshiomhole asked on a Channels TV programme.

Oshiomhole’s weaponising noise to mask APC’s failures – Atiku

However, in a counter, Atiku accused Oshiomhole of “weaponizing noise to mask the catastrophic failures” of the APC.

In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, the ex-VP said Oshiomhole had no moral standing to question his leadership credentials, and advised Oshiomhole to “check the mirror before speaking.”

Shaibu argued that Oshiomhole was attempting to distract Nigerians from “the monumental failures of the APC, the very party he helped foist on Nigeria, and the same party that has driven the country to its worst state in decades.”

Dismissing Oshiomhole’s remarks as “a tired distraction,” Shaibu said that Atiku, as Vice President, was neither national chairman of the PDP nor a dictator presiding over a one-man political empire, adding, unlike the APC, the PDP was never run as a “private estate controlled from Bourdillon,” and that Atiku operated within a democratic institution where decisions were not “tele-guided by one individual.”

“If Oshiomhole seeks the man who ‘fixed a party’ into a personal empire, he needs only look at the godfather he serves. Under the APC, party supremacy died, dissent was criminalised, and institutions of state became partisan weapons. That is the only kind of ‘fixing’ Oshiomhole understands. Oshiomhole represents the failure of a party that betrayed the hopes of millions. He should sit this one out,” he stated.

How far can Atiku go?

For many people, Atiku is easily remembered as former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP but the political odyssey of the retired Customs officer predated 1999 when he became Vice President. It stretches back into the turbulent transition years of the early 1990s. Even before 1992, Atiku had cut his political teeth.

After serving for two decades in the Nigeria Customs Service, he began to align himself with key figures of the People’s Front of Nigeria, PFN, a political movement steered by late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

By 1989, he was National Vice-Chairman of the PFN and a delegate to the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution.

In the run-up to Nigeria’s ill-fated Third Republic, Atiku contested in the Social Democratic Party, SDP presidential primaries but was prevailed upon by Musa yar’Adua to step down for late Chief MKO Abiola mid-way This early setback did not deter him; instead, it reinforced his resolve to navigate Nigeria’s treacherous political terrain.

PDP sojourn

With the return of democracy in the late 1990s, Atiku played a central role in building what would become the PDP). By 1998, he had won the governorship election in Adamawa State under the PDP platform.

But before he could assume the governor’s seat, a twist came: General Olusegun Obasanjo, the PDP presidential candidate, chose Atiku as his running mate. The pair won, and on May 29 1999, Atiku was sworn in as vice president, marking a critical chapter in his political journey.

As Vice President, Atiku exercised significant influence. He was appointed Chairman of the National Council on Privatization, and under his stewardship, Nigeria saw aggressive privatization of state-owned enterprises.These reforms left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s economic landscape.

However, his relationship with President Obasanjo soured. In the run-up to the 2003 presidential primaries of the PDP, Atiku had the support of most governors to pick the ticket but after much pressure, he buckled and the way was paved for Obasanjo to pick re-election ticket and eventually won a second term.

By 2006, clashes over constitutional amendments (including a controversial third-term bid for Obasanjo) had driven a wedge between them. That rift would soon trigger a dramatic shift in Atiku’s political alignment.


Atiku’s first defection

In 2006, Atiku made his first major political defection. He left the PDP for the Action Congress, AC, positioning himself as presidential candidate for the 2007 election. His decision was widely seen as a direct consequence of his rift with Obasanjo and frustration within the PDP.

He contested in 2007 under the AC banner but failed to clinch victory. The defeat, however, did not mark the end of his ambitions.

Return to PDP

After just a few years with the AC, Atiku went back to the PDP in 2009. He immediately resumed his quest for the presidency. In2011, he sought the PDP ticket but lost to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

Defection to APC

In 2014, he left with a camp of PDP leaders known as n-PDP for the APC. He sought the party’s presidential ticket but lost to late Major General Muhammadu Buhari, retd, who went on to beat incumbent President Jonathan at the poll, marking the end of PDP’s 16 years reign at Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Second return to PDP


Before 2019, Atiku returned to the PDP and emerged as the party’s presidential candidate but was defeated by Buhari in the general election.

Through these cycles, he developed a reputation as a tenacious political warrior, never far from the centre of power despite repeated setbacks.

Latest move to ADC

Atiku’s latest resignation is the third time he would be leaving the PDP and the fifth time he changed party platforms since 1999.

In July 2025, he resigned from the PDP once again – this time citing “irreconcilable differences” with the party’s trajectory. He aligned himself with a new opposition coalition built around the ADC, a strategic move seen by many as part of his long-term bid to shape Nigeria’s future.

Whether or not he will rescue Nigeria from the APC, using the ADC, as he boasted is a question of time.

Leaders of top south-eastern groups have expressed divided opinions over the move of the Federal Government to transfer a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from a United Kingdom correctional facility to a Nigerian custodial centre.

While some queried the plan which they said was meant to boost President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election chances, others said motives did not matter.

The embattled senator was convicted in the UK for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested by the London Metropolitan Police in June 2022 after a man was presented as a cousin to their daughter, Sonia, in an attempt to facilitate a kidney transplant for her.

The incident led to their conviction under the UK Modern Slavery Act in 2023.

While Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife received four years and six months jail term.

Beatrice was released earlier this year and has since returned to Nigeria.

However, President Bola Tinubu sent a high-level delegation to London to discuss the case of the former Deputy Senate President.

PUNCH Online reported that the Federal Government was seeking arrangements that would allow Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria.

The delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, met with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice to discuss Ekweremadu’s incarceration and the possibility of allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited the Nigerian High Commission in London, where the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, received them.

Speaking on the matter with Sunday PUNCH, the President of the Igbo National Council, Chilos Godsent, questioned the motive and timing of the government’s request, warning against what he described as “political manipulation” or “vendetta” disguised as compassion.

He accused former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of failing to protect Ekweremadu during his legal ordeal in the UK.

Godsent argued that the negligence allowed British authorities to try a sitting senator of the Federal Republic.


He said, “There is one thing that is really not clear: are they bringing him back to Nigeria to set him free or bringing him back to put him on trial, or to let him continue his jail term? These things are not really clear.

“That is why people are sceptical that he can be brought back and then, as part of political vendetta, he might be retried, which is not proper. It is better to allow him to serve his term in the UK, where he was found guilty. Why this time, why this election period? It is because they want to use him to play politics.

“Earlier, if the government had put in efforts for him as a citizen of this country to compel the British government, there wouldn’t have been any need for the UK government to try him as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when this issue took place. That was negligence on the part of the Nigerian government.”

While commending Tinubu for what they described as a “laudable” plan if the intention was to reintegrate Ekweremadu with his family and community, he cautioned that any attempt to use his return for political ends would be condemned.

He raised doubts about the independence of the Nigerian judiciary, expressing fears that Ekweremadu could become a victim of political retribution if transferred at this time.

Similarly, the President of the Ala-Igbo Development Foundation, Prof. Awuzie Unachukwu, questioned the government’s motive.

He said, “If it is appreciated that Senator Ekweremadu should come back having paid his dues for his offence, why does this same government shy away from releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was only asking for self-determination for the Igbos?


“Nnamdi Kanu deserves immediate release if the action of the government in asking for the return of Senator Ike Ekweremadu is not political or a means of mobilising some influential Igbos like Senator Ekweremadu for the President’s 2027 second-term ambition.”

He commended President Tinubu for initiating steps toward the repatriation of the embattled senator. Unachukwu said: “However, he shouldn’t bring him back to Nigeria to serve a jail term in this dungeon of a prison. He suffered for his crime enough. If he is coming back to Nigeria, it shouldn’t be for a jail term,” Unachukwu added.

But the Deputy President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the move was not politically motivated.

Isiguzoro stated, “Ohanaeze is supporting the President and we are at the forefront to ensure that the President repatriates and rehabilitates him. He is a political leader. The President doesn’t hate the Igbo people. Ekweremadu was instrumental to the release of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017.”

“The senator has paid his dues in the region and to Igbo nation. That move is being applauded by us. Ohanaeze will not tolerate anybody who stands to block this move. If the President thinks bringing Ekweremadu will help him stabilise his re-election in 2027, the South-East has no choice than to support. We must be devoid of politics in issues that regard to ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.”

Expressing a similar opinion, the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Abraham Amah, said there was nothing wrong with any administration taking steps it considered appropriate in the interest of justice, humanitarian consideration, or national responsibility.

He stated that Buhari’s inaction did not invalidate Tinubu’s decision to do so now.

Amah added that governance was a continuum, and each administration exercised its judgment based on the realities before it.

“The insinuation that the move is driven by politics does not, by itself, make the action improper or undesirable. In matters like this, motives will always be debated, but what ultimately matters is whether the action aligns with national interest, compassion, and due process.

“What is important here is that a Nigerian citizen who has served the country at the highest legislative levels is in a difficult situation, and if the current government believes it can intervene within the confines of the law and diplomatic norms, there is no justification to condemn such an effort,” he said.

Also, the President-General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, Goodluck Ibem, expressed support for the government to facilitate the return of the embattled senator, saying his return was crucial for the rule of law in the country.

He said, “This move is not just about a singular individual; it is about fostering a sense of justice and integrity that resonates deeply within our community. The people of the South East are committed to a future where justice prevails, and we stand firmly behind the Federal Government in its efforts to uphold these values.

“We urge all stakeholders and members of the public to focus on the broader implications of this process. Our collective goal should be the restoration of justice and creating a political environment founded on transparency and accountability.”

FG to revive Nigeria–UK prisoner transfer programme

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has begun fresh efforts to revive the long-stalled Nigeria–United Kingdom prisoner transfer programme, as part of diplomatic consultations to repatriate Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu’s case reopened talks about the 2014 Nigeria–UK Prisoner Transfer Agreement, which has remained unimplemented more than a decade after it was signed.

The agreement, signed under former President Goodluck Jonathan and then UK Prime Minister David Cameron, was intended to allow convicted nationals to serve their sentences in their home countries.

To support its implementation, the UK funded the construction of a £700,000, 112-bed wing at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre in Lagos, compliant with United Nations standards.

Despite these arrangements, no prisoner has been transferred under the scheme.

The spokesperson for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim AbdulKadir, on Monday told Arise News that discussions with UK authorities to extradite Ekweremadu were still ongoing.

He revealed that a formal request had been submitted for Ekweremadu’s transfer under the existing prisoner exchange framework.


“Consultations are still ongoing with UK authorities on the matter. An appeal for a prisoner exchange for him to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria was tabled before the United Kingdom authorities,” AbdulKadir said.

At the 2025 Nigeria–United Kingdom Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue held in Abuja on October 8, both nations reaffirmed commitment to reviving the agreement.

The joint communique released after the meeting stated that Nigeria had called for a review of the document to ensure alignment with the Nigerian Correctional Services Act of 2019 and to clarify the process, timelines, and detention conditions for transferred prisoners.

The renewed dialogue follows a visit last year by officials of the UK Ministry of Justice to several Nigerian prisons.

The push to operationalise the prisoner transfer agreement comes as Nigeria continues to face severe overcrowding in its correctional facilities.

Over 70,000 inmates are currently housed across the country, many awaiting trial, while frequent jailbreaks have underscored the strain on the prison system.

To tackle congestion, the Federal Government has inaugurated new correctional centres in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other parts of the country, including 3,000-capacity facilities across the six geopolitical zones.

Efforts to speak to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, proved abortive as he declined comment.

Sunflawa:
Please help me with the link to stream the match

Concerns are deepening that Nigeria may be drifting towards a one-party state as the once-dominant Peoples Democratic Party struggles to retain its few remaining strongholds following a wave of defections by its governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The PUNCH reports that four PDP governors in the North are considering switching to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development has sparked fresh anxiety in the opposition party, further weakening the opposition’s structure across the North and raising questions about its future.

The PDP, which held the presidency for 16 straight years after the return to democracy in 1999, now governs just eight of Nigeria’s 36 states — Bauchi, Oyo, Adamawa, Osun, Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara and Rivers — its weakest position in the Fourth Republic.

With recent defections by some of its key governors, including Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State) and Peter Mbah (Enugu State), attention has turned to states such as Plateau, Taraba, Zamfara, and Adamawa, where speculations are mounting that their governors may soon cross over to the APC.

The steady loss of territory — fuelled by defections and political realignments — has emboldened the APC, which continues to attract high-profile converts ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the past months, defections by governors and key party figures have reduced the PDP’s national presence, leaving the opposition battling internal divisions and leadership fatigue.

With the PDP now clinging to just eight states, political watchers warn that Nigeria’s democracy risks losing the balance of multiparty competition that has defined its Fourth Republic.

Analysts say the recent wave of defections — often driven by access to federal power rather than ideology — undermines opposition accountability and weakens institutional checks.

“The ruling APC’s growing dominance is not just about numbers,” said one political analyst. “It’s about perception — that opposition politics no longer pays in Nigeria.”

As the 2027 elections draw closer, the PDP faces the toughest test of its existence: whether it can hold its few remaining strongholds or watch them collapse, one by one, under the weight of political expediency.

‘Govs will defect’

The ruling APC hinted at imminent high-profile defections from the PDP and the Labour Party, with at least four governors reportedly in talks to join the party.

The APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.

Arodiogbu stated that the governors of Plateau, Taraba, Rivers, and Abia (LP) states were among those being courted by the APC and could defect before the end of the year.

“It is a possibility that the Plateau governor will join us likewise his Taraba counterpart. We are also looking forward to receiving Rivers governor, (Siminalayi) Fubara, and Governor (Alex) Otti of Abia State in our midst.

“These are all high possibilities. We expect that to happen in the coming weeks before our congresses. Most of these defections are expected to happen before the end of this year. Once they happen, it will further confirm that the APC remains the dominant and most organised political platform in Nigeria,” Arodiogbu stated.

The APC chieftain explained that the party’s open-door policy and reform agenda had made it increasingly attractive to key political figures across the country.

“The truth is that the APC has become a home for all progressives,” he said.

“We are not just expanding in numbers but in quality leadership. Governors and other political leaders are beginning to see that this is the platform that offers stability and direction for Nigeria’s democracy.”

Arodiogbu said the leadership of the party had created an inclusive atmosphere that encouraged political participation and dialogue.

“The national chairman has made it clear that the APC is not closing its doors to anyone. We are reaching out to people of goodwill who believe in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

He further stressed that the anticipated defections would strengthen the APC ahead of the 2025 congresses and 2027 elections.

Kefas move ‘imminent’

In Taraba, strong indications emerged on Monday that Governor Agbu Kefas may soon abandon the PDP for the APC — a move that could end the PDP’s 26-year uninterrupted rule in the state.

Multiple sources within both parties with knowledge of the matter confirmed that talks were already at an advanced stage, with Kefas’ close allies reportedly reaching out to key APC powerbrokers in Abuja.

“It’s no longer speculation. Consultations are ongoing, and the governor is weighing the timing carefully,” a senior aide to the governor told The PUNCH.

If the move materialises, analysts say it would mark one of the biggest political realignments in Taraba since 1999, giving the governor easier access to federal support for ongoing infrastructure and security projects.

An APC insider in Jalingo described the development as “a homecoming long overdue,” saying the governor’s leadership style and grassroots appeal would strengthen the ruling party’s base ahead of 2027.

“Kefas is a performer. His coming will only make our structure stronger,” the source said.

But within the PDP, unease is spreading. Party loyalists describe the rumoured defection as “a betrayal of mandate” that could decimate the opposition’s hold in the North-East.

“If Kefas moves, PDP will be finished in Taraba. He is the only one still holding the structure together,” a senior party member admitted.

Although the governor has yet to make a public statement, his close allies say his recent political body language — including increased visits to APC-controlled states and meetings with federal officials — has heightened speculation.

For now, Taraba waits, as its 26-year history of PDP dominance stands on the brink of collapse.

Fintiri in talks?

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has built a political reputation for thriving as an opposition figure. In 2007, he won his first major election under the now-defunct Action Congress, defeating a sitting member of the state House of Assembly from the then-ruling PDP.

Fintiri has since sustained that record, winning the governorship in 2019 and 2023 when the APC controlled the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, four months ago, the APC spokesperson in Adamawa, Mohammed Abdullahi, told The PUNCH that discussions were ongoing between the party and the governor.

“It is true there are fruitful discussions still ongoing with our great governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, over his return to his former house (APC),” Abdullahi said.

“I’m optimistic that the Adamawa State governor is coming back to the APC. Our discussions so far have been positive.”

But a PDP chieftain in the state dismissed the claim as “speculative and unrealistic.”

According to him, Fintiri remains the “compass of the PDP” and cannot contemplate abandoning the party “when the world is looking at him as one of the remaining hopes of democracy in Nigeria.”

“You know APC can build bridges where there are no rivers,” he added, “so I’m not surprised by their empty and claims.”

In May, speculations about a possible defection gained traction after Fintiri held a closed-door meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at the Government House, Yola.

Sources told The PUNCH that the meeting, which lasted over four hours, focused on persuading the governor to join the APC along with his cabinet members.

“The governor was offered the opportunity to produce his successor, nominate candidates for National Assembly seats, and choose between a ministerial or senatorial position in 2027,” an aide of Fintiri with knowledge of the matter, said.

Despite these overtures, Fintiri appears firmly rooted in the PDP — a position his aides insist will not change soon.

Mutfwang under pressure

In Plateau State, speculation that Governor Caleb Mutfwang might defect to the APC dominated headlines despite outright denial from both his aides and the state’s political observers.

However, on Saturday, Mutfwang admitted that he was under pressure to join the ruling party, declaring that he had no intention of leaving the party.

Party insiders asserted that top APC officials have been holding talks with the governor in a move to get him to move to the ruling party.

Speaking at an event in Jos, the governor, who is seeking re-election in 2027, said only God and the people who elected him had the authority to decide his political future.

“It’s true that there has been pressure on me,” Mutfwang said. “But I told them only two entities can authorise me to change my party — the God of heaven and you, the people.”

Turning to the audience, he asked, “Have you asked me to go anywhere?” The crowd responded with a thunderous “No.”

Plateau has long been regarded as the heartland of the PDP, having produced all but two governors from the party since 1999. For many residents, the PDP’s return to power in 2023, after eight years of “accidental” APC rule, was seen as a restoration of the state’s political identity.

“Plateau has PDP as its political inheritance. The governor is not moving anywhere,” said Grace Bulus, a resident of Jos.

While some analysts speculate that Mutfwang might seek alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of 2027, others argued that his political base and emotional ties to PDP figures like former governor Jonah Jang make a defection unlikely.

On October 17, Plateau APC leaders publicly rejected any suggestion that the governor could be admitted into their fold.

At a stakeholders’ meeting attended by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, former governors Simon Lalong and Joshua Dariye, and other chieftains, the party resolved to “strengthen internal cohesion” and dismissed talk of Mutfwang’s entry as “unfounded.”

They unanimously adopted a motion moved by former Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, opposing Mutfwang’s possible entry into the APC.

Fuanter stated, “I move the motion against accepting Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang into the APC.”

In response, Mutfwang’s media aide, Gyang Bere, reaffirmed that the governor remained committed to the PDP, saying he had the capacity to win re-election “without switching parties.”

Following the party’s recently concluded state congress that produced new executives under Chief Raymond Dabo — chieftains say the development has consolidated the party base and internal stability.

“We are united and focused,” former governor Jang said after the congress, describing the outcome as “proof that the PDP remains strong in Plateau.”

Mutfwang splits APC

But in dramatic fashion, the North Central APC Forum rejected the resolution passed by leaders of the party in Plateau against accepting Governor Mutfwang to the party.

The forum, comprising stakeholders from APC chapters across the North Central states, said those resisting Mutfwang’s possible defection were acting out of selfish interest rather than for the good of the party.

In a statement on Tuesday, the forum’s chairman and a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, reaffirmed their call on Mutfwang to leave the PDP.

Zazzaga said, “It is not just about gathering to reject Governor Caleb Mutfwang. The real issue is who can win the governorship seat for the party. Among those so-called stakeholders that gathered to reject him, only a few are genuine, capable members.

“For instance, in the previous election, the APC governorship running mate lost his polling unit and ward to the PDP. He got 2,800 votes in his ward, while the PDP got 10,600. Yet, he is among those opposing Mutfwang joining the party.

“Are these people that relevant or trustworthy? They did not vote for Tinubu — they voted for Peter Obi — but are now rushing to Abuja for appointments. It was only the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who won his local government for President Tinubu,” the statement read.

The forum maintained that it was advocating for members who could add value to the party rather than those driven by personal gain.

“We are still calling on Governor Mutfwang to join the APC because of the crisis in the PDP. Those rejecting him cannot even win their polling units. We want to join hands to win Plateau State for Tinubu. It is not about personal interest now; only when you win elections can you talk about interests,” it added.

“Those rushing to Abuja for federal appointments should first present their polling unit results. We promise President Bola Tinubu that after the next election, we will publish the results from each polling unit so he will know who is who,” the statement said.

The Plateau APC had slammed Mutfwang after the governor said he was under pressure to join the APC but the North Central APC Forum maintained that his claim was true, saying some influential figures in the Presidential Villa were backing their calls for him to join the party.

“It is true that Governor Mutfwang has been under pressure to join the APC. We can confirm this because some influential figures in the Presidential Villa are behind our calls for him to do so. We will not relent until we convince him to take this step in the best interest of Plateau State and himself,” the forum stated.

Also, Arodiogbu downplayed any concerns about potential friction with the party’s hierarchy or the immediate past governor.

“The national chairman of the party is from Plateau State. And by all measures, he is the leader of the party nationwide,” he stated.

“So, we will be pleased to have Governor Mutfwang in the APC, and we believe he will bring a lot of good fortune. I really don’t foresee any problem coming from his defection.”

He added, “As I said the APC national chairman is a very democratic person and quite exposed politically. So, I believe it is a situation that we will be able to manage. I don’t think there is going to be any problem.”

PDP members defect

In Zamfara, while the spokesperson to Governor Dauda Lawal on Media and Communications, Mustafa Kaura, dismissed reports suggesting his principal’s possible defection to the APC, recent political developments in the state have continued to fuel speculation that it may only be a matter of time before the governor joins the ruling party.

In the past week, 15 key officials of the PDP in the state, including close allies and supporters of the governor defected to the APC, a move seen by many as a sign of deeper cracks within the opposition party.

Those who left the PDP include former Youth Leader Sahad Dabo, former Treasurer Nasiru Anka, former Organising Secretaries Janaidu Kiyawa and Musa Halilu, former Zonal Organising Secretary Lawali Aliyu, Hajiya Rabi Bakura, Hajiya Amina Duniya, Bashar Kade, a former PDP aspirant for the Kaura Namoda South constituency, and Rilwanu Bello, an ex-councillorship aspirant, among others.

While handing over his PDP membership card, Dabo said he decided to leave because “the party favoured only the rich,” adding, “I am inspired by Senator Yari and (Bello) Matawalle’s leadership to join the winning party.”

Also speaking, Amina Duniya, who said she had spent 25 years in the PDP, urged APC leaders to uphold fairness and justice, pledging to mobilise more supporters for the ruling party.

The defectors were formally presented to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by APC state chairman Tukur Danfulani, Senator Tijjani Yahaya, and Lawal Liman during a ceremony in Abuja last Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, Matawalle said, “The APC will continue to be more united and strong with the current strategy mapped out and its welfare packages being delivered to the people of the state.”

In his remarks, Danfulani welcomed the defectors, assuring them of full integration into the party’s structure. He maintained that the APC “remains open and fair to all those committed to its progress,” and dismissed reports of internal divisions.

“With our recent victory in the state by-election and the calibre of people joining us,” he said, “it is clear that the APC will reclaim Zamfara in 2027.”

However, Kaura insisted Governor Lawal would not dump the PDP.

“The Governor has said it times without number that he would not betray the electorate who voted him to power as Governor under the platform of the PDP. Some people have been spreading rumours that Governor Dauda is planning to dump his party the PDP and join the APC.

“There is no iota of truth in this; as such I want the PDP supporters to disregard this. Governor Dauda Lawal will remain in the PDP and has no intention of joining any other party. He is a true believer who believes in God and whatever God has destined to happen, must happen no matter the party he belongs to.”

Meanwhile, the Government House Gusau has issued a radio jingle in all the radio stations in the state informing residents that the governor would not join APC as widely speculated.

APC reaction

In its reaction, the Zamfara chapter of the APC denied reports that it was planning to receive Governor Lawal into the party.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, said the party would not accept Lawal even if he planned to join the ruling party.

He said, “The Zamfara State chapter of the APC has never approached the PDP or its governor in any way to join the APC.

“APC as a party in Zamfara has never been impressed by the dismal and decimating performance of Governor Dauda Lawal in the state.

“This disappointing position is certainly the stand of the electorate and many other politicians in the state, which was demonstrated at the August 16, 2025 Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly bye-election where the APC overwhelmingly defeated the ruling PDP.

“This was quickly followed by the defection of the PDP candidate, along with his supporters to the APC.”

Idris stressed that the APC did not need Lawal’s patronage to win future elections, adding that, ‘’The PDP is already dead in Zamfara.”

“We don’t need any unpopular person like Governor Lawal to join us in order to win an election going by the recent state assembly by-election in Kaura-namoda south where our party won with landslide victory.”

As the 2027 general elections approach, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is strengthening his political dominance in the South, following a wave of defections by governors and influential politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress.

The development has, however, ignited fears of a one-party state, with opposition leaders condemning the mass movement to the ruling party.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, dismissed the defections as acts of desperation by politicians seeking personal survival.

They declared that the “battle line is drawn,” vowing that Nigerians will “take their pound of flesh” at the polls by voting out President Tinubu APC for allegedly deepening the country’s hardship and decline.

The PUNCH gathered from top APC officials, who are privy to the ongoing political manoeuvring, that more governors from the South would soon declare for the ruling party.

On Tuesday, Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State defected from the PDP to the APC alongside the members of the State Executive Council.

Barely 24 hours later, another PDP governor, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, resigned his party membership.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Daniel Alabrah, disclosed that Diri quit the party along with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and 21 other lawmakers.

The governor later confirmed his resignation during a State Executive Council meeting.

Diri’s departure from the PDP puts to rest months of speculation about his rumoured move to the APC, though Alabrah did not reveal his next political destination.

Diri’s resignation comes just days after the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed concern over the growing number of governors and senior party figures crossing to the APC.

Party insiders hinted that Governors Siminalayi Fubara and Alex Otti of Rivers and Abia States may soon switch to the APC.

Also, Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) and Agbu Kefas of Taraba are reportedly warming up to join the Tinubu-led political camp ahead of 2027.

A senior party official disclosed that Otti, Fubara and Diri are set to defect to the APC, noting that several northern governors were equally preparing to join the ruling party.

He stated, “The APC is attracting them all. I am aware that discussions are ongoing with other PDP governors from the South. Soon, the governors of Abia, Rivers, and even Diri, who just resigned from the PDP, will join the APC.

“This development is not limited to the South, as some governors from the North, particularly the North Central and North East, are already finalising talks to join the ruling party.”

Another party insider explained that Kefas and Muftwang are set to defect to the APC soon.

He stated, “They just want to reduce the influence of the PDP. We are aware they are discussing with the Taraba and Plateau State governors, so they will join others in the APC.”

In recent months, the APC has continued to draw prominent members from the opposition parties, especially the PDP.

Notable defectors include Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

At present, out of the 17 states in Southern Nigeria, President Tinubu’s APC governs Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu.

The Labour Party controls Abia, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance is in charge of Anambra.

The PDP holds sway only in Oyo, Rivers, and Osun states, while Bayelsa is currently not under any party.

In the North, out of 19 states, the APC firmly controls 13 – Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, and Jigawa.

The PDP governs Zamfara, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, and Bauchi, while the New Nigeria People’s Party remains in charge of Kano State.

Speaking in Abuja on Saturday after inaugurating the party’s convention communication sub-committee, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed admitted that the defections had unsettled the party, though he said efforts were ongoing to keep it united ahead of the November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan.

He said, “If you ask me whether I am concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes.”

Wike teases defectors

Reacting to the unfolding situation, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a PDP member, said the mass defection of party leaders and state governors of the main opposition PDP to the ruling APC has justified his support for Tinubu, as those who once criticised him are now members of the APC.

The minister made the statement on Wednesday at the flag-off of the Construction of the Main Carriageways on the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja.

Wike said some of the governors had previously criticised him for destabilising the PDP and working for the APC, adding that the governors should rather commend him for “doing a good job” of paving the way for them to join the ruling party.

“I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I want to destabilise the party, I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them,” he said.

The minister noted that the governors no longer had an excuse, as the “decisive leadership” of President Tinubu had ensured that every state had enough resources to pay salaries and embark on credible projects and activities.

“Let every state be sincere to their people, and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to mention doing projects.

“Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say, ‘Look, don’t throw us away, we are here.’’

“Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before,” Wike said.

He described the decision to defect and support the Tinubu-led administration as “worthwhile”, adding that no governor would leave debts for their successors any longer, as it used to happen before.

“So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody.

“And that’s what this country needs now: Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership that will be able to make decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity,” he said.

Dickson slams Diri

In a swift response, former Bayelsa State Governor, the senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, slammed his successor, Diri, and other PDP governors who recently defected to the APC, accusing them of fleeing from the “problems they created” within the opposition party.

Reacting to Diri’s defection shortly after Wednesday’s Senate plenary, Dickson said he had been consulted several times by the governor on his intention to dump the PDP, but was never convinced there was any compelling reason for such a move, especially by a second-term governor.

The former Bayelsa governor said Nigeria’s democracy could only thrive under a plural political system and warned that the growing trend of defections was gradually turning the country into a one-party state.

“I am where I have been. I am where I am. I don’t believe that Nigeria should be a one-party state. And as a soldier of democracy, I’m used to the ups and downs of democratic practices and political life, especially. I’m still as constant as the northern star, steadfast in the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.

The senator expressed disappointment that some governors and party leaders who contributed to the PDP’s internal crisis were now abandoning the platform instead of providing leadership to resolve its problems.

“I hope that the governors and the leadership working committee who created this mess in our party, all of them, and who, instead of showing leadership, have created this mess and ensured that it have persisted for this long.

“And they are the ones now bailing out after creating the problem that they could not solve or refuse to solve. It’s very sad, very, very sad,” Dickson lamented.

He said the development was “making Nigeria look small” and “belittling the country’s democracy,” adding that true democracy cannot exist without a viable opposition.

“A plural Nigeria can only thrive in a plural democratic environment. I didn’t see any compelling reason for a second-term governor to defect. I am still standing in the PDP that gave my people — the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta — the opportunity to run for election and even become president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This other party cannot do that,” he added.

Responding through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku acknowledged that the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and association, but stated that with the recent defections, the battle line for the 2027 election had been drawn.

In an interview with The PUNCH, he stated, “The Constitution provides for freedom of association. As a democrat, Atiku Abubakar will not dictate to others with whom they associate. Atiku Abubakar may not know the underpinning factors behind why people are making different decisions.

“However, we know for a fact that the Tinubu-led APC has used institutions of the state, including anti-corruption agencies, to intimidate and coerce leaders of the opposition into their fold.

“What is playing out clearly is that a battle line has been drawn. It is Nigerians, long suffering, impoverished, poor citizens who can barely afford to make ends meet, feed their families, send their children to school, or access basic primary healthcare, who will ultimately determine the outcome of 2027.

“The battle line has been drawn. Nigerians are aware of what is playing out. All of these defectors do not have the people’s interest at heart. What they are doing is to preserve and protect their own interests, not those of the people. The battle line is drawn. And people may mock the ADC and say, ‘You don’t have governors, you don’t have senators.’

“What is important, the good news is that they have the people. And these are the people that the Tinubu administration and all of its tendencies seek to make life worse for by the day.

“They can hardly afford to make ends meet. We have them. We have those people. And those people are going to be the determinants. They will decide the outcome of the next election. So, like I said clearly, the battle line has been drawn between Nigeria, between good and bad.”

Obi dismisses fears

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, dismissed fears of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state, saying no political party could “capture” any region simply because a governor defected to it.

Obi stated this in Abuja while reacting to Governor Mbah’s defection to the ruling APC.

The former Anambra State Governor said the idea that a state can be “captured” by a political party through the defection of its leader belongs to Nigeria’s military past.

“The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” Obi said.

“Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine, and I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.”

Obi dismissed the notion that the South-East could be “captured” politically, insisting that leadership in a democracy is about persuasion, not coercion.


“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people,” he said. “You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere.”

“The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” he added.

Also, speaking on behalf of the former Anambra State Governor, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said those defecting to the APC are driven by selfish interests.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Tanko stated that Nigerians would respond in the 2027 elections.

“None of these people who are actually defecting are doing so based on personal convictions. Either they are being coerced or they are trying to protect their seats, knowing full well that the next election may not be based on credibility or the people’s will.

“It will be heavily manipulated and violently induced—violently induced because of the modus operandi of the present holder of the office.

“What you are seeing is not the will of the people; it is rather the intimidation and manipulation of the current holders of office. To them, that is politics, but to us, it is a distortion of our democratic essence. But they should remember that the government is in the hands of the people. They are watching, and they are listening. They will take their pound of flesh in 2027.”

Also, the African Democratic Congress said the recent defection of some state governors to the ruling party confirmed the opposition coalition’s earlier warning that the APC aims to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC stated that the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa betrayed their long-suffering citizens and aligned themselves with those working against the interests of Nigerians.

The statement read in part, “The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress validate the African Democratic Congress’ long-standing warning that President Bola Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, no matter the cost to democracy or national stability.

“While it may seem like the APC has added more governors to its column, in reality, what has happened is these governors have actually abandoned their people to team up with the ruling party that has made life miserable for the majority.

“Nigerians can see the current state of the nation. They live through the APC’s failures every single day. Even those who once campaigned for the APC or had its logo on their social media profiles now avoid association with the party. Why? Because the Tinubu administration has failed on security, failed on economic management, failed on healthcare, failed on social welfare, failed on corruption, and failed to restore Nigeria’s standing in the international community.

“Every day, Nigerians are paying the price for these failures. Food prices continue to increase, jobs are nonexistent, and insecurity continues to choke every part of the country.

“When the ruling party has misgoverned the country, the only hope for the people in a democracy is for the opposition to rise in defence, propose alternative ideas, and lead the people out of their misery.

“This is what Nigerians expected from these governors in opposition. Instead, they abdicated. And in an act of historic political apostasy, they chose to join the grand conspiracy against the Nigerian people. They abandoned their people, not out of conviction but out of cowardice and other selfish considerations.”

It noted that while the ruling party continues to celebrate the defection of these governors, “The ADC and the opposition coalition are equally delighted that the line has been made even clearer between those who are committed to saving the country and those who merely want to join the gravy train.

“The people can see, and they are waiting. 2027 will be a clear battle between the people of Nigeria and President Tinubu and his gang of governors in the APC.”

Enugu PDP

Meanwhile, PDP members in Enugu State have vowed to rebuild their party ahead of the 2027 elections, following Mbah’s defection to the APC.

The governor’s defection sparked mixed reactions, with some residents criticising Mbah’s decision, insisting that it was driven by personal interest rather than the welfare of the people.

“I thank God that they had defected, so we will now come back and rebuild our party, PDP,” said Dr Okey Ozoani, a former PDP State Youth Leader and Vice Chairman.


Speaking in a phone-in radio programme in Enugu on Wednesday, he stated, “I urge all PDP members, the true PDP members, to remain resilient and calm as good things are coming.”

Ozoani questioned the benefits of Mbah’s defection, asking, “Is defecting going to reduce taxes in Enugu State? Don’t you know that Enugu State is the most costly state in Nigeria to live in and highly insecure?”

Nick Ozonsi, a former chairman of Udi Local Government Area and a PDP stalwart, called for a reform of the political system, saying, “What is wrong is what you cannot do in party A, how are you going to do it in party B? Nigerians should take the case of defections seriously.”

A group of academics under the aegis of the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors has urged the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sunday Katung, to defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in what they described as a “strategic alignment” with President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the benefit of their constituency.

The forum, led by Prof. John Laah, made the call while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Sunday.

The scholars argued that aligning with the centre of power would give Southern Kaduna greater access to federal projects and socio-economic development.

Laah, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Kaduna State University, said the group had reached a unanimous position after extensive consultations within and outside Southern Kaduna.

“For us to achieve the best for Southern Kaduna, it is good for our senator to align very well with the party that can help deliver the dividends of democracy."

“We felt that teaming up with the APC, given the generosity of President Tinubu towards Southern Kaduna—doing what has never happened before—is the right step forward,” Laah said.

He cited the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and the Federal Medical Centre in the area as examples of President Tinubu’s “unprecedented” interventions in Southern Kaduna since taking office.

“Mr President has shown goodwill by siting major federal institutions in our zone, and more things are being planned. We believe that for Senator Katung to ensure continuity and attract even more projects, he should align fully with the President and the APC,” he added.

The professor noted that the call was not about partisan loyalty but pragmatic politics that could unlock development for one of the state’s most underdeveloped regions.

“This is not about abandoning principles. It’s about strategy and results. Southern Kaduna has long been on the margins of power, but the current administration has opened doors of opportunity. We think our representative should seize that moment,” he said.

Laah disclosed that members of the forum had interacted with local leaders, community associations, and youth groups across the eight local government areas of Kaduna South.

According to him, the majority of people at the grassroots expressed support for the senator but shared concerns that the PDP had lost focus and organisational strength in the state.

“The people at the grassroots have always said that the senator has done well. However, remaining in the PDP is becoming a challenge because of the lack of proper structure and leadership that can engage effectively with the federal government,” Laah said

He added that the forum’s position was not to undermine Katung’s achievements but to consolidate them by urging him to join the ruling party, where he could enjoy more political leverage.


“We do not want the senator to reach this level of achievement and remain hanging on a tree,” he stressed. “Sincerely speaking, it is time for him to move to the APC so that Southern Kaduna can benefit maximally from federal presence.”

Despite their call for political realignment, the professors praised Senator Katung for his performance in the National Assembly.

They said his legislative efforts and constituency projects had earned him respect across party lines.

Laah disclosed that the forum would mobilise academic and community stakeholders to support the senator’s re-election bid in 2027, regardless of party affiliation.

“As a forum, we have resolved to mobilise support for Senator Katung’s second term because of his tangible achievements and his inclusive approach to representation,” he said, while adding that “but for him to do even better, it will be politically wise to move to the centre.”

The academics also commended President Tinubu for what they called his “visionary outreach” to previously neglected areas in Northern Nigeria, particularly Southern Kaduna, which has historically complained of marginalisation and uneven development.

“It is the first time in recent history that a federal administration is deliberately locating institutions and projects in Southern Kaduna without political bias,” Laah added. “We are grateful, and that is why we think it is time our political leaders reciprocate in the spirit of partnership.”

The PUNCH online reports that Senator Sunday Katung, a lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, was elected in 2023 under the platform of the PDP.

He currently chairs a key Senate committee and has sponsored motions on youth employment, security, and rural infrastructure.

However, analysts say the call from the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors may reflect growing disillusionment within the PDP structure in Kaduna State, especially following the defection of some of its top members to the APC in recent months.

Wike Boycotts Council Of State Meeting Amid Rift As Tinubu Snubs His Candidate, Appoints Amupitan INEC Chairman | Sahara Reporters


The appointment of Joash Amupitan as Nigeria’s new INEC Chairman has deepened the growing rift between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, further exposing the fragile alliance at the heart of the administration.

According to insider accounts, the disagreement has become so severe that Wike boycotted the Council of State meeting in protest, sending the Minister of State for the FCT in his place.

He is also believed to have reached out to several former Nigerian Heads of State, urging them to stay away from the meeting, a move that widened the cracks already visible within Tinubu’s inner circle.

Wike’s political decline began shortly after human rights activist Omoyele Sowore publicly exposed his undeclared real estate holdings in Florida, USA.

These revelations sent shockwaves through his family and political network. Before the exposé, Wike had just returned from a medical trip to the UK, where he reportedly received treatment for a heart infection.


Energized and combative, he resumed his long-standing feud with Governor Sim Fubara, his political protégé-turned-adversary, after orchestrating efforts that removed him from office for 6 months.

However, Wike’s renewed confidence soon crumbled. During one of his public tirades, he threatened Sowore for calling President Tinubu “a criminal,” a remark Sowore made on social media in response to Tinubu’s infamous statement in Brazil that there was “no corruption in Nigeria.”

Wike’s arrogant claim that Sowore was “lucky Tinubu believes in the rule of law” and would one day encounter someone who did not only inflamed the activist’s resolve.

The confrontation prompted Sowore to release damning evidence of Wike’s corruptly acquired foreign and hidden local assets, igniting widespread outrage and drawing the attention of the Presidency itself.

In the aftermath, Tinubu’s trusted advisers began to reassess Wike’s role in government, concluding that he had become too erratic and politically toxic to be trusted with sensitive national matters.

Wike had reportedly pushed hard for Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, a justice of the Court of Appeal, to be appointed as INEC Chairman.

He secured clearances for him through several security agencies, confident that Tinubu would approve.

But following mounting skepticism within the Presidency, Liman’s candidacy was quietly dropped. SaharaReporters learnt that Liman and Wike are so close that he once blocked security agencies from searching his house in 2016.

Tinubu instead appointed Joash Amupitan, a lawyer and legal scholar from the University of Jos. Tinubu is said to have told close aides that Wike was “too unstable and untrustworthy” to influence the leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body.

The breakdown of trust soon extended to media control and censorship. After Governor Fubara’s reinstatement, Tinubu reportedly ordered Wike to suspend his monthly media briefings, arguing that his combative tone was damaging the administration’s image.

Furious, Wike appealed to Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, warning that silencing him would only “make Sowore too powerful.”

The exchange reflected the degree to which Sowore’s exposés had undermined Wike’s standing within the Presidency.

Amid the turmoil, Wike allegedly approached the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to amend his asset declaration, seeking to include the properties exposed in Florida and elsewhere.

But officials reportedly told him that the original documents had been forwarded to the EFCC, leaving him politically vulnerable and deeply unsettled and betrayed.

His growing frustration culminated in Thursday’s Council of State meeting, where most former Heads of State conspicuously boycotted the session.

Presidency insiders suggest Wike played a role in orchestrating the boycott to demonstrate his displeasure with the appointment of Amupitan.

According to sources, the meeting’s agenda initially made no mention of an INEC appointment, but Tinubu allegedly sprung a surprise by asking the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, to present Amupitan for confirmation.

Caught off guard, attendees had no choice but to endorse the appointment.

The unfolding drama marks a new phase in the uneasy relationship between Tinubu and Wike. What began as a strategic alliance built on mutual political convenience has now morphed into a cold war of influence, suspicion, and retribution.

The stage is now set for the president to announce a new chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday, ended his 10-year tenure as head of the electoral body.

Shortly before Yakubu bowed out, indications emerged that the presidency had zeroed in on three persons, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan; Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, and Professor Lai Olorede, as possible replacement.

A presidential source told Daily Trust last night that conclusions had been made and that Amupitan is leading the list of the likely people to replace the former INEC chairman.

Professor Yakubu had after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the commission’s head office in Abuja, stepped down and handed over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a national commissioner at the commission who has taken over in acting capacity.

The immediate past INEC chairman explained that he was stepping down to enable his successor settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities.

“I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, “ he stated.

Another source told this newspaper that Professor Yakubu initially wanted to leave around June ahead of the expiration of his tenure but was advised to remain in office until now.

Daily Trust gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would table the name of his new nominee for the position before members of the National Council of State at a meeting slated for Thursday.

The name of the new INEC chairman is expected to be announced after the meeting.

Barring last minute alterations, Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is reportedly favoured for the position.

Amupitan

He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos.

Born on April 25, 1967 in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a Professor of Law with specialisation and experience in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law and Privatisation Law and has taught in the university for years.

When contacted, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kinsley Fanwo, declined to comment on the news making the rounds that a professor from the state is being considered to succeed the former INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

He said: “A government doesn’t comment on rumours”.

Former member of the House of Representatives, Timothy Golu, who said he has known Amupitan for over ten years, described him as a well-respected lecturer and astute administrator.


He said while he was a student at the University of Jos, Amupitan was one of the lecturers students could approach easily at any time.

“So, I have no doubt that he would discharge the duties credibly if it is true that he is being considered,” he said.

Professor Amupitan has held several academic and administrative positions including representative of the Faculty of Law in several boards in the University of Jos; Head of Department, Public Law; Dean, Faculty of Law; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors, Member, Governing Council, University of Jos and Member, Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies as well as Council of Legal Education among many others.

He is member of several professional bodies and associations including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and National Association of Law Teachers.

Professor Amupitan’s research interests are diverse and wide ranging from providing the Legal Framework for the Privatization of Public Enterprises in Nigeria, Reform of Electoral Laws in Nigeria to the Reform of Privatization Law in Nigeria and Petroleum Industries Law Reform in Nigeria among others.


He has over 50 journal, book chapter, conference, monograph, case review and research report publications and has contributed to the successful execution of a number of national and internationally funded projects.

Liman

Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman is a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal.

Liman, according to reports was born on in 1959 and became a lawyer in 1984. He hails from Nasarawa State. He has been a judge for over 25 years.

He has been associated with a number of high-profile cases including his ruling that temporarily restrained the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano, and his orders halting the suspension and arrest moves against former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Lai Olurode

Professor Lai Olurode is a sociologist, academic and first-class graduate of Sociology from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos State.

He also studied Law at the UNILAG where he obtained LL.B in 1990. He was called to the Bar in 1991.

He joined the UNILAG in 1980, and became a professor of Sociology in 2000. He served as Head of Department and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

He taught for over 40 years of teaching, before retirement and was appointed as National Commissioner of the INEC on June 30, 2010, overseeing Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States.

Daily Trust further learnt that Yakubu had long cleared his desk and had prepared his hand over note and was only waiting for the appropriate signal to leave.

A reliable source in the commission told our correspondent that Yakubu had concluded all arrangements for the Anambra elections and that his exit would not have any negative impact on the exercise.


He said: “There were 13 items in the process and Yakubu had done all except two which are; to end campaigns and the election itself.”

Former INEC director, Mr Nick Dazang, when contacted said with the convening of the Council of State by the President on Thursday, “it means we are likely to know his probable successor before next week. I don’t think his departure will affect the work of the commission.”

He added: “The commission is a continuum. It is also an Executive Body as established by Section 153 of the Constitution. There will be thus no challenge for the Commission to form a quorum and to carry out its mandate. Besides, the Commission is ably complemented by Resident he Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Secretary to the Commission and Directors/Administrative Secretaries who are the engine room and institutional memory. In time past, similar transitions have taken place seamlessly even when off-cycle governorship elections were afoot.”in

Longest serving chairman

Prof Yakubu is the only chairman of the electoral body to do a two-term tenure of ten years.

He is also the third chairman to complete his tenure in office as most of his predecessors were either swept away by controversies or made to go with the ouster of the administration’s that appointed them.

Nigeria has had six different electoral bodies and a total of 14 chairpersons and one in acting capacity.

Six of them, Michael Ani, Eme Awa; Humphrey Nwosu; Okon Edet Uya; Sumner Dagogo Jack and Ephraim Akpata served under military regimes.

Ani and Akpata had tenures that overlapped as among those that served under military governments, only the two of them were able to conclude elections and ensure transition to civil rule.

Eyo Ita Isua; Victor Ovie Whiskey; Abel Guobadia; Maurice Iwu; Attahiru Jega and Mahmood Yakubu all served under civilian administrations.

Guobadia is remembered as the first chairman to serve out his full tenure.

Professor Yakubu, who succeeded Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman in 2015, is the first to be reappointed for a second term, making his tenure the longest in the commission’s history.

The appointment of Mbu, makes it the second time a woman is acting chairman of the commission. When Jega retired in 2015, then President Muhammadu Buhari named Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman, making her the first woman to lead INEC.

The acting chair

Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, is a National Commissioner at INEC. She’s a lawyer by training with over three decades of professional experience,

From Delta State, Agbamuche-Mbu’s attended St. Louis Secondary School, Kano, before proceeding to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1984. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 and later qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales after completing studies at the College of Law, London.

Agbamuche-Mbu also holds a Master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, as well as postgraduate qualifications in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law

Agbamuche-Mbu was confirmed as a National Commissioner of INEC in 2016.

She is a certified arbitrator and former Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria). As editor of THISDAY LAWYER, she wrote over 120 editions of her widely read “Legal Eagle” column from 2014 to 2016, influencing public discourse on law, governance, and policy.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit from INEC.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that Prof Yakubu had in a letter dated October 3, 2025, thanked the president for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.

“President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.

“In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu has bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger(CON)”, the statement added.

President Tinubu also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.

The presidency recalled that the tenure of Yakubu, who was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years and was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.

Process of appointing INEC chairman

Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the appointment of an INEC chairman is the exclusive responsibility of the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Section 154(1) provides that “the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be made by the President and shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.”

Paragraph 14 of Part I of the Third Schedule further stipulates that the appointee must be a person “of unquestionable integrity” and not less than 50 years of age.

And after the selection by the president, the Senate must screen and confirm the nominee before appointment, and in doing this, the Senate conducts a confirmation hearing to assess the nominee’s qualifications, integrity, and suitability.

If the Senate approves by a simple majority, the nominee is confirmed. After confirmation, the President formally appoints and swears in the new INEC Chairman.

The INEC Chairman serves a five-year term, renewable once (maximum of 10 years). This is provided under Section 3(1) of the INEC (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2010.

Also, the President cannot remove the INEC Chairman unilaterally. Removal can only occur based on an address supported by a two-thirds majority of the Senate, and only for reasons such as misconduct, inability to perform functions, or conviction for an offence (see Section 157 of the Constitution).

Speaker calls for speedy conclusion of electoral reforms

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has charged lawmakers to prioritise the conclusion of ongoing electoral reforms well before the 2027 general elections to ensure a credible, transparent, and less contentious process.

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Speaking on Tuesday as the House resumed plenary after its 2025 annual recess, Abbas emphasised that finalising the amendments to the Electoral Act early would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and guarantee smoother electoral administration.

He said the Electoral Act Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly seeks to address key flaws observed in previous elections, including violence, litigation, and ambiguities in timelines.

“We must finalise electoral reforms well ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill seeks not only to strengthen measures against violence, improve access for persons with disabilities, and establish clearer timelines for resolving disputes, but also to reduce the ambiguities that trailed the last elections,” he said.

According to Abbas, the proposed reforms will make elections “less contentious and litigious,” while lowering costs through the introduction of single-day voting and more transparent party primaries.

The Federal Government on Tuesday reeled out a slew of new incentives to attract agricultural investment, which it said could create 21 million jobs in the country.

It also pledged reforms to expand irrigation, improve access to credit and create millions of rural jobs under President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda.

Vice President Kashim Shettima outlined the plans at the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s National and Subregional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, calling hunger “the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence.”

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of Tuesday’s meeting in a statement titled, ‘More incentives farmers as FG unveils new agric investment incentives.’

The measures include single-window platforms for land registration, strengthened agricultural credit systems, large-scale mechanisation, and strategic irrigation projects.

Tuesday’s unveiling comes as rising food prices and climate shocks have intensified calls for long-term investment in the sector.

Nigeria has been under pressure to cut its reliance on imports and address food insecurity, which worsened after fuel subsidy removal and currency reforms deepened inflation in 2023.

Shettima said Nigeria had the capacity to irrigate more than three million hectares of farmland but currently uses less than 10 percent of that potential.

“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he stated.

“Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence.

“Food is not merely a matter of survival, it is a matter of global security,” Shettima added.

The Vice President noted that Nigeria’s blueprint under the 2021–2025 National Development Plan aims to lift 35 million people out of poverty, create 21 million jobs in rural communities and secure food and nutrition sufficiency.

Shettima specifically observed that irrigation is a game-changer, noting that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares but currently uses less than ten per cent.

“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he added.

He assured investors that regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships and agri-tech innovations would make Nigeria “open for business.”

“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you. Let us work hand-in-hand to build Nigeria and a sub-region where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity,” VP Shettima said.

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described Nigeria’s market, large arable land and growing digital economy as unique opportunities for investors.

He said a combination of Nigeria’s domestic market, large arable land, clement weather and fast-growing digital economy present unique opportunities for investment across the agribusiness ecosystem.

For his part, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said the economic potential of Nigeria remains largely untapped, especially in agriculture and irrigation, which hold significant promise for economic diversification and transformation.

He noted that agriculture, particularly agribusiness, remains a pivotal component of Nigeria’s national development plan in the medium and long term, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security of The Gambia, Dr Demba Sabally, commended the FAO for hosting the event and Nigeria’s leadership in agriculture, highlighting the country’s success stories in the rice and cassava value chains as worthy of emulation by countries in the sub-region and beyond.

Sabally emphasised the need for peer review among countries in the West African sub-region because of their common challenges and opportunities for growth and transformation.

In the same vein, the representative of the FAO in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative is FAO’s “evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned flagship programme, designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.”

Gadain said the programme is squarely aimed at eradicating poverty, ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and reducing inequalities. It is our vehicle for achieving the SDGs.

Commending Nigeria’s clear agricultural development priorities and describing them as catalysts for transformative and sustainable growth within Africa’s agri-food systems, Gadain hailed Vice President Shettima’s genuine commitment and visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s agri-food systems.

According to the FAO rep, the VP’s “passion for agriculture, food security, and nutrition is unmatched. He has been a driving force in attracting crucial investments and fostering innovation, and his continued engagement deserves our highest commendation.”

Also, the Head of the EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, said the Hand-in-Hand Initiative reflects Nigeria’s strong commitment to strengthen food security and deepen investment across the agribusiness value chain.

He declared that the EU remains Nigeria’s long term partner in Nigeria’s agricultural journey and is committed to investing in value chain development in the country, starting with the recent investment of over 80 million euros to unlock opportunities in key value chains across seven states.

Reacting to the announcement, farmers urged the government to back the new farm incentives with action, pointing out that the initiatives would not yield results without implementation.

The National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Kebram, stressed the need for follow-through.

“Definitely, it will boost if they are implemented. Of course, you can have a policy but unless you implement it very well, you cannot see the results. So we call on the Vice President to actualize what he promised and then to follow it up and make sure that it is properly implemented. We are sure that that will make a difference in the food system,” Kebram said.

The Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum, Agric, Peter Dama, also cautioned against ‘’a cycle of promises without delivery.’’

“Pronouncements are different from implementation. While we welcome all these pronouncements, we are still hoping that the pronunciations will be met with practicality, that it will be implemented the way they have said it.

“Somebody can come and read a speech, but then the actual implementation is something that might take some time. They made pronouncements about tractors. Today we are in August. Have those tractors been given? Already, we are moving toward the dry season.

“Government can make statements, but the implementation might take quite some time. I believe that if pronouncements are going to be made, let the actuality be on ground, as you are making pronouncements, you are dishing them out.

“But when you make pronouncements and it takes about six months, you know the cycle of our farming session in this country. We await the implementation. We are happy if it is actually going to be done and going to be implemented or not.

We are happy, but unless we see it, and by the time we see it, we will complement and encourage the government,” Dama said.

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria faulted the Federal Government’s agricultural interventions, saying they have failed to improve the country’s food production.

In a phone interview with The PUNCH, National Secretary of SWOFON, Chinasa Asonye, said government efforts have not translated into meaningful impact for smallholder women farmers who form the backbone of food supply in Nigeria.

Asonye said, “Coming from the angle of a small-scale woman farmer, we know that government interventions on single-digit loans, women-friendly machines, access to land and inclusion in policies have not yielded results. One-third of what we have been advocating for has not been implemented. After developing different policies like the Malabo policy, CADI policy and WSHADA policy, are we even implementing one-third of them? The answer is no.”

She decried the government’s inability to meet the 10 per cent budgetary allocation to agriculture recommended under the Malabo Declaration, stressing that Nigeria currently spends less than 1.9 per cent on the sector.

“If we keep waiting for the government, we will never do anything. Some states in the North are helping their farmers with grants and support. But in the South-West, including Lagos, farmers are not benefitting from these renewed initiatives,” she said.

The SWOFON secretary also questioned the transparency of the government’s agricultural spending, noting that billions of naira were being earmarked without visible results.

She added that the school feeding programme had previously helped farmers by off-taking their produce but lamented that such initiatives were no longer benefiting smallholders.

“We will continue to talk, we will continue to tell them our issues, and probably one day the government will listen. They know our problems, but if they fail to look into them, farmers will keep struggling by themselves,” Asonye said.

The reported 2027 ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan has split the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-South into two camps, with the stakeholders holding divergent positions on the issue.

While some party members believed Jonathan should not contest against President Bola Tinubu, various political pressure groups drummed support for the ex-leader.

Aides to the former President have been quoted in the media that their principal was consulting on whether to throw his hat in the ring in 2027.

He was said to have been asked to contest the presidency by the PDP, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the African Democratic Congress. The PUNCH could not immediately confirm this.

Jonathan’s home state, Bayelsa, is awaiting the position of Governor Douye Diri on the issue as the ex-president’s reported ambition has divided the loyalists of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in Rivers State, with the two camps taking opposite stance.

The Edo chapter of the party welcomes the prospect of having Jonathan on the ballot, describing him as a breath of fresh air.

Party leaders in Delta State equally pledged their support for the Bayelsa-born politician, while the PDP in Akwa Ibom State is waiting for Jonathan’s formal declaration before announcing its position.

To strengthen the party’s chances in 2027, the Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, met with Jonathan in Bayelsa where they discussed his possible return to the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

Additionally, party leaders such as former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Minister of Information and National Orientation Jerry Gana, and others have publicly urged Jonathan and others to run under PDP.

However, Nigerians remain divided over Jonathan’s eligibility, following a 2018 constitutional amendment that prohibits anyone who has been sworn in twice in the past from contesting for the presidency or a governorship.

Sections 137(3) and 182(3) of the Constitution state that a person who has been sworn in to complete another person’s term as President or Governor may only be elected to that office for one additional term.

However, Jonathan’s office asserted that he could contest against Tinubu citing a 2022 court judgement which affirmed the ex -president’s right to run again.

The previously unpublished judgment delivered by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, confirmed that Jonathan was well qualified to contest the presidential election.

Speaking on Jonathan’s bid, the Edo State chapter of the PDP stated that his return to the party and national leadership would be a refreshing development.

The party Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, told The PUNCH in an interview that Jonathan is still regarded as one of the most qualified leaders in Nigeria’s history.

He said, “While Dr. Jonathan has not yet formally declared his intention to run, it is without doubt that he remains one of the most qualified leaders in our nation’s history.

“His tenure as President continues to stand as a reference point for good governance, national cohesion, and a better Nigeria.

“For us in the Edo PDP, his potential return to the saddle of leadership would come as a breath of fresh air for the country. As a party, we have always placed the collective interest of Nigerians above all else when making critical decisions.

“It would, therefore, be an honour and privilege for the Edo PDP to lead in rallying support for a government under the leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, should he decide to run.”

The Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP was non-committal on Jonathan’s presidential ambition. Speaking to The PUNCH on Tuesday in Yenagoa, the acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, George Turnah, said Governor Diri is in the best position to provide a response.

He explained that, as the incumbent governor, Diri is the leader of the PDP in Bayelsa State and therefore holds the authority to speak on the matter.

“The governor is the leader of the party in the state. At that level, the governor will be in a better position to give a firm (answer) because usually he is the leader of the party in the state.

“As an individual, well, the story of President Jonathan is in the realm of speculation. There is really nothing for any of us to say now. It’s still in the realm of speculation. Whatever we say will be guesswork.’’

Continuing, he stated, ‘’For now, that’s what it is. When he comes out that he’s running, then we can now form a conversation, people can now form their opinions and build blocks and bridges. That’s when the conversation will begin.

“As a party official, holding a party position, because there will be other aspirants, it will not be right to, I’m speaking of me as a person, it is not expected that any officer of the party will hold any opinion.

“Our own responsibility will come immediately after candidates emerge. Once he becomes a property of the party, that’s where we take over. Until he becomes a property of the party, we are expected to be neutral.”

In Rivers State, the PDP faction loyal to Wike dismissed calls for Jonathan to contest, while the camp aligned with Fubara described it as a worthy move considering Jonathan’s record in office.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kenneth Yorwika, a Wike loyalist, told our reporter in a telephone chat that Jonathan had served his time and has been largely inactive in party affairs since leaving office in 2015.

He further noted that President Tinubu is performing creditably and making determined efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians.

Yorwika stated, “First of all, Jonathan has not been an active member of the party. I don’t know whether in recent times anybody has seen him attending the activities of the party.

“So, the PDP in Rivers State, we have not even seen him in any of our activities recently. It is a far cry from the reality on the ground now. And then the PDP in Rivers State actually think that the President that we have now is doing all he can to make sure that there is an improvement in the livelihood of citizens of Nigeria.

“So, talking about the former President, he did his time and we actually believe he has done his time and his past. Talking about him and the PDP, he has not been in our activities. So, we have not seen him at all in any of our activities that we have been having recently.”

Robinson Ewor, the factional PDP Chairman loyal to Fubara, could not be reached for comment. But a party chieftain and former federal lawmaker from Rivers State, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, said Jonathan had every right to contest, noting that he performed creditably in office and is widely respected for his peaceful nature.

Nwuke, an ally of the suspended governor and former representative of Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the growing calls within the PDP and among Nigerians for Jonathan to run reflect the confidence the people have in him.

He noted that his time in office brought a measure of stability and that he possesses the qualities needed to provide the kind of leadership the nation desires now.

Nwuke stated, “I’m saying that as a person, Jonathan is entitled to contest. And it’s a good thing that within the PDP, there are growing demands for him to return to the ring. But I think the choice of whether or not to be a candidate will be his to make.

Barring any corrective intervention from the National Council of State (NCoS), the international community, civil society organisations and potential election observers (both local and foreign), there are warning signals that the 2027 general elections may turn out to be the worst elections ever conducted in the history of Nigeria, based on verified pieces of information made available to Sunday Vanguard by usually dependable sources within the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Part of the scheme, according to sources familiar with the alleged plots, will be the creation of dual original EC8 result forms, a practice reported to facilitate predetermined outcomes in strategically sensitive polling units, disparities between actual polling units’ results and posts on the INEC Results Viewing Portal, IReV, and manipulation of the ongoing registration exercise, among other things.

Printing of Identical Result Sheets and IReV Compromise

One of the sources said, “This plot involves producing identical Forms EC8A (polling unit), EC8B (ward), and EC8C (local government), one set for public presentation at polling units, and another set reserved for strategic allocation of votes.”

This strategy is to “directly compromise transparency, manipulation of data uploaded to the INEC IReV,” the source claimed.

Sunday Vanguard discovered that a breach of operational protocols is to allow for discrepancies between what was physically recorded and what was transmitted electronically, thus creating structural vulnerabilities in the electoral process.

On INEC’s technological systems, notably IReV and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which are designed to enhance transparency and public confidence, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that “these platforms have been tested in ways exposing them to potential exploitation.”

According to the source, “during off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Kogi (November 2023), Ondo (November 2024) and Edo (September 2024), pre-prepared results were allegedly uploaded to IReV before the closure of polls.”

Civil society observers in Edo documented cases where the votes recorded exceeded the votes of accredited voters, an anomaly suggestive of irregularities.

In some cases, alternative “original” result sheets, allegedly prepared by aligned system operatives, were used to finalise outcomes.

Alleged Manipulation of Ongoing Registration
Beyond result management, voter registration procedures have raised additional concerns.

Sunday Vanguard discovered that newly created polling units often contain deliberately low voter populations, enabling the registration of partisan supporters while constraining participation by parties other than the one claiming the unit as a stronghold.

In addition, it was found that limitations on re-registration, replacement of lost PVCs and transfer procedures exacerbate the risks of systematic disenfranchisement.


The paradox is that INEC has not engaged in massive publicity to enlighten Nigerians about the categories of citizens who should register under this current exercise.

Only those who have attained the age of 18 years after the last exercise in 2022 and those who haven’t registered previously should participate in the ongoing exercise.

Those who have lost their PVC or have a transfer of place of voting shouldn’t register again, but approach INEC for correction.

The reverse is happening simultaneously across Nigeria, collaborating with electoral officers and local government chairmen, leading to stupendously outrageous registration inflation.

Already, INEC claimed it has uncovered 27, 817 multiple registrations from the just-concluded Continuous Voter Registration in Anambra State, despite adding 146,353 new voters to the state voter register.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Thursday in Abuja.

Olumekun said that INEC met on Thursday and, among other issues, deliberated on the final register of voters for the Nov. 8 Anambra governorship election.

In the 2023 general elections, over one million registrations were invalidated due to duplications or errors, coinciding with a turnout of only 26.72%, the worst since.

Shopping For ‘Suitable Replacement’ For Yakubu, Avoiding Buhari’s Mistake

The tenure of the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, ends in November, by which time he would have served out his two terms.

As of the time of going to press, Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that President Bola Tinubu had not boarded on any of the emerging plots to get a ‘suitable replacement’ for Yakubu.

One of the options being pursued by the alleged plotters is the nomination and confirmation of a ‘useful’ individual as Yakubu’s successor.

A number of names (withheld) are already being put forward for consideration.

Unfortunately, a few of the individuals who are being positioned had served as National Commissioners of the Commission, as well as Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, did not dress themselves in shining armour during their tenures.

Nigerians recall with nostalgia how the 2003 and 2007 general elections went, culminating in the public admission by a beneficiary of the 2007 sham presidential election, the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, that there were flaws.

Some 10 years and two months ago, on Tuesday, June 30, 2015, something very curious happened when President Muhammadu Buhari, who rode on the back of the vigor and determination of Nigerians to engage change, threw INEC into a cesspit of needless controversy, by not appointing a substantive National Chairman for INEC until the tenure of the largely reformative Professor Attahiru Jega ended.

cting in line with statutes and order of seniority, Jega had handed over to Ambassador (Dr.) Ahmed Wali to head and supervise the activities of the Commission until a substantive Chairman was appointed ”in consultation with the Council of State (NCoS)” – as provided by the Constitution.

However, within 24 hours, Buhari, who had just been sworn-in, barely 36 hours earlier, overruled Jega and appointed a familial, nay filial relation, Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, as acting head of INEC.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation at that time, Danladi Kifasi, who conveyed the appointment in a letter, said the appointment was with effect from June 30, 2015 and until the appointment of a substantive Chairman.

At that time, both Wali and Zakari were National Commissioners of INEC.

But in terms of seniority, Wali trumped Zakari.

Interestingly, Buhari, who had been declared winner of the presidential election of March 2015 and who ought to have been briefed by his transition team on appointments he needed to make immediately he assumed office, either had no clue about what was happening in INEC or had made up his mind to appoint a family member as INEC Chairman.

The furore Buhari’s misstep generated in the country at that time threw INEC under the bus.

It was not until Wednesday, October 21, 2015 – almost four months later – that Buhari appointed Yakubu as substantive INEC Chairman, after a series of lobbying and counter-lobbying to get ’suitable’ replacement for Jega.

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Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has denied reports linking him to the opposition coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, the two-term minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari said he had no involvement in the group and never would.

“No, I am not,” Sirika said when asked if he was part of the coalition.

“Yesterday, I was with Chief Bayo Onanuga in the Presidential Villa and he said I was in the coalition. I told him I was not and never will be. He said he got that from the reports. People can join coalition, it is democracy.”

Sirika’s clarification followed speculations after his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, where he confirmed holding talks with Onanuga, presidential spokesperson.

The coalition, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, announced in July that it had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform for the 2027 general elections.

According to its promoters, the alliance aims to provide “competent, capable, and compassionate leadership” focused on the welfare of Nigerians.

Prominent figures linked to the coalition include Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President David Mark, who has been named National Chairman of the ADC.

Sirika, however, distanced himself from the coalition, insisting he has no ties to the opposition front.

When asked if his visit to President Bola Tinubu was intended to secure a soft landing for the charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former minister said it would be prejudicial for him to comment on the issue.

He said, “The purpose of the meeting was to officially pay our condolences to the President, who did extremely well after the demise of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

It will be recalled that since Sirika left office in 2023, he’s been facing trial for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

The EFCC accused Sirika of awarding multi-billion naira contracts to companies owned by his family members, including his daughter, Fatima Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma.

The Federal Government has expressed excitement over a sharp rise in diaspora remittances, which have surged to $600m monthly in the past two months, according to figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the increase reflected renewed confidence in the Nigerian economy and recent CBN policy reforms.

In a statement issued by NiDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Monday, Dabiri-Erewa described the inflow as “humongous,” noting that it marked a 200 percent jump from the $200m monthly average previously recorded.

She commended CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, for reforms such as the introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number and a more competitive exchange rate, which have encouraged Nigerians abroad to channel funds through official platforms.

Dabiri-Erewa also echoed Cardoso’s optimism that remittances could hit $1bn monthly by 2026.

She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to deepening diaspora engagement through platforms like the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, National Diaspora Day, and the Diaspora Youth Summit.

She further praised the patriotism and trust of Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to the welfare of citizens both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Delta State–Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable in São Paulo, Cardoso highlighted the impact of the reforms.

“Our exchange rate is becoming a lot more competitive. Those who previously sought other channels to send their money back home no longer have to do so,” he said.

According to him, the reforms have already boosted inflows from $200m to $600m monthly, underscoring growing confidence in the Nigerian economy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday revealed that a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians completed the online pre-registration process in the first week of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, conducted from August 18 to 24, 2025.

This was disclosed in the CVR State Pre-Registration Report released by the commission and shared with journalists.

Osun State emerged with the highest number of pre-registrations, recording an impressive 393,269 registrants, the largest share by percentage at 28.51 percent.

This was closely followed by Lagos State, recording 222,205 entries, a commanding 16.11 percent of the national total. Ogun also had a strong turnout with 132,823 pre-registrations, representing 9.63 percent.

The Federal Capital Territory recorded 107,682 registrations, contributing 7.81 percent to the total, while Oyo added 66,951 (4.85 percent), Kaduna 61,592 (4.47 percent), and Kogi 58,546 (4.24 percent). Kwara and Kebbi recorded 33,726 and 35,009, respectively, while Yobe had 34,888 pre-registrations.

In the South-South region, Delta contributed 24,421 registrations, while Rivers recorded 11,314, and Akwa Ibom added 12,373. Cross River and Bayelsa recorded 4,055 and 4,638, respectively.

Edo State had 2,875, while Ondo added 3,426.

The North-East also showed strong involvement, with Borno leading that region at 21,045 registrations. Bauchi followed with 13,066, Adamawa recorded 2,155, Gombe had 4,103, Taraba 2,395, and Yobe again stood out with nearly 34,888.

In the North-West, Kaduna’s 61,592 was joined by Kano’s 10,166 and Katsina’s 11,004. Jigawa posted 8,243 registrations, Kebbi’s 35,009 placed it among the top-performing states, while Sokoto and Zamfara registered 12,478 and 2,947, respectively.

North Central states also saw significant participation, with Niger recording 24,818 registrations and Nasarawa 11,555. Plateau had 6,586, Benue 7,305, and Kogi’s high figure placed it among the leading states.

In the South-East, registration figures were notably low. Ebonyi registered only 261 individuals, the lowest in the country. Enugu and Imo also recorded minimal figures at 484 and 481, respectively. Abia added 772, while Anambra was not listed separately.

In a statement on Monday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC said the Continuous Voter Registration exercise will run for a full year and is scheduled to end on August 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, the commission commenced the physical phase of the CVR on Monday across the country.

Both new applicants and those who pre-registered online are expected to complete their registration in person at INEC centres, where their biometrics will be captured.

The commission also clarified that transfers of voter registration within or across states, as well as replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, are allowed under the ongoing CVR process.

INEC stated that the “CVR exercise will take place at 811 centres across the country, including all 774 Local Government Area offices and State offices.

“Registration will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The process is open only to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years of age and have never registered before.”

The commission has also made arrangements to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups.

INEC’s online portal — www.cvr.inecnigeria.org — offers services including pre-registration, PVC status checks, locating registration centres, transferring voter information, replacing lost or damaged cards, and updating personal details.

The commission reminded the public that the registration is strictly for Nigerian citizens who are 18 years and above and who have not previously registered. It reiterated that double or multiple registrations are illegal.

According to the statement, eligible voters can use the CVR period to transfer their registration from one location to another or to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards.

“Once again, the commission appeals to the public that the ongoing voter registration is only open to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and who are not registered voters. Double or multiple registration is a violation of the law.

“However, inter-State/FCT and intra-State/FCT transfer of voters as well as the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards are allowed during the CVR,” the national commissioner noted.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State government, on Monday, urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise and register in large numbers ahead of the next general elections.

The Director-General of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, made the appeal on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital.

He explained that INEC would only attend to fresh registrants at its local government offices across the state as part of efforts to ease the challenges often encountered during voter registration.

Thomas advised individuals who had lost their Permanent Voter Cards, needed transfers, or had defaced cards to register online via https://www.cvr.inecnigeria.org.

He further enjoined residents to participate fully in the registration process, stressing that active involvement would ensure they are able to elect leaders of their choice when the elections come.

With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, the coalition party, African Democratic Congress, is battling internal uncertainty as the anticipated membership of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi remains stalled, leaving the party’s future direction unclear.

Several credible sources within the coalition, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to comment, told Sunday PUNCH that the party was struggling to gain traction due to the refusal of Atiku, Obi, and other key political figures to join its ranks.

They further disclosed that delays by the Independent National Electoral Commission in recognising Senator David Mark’s leadership of the ADC, coupled with ongoing legal disputes and financial constraints, had hampered the coalition’s growth.

Responding to enquiries, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed suggestions of uncertainty, stressing that the party remained firmly on track.

In an effort to forge a united front capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, prominent opposition figures launched a new coalition movement in Abuja on March 20, a move that immediately triggered nationwide debates on the prospects of a consolidated opposition.

Following weeks of consultations, Obi, Atiku, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and several others convened in Abuja on July 1 to adopt the ADC as the coalition’s political platform.

They pledged their support for the party, which is currently under the interim leadership of Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

However, despite the public declarations, membership into the ADC has remained limited.

Atiku, who left the Peoples Democratic Party over a month ago, is yet to formally register with the ADC nor has he joined any other party.

Likewise, Obi has also withheld formal membership, even as his Labour Party continues to be plagued by a deepening internal crisis.

A source told our correspondent that the development has become a growing concern for the ADC leadership.

He stated, “So, members of the party, especially the NWC members, are seriously worried and concerned that Atiku, Obi, and quite a lot of Nigerians, especially politicians they expected would have joined the ADC, are yet to join. This is affecting the momentum the party is supposed to gather.

“Since he left the PDP, Atiku has been partyless, and he has also refused to join the ADC. Peter Obi has also refused to join. As this continues, a lot of Nigerians are not even encouraged to also join the party, so to speak.

“Right now, within the coalition, everybody is still trying to study and understand, then come to an understanding of whether the whole thing is going to work or not. But one thing is certain: all of us want to push the current government led by APC out of power. But is this arrangement going to work? There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding it.

“If these people had joined the party, perhaps by now more Nigerians would have trooped into the party and the momentum would already have started building ahead of the 2027 elections. For now, everything is just quiet within the party, even though David Mark’s leadership is struggling to ensure that the party takes shape. But there are a lot of challenges, especially with regards to these key figures not joining.

“It is really affecting the party because if they join, more resources will come, more members will come, and we will be able to play our real role as opposition leaders holding the government accountable and selling the party to Nigerians. But for now, that is what it is.”

Another coalition leader disclosed that the absence of INEC’s recognition of Mark’s leadership, along with a few pending litigations, had hindered the party’s growth.

The source stated, “The ADC still remains a formidable party to challenge President Tinubu in 2027. It is our party; it is the coalition party adopted by many Nigerians. The challenges we have now are just that INEC has not fully recognised the leadership of David Mark, and that is stalling some of our processes. We know that the government of the day is sponsoring some people to go to court to challenge us, and that is also an issue, but we know we will overcome all these things.

“For Atiku and Obi, yes, their membership is important. Both of them and some others are yet to join the ADC as a coalition party, but we expect them to do so as soon as possible, and their late membership is of concern too. This is affecting the party in a way because those who ordinarily would have joined the ADC because of these leaders are also yet to do so.

“Of course resources, the calibre of people you have will determine the resources that will be available to the party for it to carry out its activities and, of course, maintain its structures across Nigeria. All these things are a factors. But of course, the party is waxing stronger by the day, and with time, we hope that it will get better. Nigerians are already trooping into the party as their only alternative to the failed All Progressives Congress.”

When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President remained committed to the coalition.

Ibe told Sunday PUNCH that Atiku had begun the process of becoming a member of the ADC.

He stated, “Atiku is not contemplating leaving the coalition. It is propaganda for anyone to say so. The party is being organised across the country. The party is being planted in different parts of the country, and registration is ongoing.

“About His Excellency’s membership, he will do that at the right time. It’s a process that is in place. Registration is one of the steps. It’s a process, and it is ongoing.

“He remains committed to the coalition arrangement. Nigerians are behind the coalition, and all the leaders will work together to rescue Nigeria.”

Attempts to reach Obi’s loyalist and coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, for a reaction were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls from our correspondent.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the ADC National Publicity Secretary affirmed that Atiku, Obi, and other key figures were with the party, stressing that the coalition remained on track.

Abdullahi stated, “We are not disturbed over Atiku and Obi’s delayed membership. Nothing has changed; both of them are very much with the coalition. We don’t have any concerns. Anyone that’s telling you we are disturbed is a liar; we are not disturbed at all.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that he will support those who support President Bola Tinubu, urging residents to “support those that the government will listen to.”

Wike made the statement while commending former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda, and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, during the flag-off of Lot 2 of Water Supply Projects in Karu, on Thursday.

The minister hailed both men for their capacity and for bringing development to the people, while promising the construction of a 2km road in Karu site, on the request of Aduda, adding that he will support those who continue to support the Tinubu-led administration.

“There is a road where you said is about 2km, is it not? Consider it done. You know, one thing about government and politics, support those who have capacity to bring something to the people. Support those that government will listen to.

“From what happened now, you see that Aduda, government has his ear where he is. And that’s why government said where is that road he mentioned? Consider it done.

“You can see that since he (Maikalangu) became the Chairman of AMAC, he has brought government to do Saburi Road, he has brought the government to do Kabusa-Takushere Road, he has brought government to redo this road. He has brought government to do Deidei Road.

“For me, I’m here to talk about those who have access to government and bring something to the people.

“The chairman has access to us. Anything he tells us, we will do. This is the only man I know. If he wins as chairman of AMAC, we will give him whatever he wants. I don’t know the party he belongs to. But I know that he supports Tinubu. Anybody who supports Tinubu, I will support him,” Wike said.

The minister pointed out that past governments had failed to provide the needs of the people, particularly water supply to the communities in Karu, noting that the government of Tinubu has fulfilled its promise to provide potable water to satellite towns.

“We have had a government who stayed here for five years, isn’t that correct? We have had a government who stayed here for eight years too, is that correct? Has any government come to say, look, we will provide you water? Have you had water before? Did this government promise it will give you water? Have we come now to give you water?

“So, you believe you have a covenant with this government. And the covenant is like somebody said, agreement is agreement. So, the people of Karu, you will readily remember the government that remembers you, is it not correct?

“Will you remember those who had the opportunity and they refused to do anything for you? Will you remember those who left Karu unattended, will you remember them? So, we have come to fulfil the promise we made to you, that you must have clean and potable water,” he stated.

PUNCH Online reports that Aduda represented the FCT on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2011 and 2015, and was re-elected in 2015 and again in 2019, before losing the seat in the 2023 general elections.


Meanwhile, Maikalangu is seeking re-election as Chairman of AMAC in the forthcoming February 2026 Area Council elections, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, after defecting from the PDP in 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over N5bn and $10m from contractors and government officials indicted in the fraud in the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered that the anti-graft agency was working to recover another N10bn and $13m allegedly siphoned through contractors engaged in the maintenance.

Our correspondent learnt that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, took personal charge of the investigation owing to his displeasure with the non-functional refineries in spite of humongous public spendings on them.

Sunday PUNCH reports that Nigeria’s four refineries have been largely dormant for decades despite several attempts at rehabilitation.

Successive administrations have budgeted billions of dollars for their turnaround maintenance, but the facilities in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt have continued to underperform, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.

The EFCC is said to be probing the sum of $1,559,239,084.36 allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740,669,600 released for the Kaduna refinery, and $656,963,938 approved for the Warri refinery.

Top sources at the anti-graft agency revealed that fraudulent practices, including over-invoicing, contract inflation, and questionable payments, were largely responsible for the inability of the refineries to function despite huge public spending over the years.

They disclosed that former management teams of the three refineries were repeatedly interrogated in connection with the discoveries.

One of the sources said the commission had concluded investigations into some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited allegedly involved in the rehabilitation contracts and was preparing charges against them.

The source said, “Our investigation into the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt, have yielded major discoveries of large- scale fraud.

“Investigators discovered fraudulent dealings through over-invoicing, contract inflation and questionable payments were largely responsible for the malfunctioning of the refineries.

“Specifically, investigations flagged former management teams of the three refineries who were arrested several times and grilled to uncover fraudulent dealings that have not made the refineries deliver optimal benefits to Nigerians.

“A total sum of $10m and N5bn have so far been recovered from suspects indicted in the fraud. The recoveries were made from some contractors and government officials involved in over-invoicing and inflated payments.”

The source added that some serving and retired members of the management of the NNPCL and the refineries might be charged soon.[sup][/sup]

“Investigations are already concluded on some officials of the NNPCL involved in the rehabilitation contracts and the commission is ready to file charges against them.

“Both former management and present management of the NNPCL and refineries may be charged,” the source said.

Another source noted that the commission was on track to recover additional sums.

“While we have recovered some money, another $13m and N10bn discovered to be siphoned through contractors engaged in the maintenance are due to be recovered,” the source disclosed.

The source also said the commission was probing fresh allegations of contract inflation worth about $40m, allegedly involving NNPCL officials and some contractors engaged to procure equipment for the rehabilitation projects.

“Investigation is still ongoing on allegations of contract inflation in the region of $40million involving some officials of NNPCL and some contractors engaged to procure equipment for rehabilitation works, “ the source said.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comments as of press time as calls and text messages were not replied.

A senior official of the commission, who does not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, however, confirmed the recovery.

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has asked President Bola Tinubu to include refined petroleum products in the list of items banned under the ‘Nigeria First’ policy of the Federal Government. But this was unanimously rejected by oil marketers and some industry analysts on Sunday.

The ’Nigeria First’ policy seeks to ban government agencies from importing goods that can be produced within Nigeria. In May, Tinubu barred government agencies from importing goods or services that are available locally.

The policy stated that no procurement of foreign goods or services already available in Nigeria shall proceed without justification and a Bureau of Public Procurement waiver.

Speaking at the just concluded Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in partnership with S&P Global Insights, Dangote requested in clear terms that petrol, diesel, and other refined petroleum products be added to the items banned by the policy.

According to him, the importation of fuel into Nigeria is killing local refining and discouraging further investments in the sector and even the economy. To remain viable, he urged governments across Africa to take deliberate steps as the United States, Canada, and the European Union have done to protect domestic producers from what he called unfair competition.

Dangote did not mince words when he said that the Nigeria First policy announced by Tinubu should apply to the petroleum products sector. “The Nigeria First policy announced by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, should apply to the petroleum product sector and all other sectors,” he stated.

This request by Dangote seeks to place a ban on the importation of petrol, diesel, and other products being produced locally. He argued that local refiners were finding it difficult to sell their products because of what he called dumping. The billionaire businessman alleged that importers were dumping toxic fuel that would never be allowed in Europe.

“And to make matters worse, we are now facing increased dumping of cheap, often toxic petroleum products, some of which are blended to substandard levels that would never be allowed in Europe or North America,” he said.

Dangote mentioned that some of the importers bring into Nigeria fuel or crude oil subsidised in Russia. This, he said, affects local pricing, forcing refiners to drop prices below their costs.

“Due to the price caps on the Russian petroleum products, discounted petroleum products produced in Russia or with discounted Russian crude find their way to Africa, severely undercutting our local production, which is based on full crude pricing. This has created an unlevel playing field in most African countries. Petrol and diesel are sold for about a dollar net of taxes.

“In Nigeria, due to this unfair competition, this price is just about 60 cents, even cheaper than Saudi Arabia, which produces and refines its own oil. This is due to the fact that we are having too much dumping. To remain viable, we urge the governments across Africa to take deliberate steps as the United States, Canada, and the European Union have done to protect domestic producers from unfair competition,” he stated.

The richest man in Africa said this was not to monopolise the sector but to produce local investments. He noted that those who have the resources to invest in Nigeria keep taking their resources outside the country while they criticise local investors.

“Let me take this opportunity to address concerns around monopoly and dominance. The reality is that too many people who have the means and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our nation’s growth choose instead to criticise from the sidelines while investing their wealth abroad,” Dangote said.

To prove that his $20bn refinery can satisfy local fuel needs, Dangote disclosed that Nigeria has become a net exporter of petroleum products, having exported approximately 1.35 billion litres of petrol to other countries worldwide in 50 days.

According to Dangote, between June and July 2025, the refinery exported up to 1 million tonnes of petrol, which is approximately 1.35 billion litres when converted.

“Today, Nigeria has actually become a net exporter of refined products. Before I came on the podium, I asked my people how many tonnes of PMS we have actually exported. From June beginning to date, we have exported about 1 million tonnes of PMS, within the last 50 days,” he said.

Marketers tackle Dangote

However, marketers disagreed with Dangote, urging the Federal Government not to consider adding petroleum products to the list of items banned from importation.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said independent marketers would not support that idea as it would spell doom for the sector.

"We independent marketers will depart from that request. If the government does that, that means we will not be able to check inflation and monopoly, since it is the only refinery operating in the country now. We should continue to import even as we buy locally.

“I heard that the NMDPRA stated clearly that Dangote cannot produce all the fuel that the country needs. We will appreciate it if the country allows importation to continue since we are not paying subsidy,” Ukadike said.

Reacting to Dangote’s claim that importation would kill businesses and local refineries, Ukadike differed. “Importation won’t kill local businesses or refineries; it will strengthen them. It will ensure local refineries step up their game. I don’t agree with Dangote on this,” he said.

Also, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, kicked against the call to ban fuel Importation. He said no one company should be allowed to dominate the downstream sector in a free economy.

While admitting that there is a need to ban the importation of some goods, he said these should not include fuel, stressing that Nigeria needs multiple sources of energy. “I don’t agree with Dangote. We are running a free economy. There’s no reason why any one company should have an overarching value on the entire industry.

“Importation is not killing the economy. Importation is stabilising the sources of petroleum products. Importation of all products is useful. However, those that can be produced in Nigeria, like toothpicks, garri, egusi soup, cassava, and others like that, should be banned.

“But importation of refined petroleum products should not be banned because it helps to ensure that there are multiple sources of energy and replenishment,” Gillis-Harry stated.

Expert reacts

An energy expert at the University of Lagos, Professor Dayo Ayoade, also warned against banning fuel Importation, saying this would promote monopolistic tendencies.

“No, we cannot have a ban on petroleum imports. It’s not a legal ban. That would not be acceptable because we don’t have diverse sources for petroleum products. We can’t rely solely on the Dangote refineries. That would give a monopoly to a private individual.

“And for the reasons of energy security and national security, that would be completely unacceptable. The government should continue to encourage, liberalise, and ensure other refineries come upstream. NNPC may want to privatise or sell off its refineries, then that’s fine. But we need to have a better base of product market before we now start to say we want to ban imports,” he said.

He queried what the local and international laws say about banning products.

“And you know, when we talk about bans, we have to look at international trade. International trade law does not really sit well with banning things. So, we have to be clever about how we do it. But if the market is ripe, it will be more expensive to bring in things from other countries than our own products, provided they are of sufficient quantity and the quality is fine,” the don submitted.

More refineries

During the NMDPRA conference, Dangote called on the regulator to encourage building more refineries. He charged the agency to withdraw dormant refinery licences from those holding on to them.

The IPMAN spokesman supported Dangote on this, saying, “On that side, I agree with him. You can’t obtain a licence to build a refinery and use it to decorate your house. The nation needs more refineries to do more exports.”

Dangote has repeatedly stated that his refinery has more than enough fuel to satisfy local fuel needs, wondering why some marketers insist on “sabotaging” his investment with importation. He disclosed recently that the refinery would produce hit 700,000 barrels per day capacity in December, an update from the current 650,000 BPD capacity.

On Friday, Dangote announced his retirement as a Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dangote Cement. According to a statement Friday by the Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, Dangote is relinquishing his position as chairman and retiring from the board to focus more attention on the $20bn refinery, petrochemicals, fertiliser, and government relations.