The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election Bid: Wike, Soludo, and Adeleke Added to New APC List

    The revised All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council list for the 2027 general election has named the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; and Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, among its members.

    Under the revised list made available to journalists on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu will head the campaign council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, serving as vice-chairmen.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are also listed as vice-chairmen.

    The council names Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General, with Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu among the deputy directors-general. Senator Adams Oshiomhole is listed as Deputy Director-General, Mobilisation.

    Other officials include Femi Gbajabiamila, who will oversee administration; Ibrahim Kabir Masari, in charge of logistics and operations; former Speaker Aminu Masari, Deputy Director-General, Parliament Mobilisation; and David Umahi, who will oversee infrastructure mobilisation and sensitisation.

    James Faleke will handle election planning, coordination and monitoring.

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary of the council, with Senator Ajibola Basiru as deputy secretary and Hadiza Bala Usman as assistant secretary.

    The council has also appointed zonal campaign coordinators and co-coordinators across the six geopolitical zones.

    Those listed include Governor Bassey Otu and Victor Giadom for the South-South; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Tjeoma Arodiogbu for the South-East; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Oladiran Iyantan for the South-West; Muazu Bawa Rijau and Niger State Governor Umar Bago for the North-Central; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Garba Datti Muhammad for the North-West; and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Idris Suhaibu for the North-East.

    At the state level, the list names governors and other political figures as campaign coordinators. They include Ahmadu Fintiri for Adamawa, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom, Chukwuma Soludo for Anambra, Babagana Zulum for Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta, Hope Uzodimma for Imo, Abba Kabir Yusuf for Kano, Dapo Abiodun for Ogun, Ademola Adeleke for Osun, Nyesom Wike for Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, and Dauda Lawal for Zamfara.

    The council also includes former governors and party chieftains as advisers.

    They include former APC national chairmen Adebisi Akande and Abdullahi Adamu; former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore; Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo; Senator George Akume; former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba; and Wale Edun. Obafemi George is listed as an adviser on media.

    The Directorate of Election Planning, Coordination, Monitoring and Mobilisation, established ahead of the 2027 general election, has Faleke as Deputy Director-General, with Stella Okotete and Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat serving as Secretary I and Secretary II, respectively. Audu Maikori is also listed as a secretary.

    Other members of the directorate include Soares Omotola, Bashir Dabo, Sheriff Mohammed Usman, Jibrin Bancir, Ayoola Peter Olajolo, Abubakar Sadiq Sada and Princess Folasade Ogunbiyi.

    In the Directorate of General Logistics and Operations, Masari has been appointed Deputy Director-General, while Adeniyi Tinubu and Barr. Yakub Bashir Bello will serve as deputies. Prof. Kabiru Isa was named secretary.

    Members of the logistics and operations directorate include Ekene Nwokoro Ogbonaya, Prof. Vincent Weli, Ambassador Olusola Iji, Amina Bello, Ahmed Zibiri, Annabel Isenyo, Terrence Kuanum, Prof. Latif Babatunde Ayeleru, Amarachi Ejike, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa and Prof. Shuaibu Abdullahi.

    Others are Senator Bello Tukur, Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Taiwo Adebowale, Sunusi Muhammad Abdullahi, Wasiu Olaomo Ayeola, Chief Isaac Ijwo, Garba Gololo Mohammed, Biodun Ogunbi, Ayuba Ganiyu Adele, High Chief Edem Duke, Yusuf Capt. Buba, Oden Ewa, Prince Ademuviwa Adex, Makinde Peter Abiola, Chief Solomon Ogba, Senator Lawal Hassan Dan Iya, Ambassador Kelvin Peter, Maggadas Mohammed Muazu and Victor Agwu.

    The appointments form part of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election campaign. Punch

  • 2027: Wike Names Himself Tinubu’s Campaign Field Commander In FCT

    2027: Wike Names Himself Tinubu’s Campaign Field Commander In FCT

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared himself the field commander for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT, pledging to coordinate political mobilisation in the territory and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Wike made the declaration on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where he announced plans to bring together members of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.

    The meeting also witnessed PDP candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the FCT expressing support for their APC counterparts, as participants agreed to collaborate on the presidential election.

    “For the Presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I will coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” Wike said.

    “I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned,” he added.

    The gathering was attended by APC and PDP stakeholders, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.

    Wike urged members of the coalition to set aside party affiliations and work towards a common objective in the presidential election.

    “I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ For the purpose of this election, we are together,” he said.

    The former Rivers State governor cited the 2024 Edo governorship election as an example of how political cooperation could shape electoral outcomes. He argued that alliances involving members of different parties could help achieve shared political goals.

    However, Wike clarified that the arrangement was primarily aimed at securing Tinubu’s re-election, leaving participating parties to determine their positions on other electoral contests.

    To justify his support for the President, the minister highlighted infrastructure projects and administrative reforms carried out by the Tinubu administration in the FCT.

    He challenged political leaders to identify any of the territory’s six area councils that had not benefited from government projects.

    Wike cited the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development secretariats as examples of the administration’s achievements.

    According to him, the reforms had improved opportunities for career advancement among civil servants and widened participation in governance.

    He also listed road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public infrastructure projects as evidence of the administration’s performance.

    On the economy, Wike defended Tinubu’s reform policies, acknowledging that some measures had caused hardship but arguing that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.

    “Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, noting that the benefits of economic reforms might take time to become evident.

    The minister also backed the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important step towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

  • 2027: Enugu Alleges Opposition Plot to Import Armed Thugs, Bandits

    2027: Enugu Alleges Opposition Plot to Import Armed Thugs, Bandits

    ...Denies government involvement in NDC airport, secretariat incidents

    _Says Mbah’s performance more than enough to win free, fair election_

    The Enugu State Government said it has uncovered alleged plans by some opposition elements to import armed thugs and bandits into the state to create panic and a false sense of insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, made these known on Sunday while addressing a press conference at the Government House, Enugu, on the incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat in Enugu on Saturday.

    Onyia denied any involvement of the government or the Governor’s Chief Security Officer, Ifeanyi Osondu, in both incidents, describing the airport confrontation as a matter between the NDC and federal authorities, while noting that the shooting incident at the party’s secretariat was under police investigation.

    According to the SSG, the government’s preliminary findings indicated that the airport incident followed the NDC’s attempt to hold what it described as a “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the facility without securing the necessary approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    He said the party had published notices inviting its members and supporters to the event, including on the Facebook page of its governorship candidate in the state.

    Onyia explained that the police had advised the party to obtain FAAN’s approval before security personnel could be deployed to the airport for the event.

    “Further findings, however, revealed that the NDC did not secure the approval of FAAN to host a grand statewide rally at its facility. Security agencies, therefore, advised the organisers of the rally to rethink it,” he said.

    The SSG alleged that the party proceeded to mobilise its members to the airport and attempted to gain entry into the facility, resulting in a confrontation with airport authorities.

    He said security agencies intervened to disperse the “riotous” party members and restore order around the airport, which he described as a strategic national asset.

    Onyia added that the state government’s account was consistent with the statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command on Sunday.

    NDC Secretariat Shooting

    On the shooting incident at the NDC state secretariat in the GRA area of Enugu, the SSG said security reports had established that a violent clash occurred at the party’s office and that the police were investigating the matter.

    The SSG disputed reports alleging fatalities, stating that the government’s findings indicated that no death had occurred in the incident.

    He disclosed that a 43-year-old man, identified as Ifeanyi Nworie, sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, where he was stabilised before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, for further examination.

    “We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders,” he said.

    Onyia also faulted allegations that the Governor’s Chief Security Officer was present at the party secretariat and supervised the shooting, maintaining that the official was with Governor Peter Mbah at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, at the time of the incident.

    The SSG further criticised the reported holding of a minute’s silence for an individual he said was still alive, describing it as an attempt to mislead the public for political advantage.

    Reaffirming the state government’s position, Onyia said Governor Mbah had sworn to protect the lives and property of all residents, irrespective of their religious beliefs or political affiliations, and condemned.

    He said the administration’s ambition to grow Enugu into a $30 billion economy and make it a preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living depended significantly on sustained peace and security.

    According to him, this informed the government’s substantial investments in security infrastructure and operations over the past three years.

    “Consequently, the Enugu State Government strongly condemns in its entirety any form of violence, including politically induced violence in the state. We welcome healthy debate and freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” he said.

    He, however, urged political parties and their candidates to exercise restraint and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The SSG said democratic rights should be exercised responsibly, arguing that political parties ought to serve as models of decorum and integrity.

    He questioned the decision to announce a statewide campaign flag-off at the airport and without the approval of the relevant authorities.

    “Without holding brief for FAAN, is it not sheer rascality to attempt to hold a “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” of the NDC at the airport as publicised by the party and its gubernatorial candidate, especially without the approval by the appropriate authorities?

    “Is it not equally gross mischief and a sign of political desperation to hold a minute silence for a living person, just to mislead the public for political traction?” he queried.

    Onyia accused opposition elements in the state of attempting to create the impression that Enugu was unsafe and that the government was intolerant of opposing political parties.

    He alleged that some opposition groups had been attributing internal disagreements and violent clashes to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    As an example, he cited the September 12, 2026 incident at Obuofia in Nkanu West Local Government Area, claiming that investigations had identified the alleged perpetrators, who were being prosecuted by the police.

    The SSG described the opposition as factionalised and alleged that some of its members were seeking to draw the state government into controversies for political relevance.

    Onyia also reiterated the government’s allegation that some opposition elements were plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into Enugu to create panic and undermine public confidence in the state’s security ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    “We, however, make bold to say that the peace and security we have achieved in Enugu State in the last three years, and at huge material costs and sacrifices by our security agents, are non-negotiable and irreversible,” he said.

    The SSG said the Mbah administration remained committed to protecting citizens’ democratic rights, including the freedom to campaign for and vote for candidates of their choice in the forthcoming elections.

    He described the right of residents to elect their leaders through free, fair and credible polls as fundamental to the state’s democratic development.

    Onyia added that the government was confident of securing a second term for Mbah based on what it described as the governor’s performance and delivery on campaign promises.

    “Indeed, these inalienable rights of Ndi Enugu to elect their leaders in free, fair and credible polls are our surest hope for re-election come 2027,” he said.

    He added that the administration had no reason to resort to desperate measures, maintaining that its record in office would be the basis for seeking a renewed mandate from the electorate.

  • Atiku, ADC Demand INEC Clarification On Ballot Printing Contracts, Staff Transfers

    Atiku, ADC Demand INEC Clarification On Ballot Printing Contracts, Staff Transfers

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to explain its arrangements for printing sensitive election materials and recent personnel changes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Atiku urged the commission to disclose the companies contracted to produce ballot papers and other sensitive materials, while the ADC expressed concern over alleged ethnic bias in the redeployment of staff serving in key departments.

    INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech or an affiliated company had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the elections.

    The former vice-president said information available to him suggested that more than half of the commission’s sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot papers, might have been assigned to a company reportedly based in France.

    He expressed concern that the identity and credentials of the alleged contractor had not been made public.

    Atiku also questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc would print election materials for only 15 to 17 states, leaving private companies to handle the remaining assignments.

    He urged INEC to publish the names of all contractors, the materials and states allocated to each company, the procurement procedures followed and the security measures governing production, storage and delivery.

    “These reports demand urgent and unequivocal answers. INEC must confirm or deny them and publish the names of every company engaged, the materials and states assigned to each, the procurement method, the security clearances obtained and the safeguards governing production, storage and delivery,” he said.

    Atiku argued that transparency in the production and handling of sensitive election materials was necessary to protect the credibility of the electoral process and prevent public suspicion.

    He also questioned the potential involvement of Hitech or an associated company, citing publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.

    According to Atiku, awarding such a contract to a company with those reported connections could raise concerns about the independence of the electoral commission.

    He maintained that INEC should prioritise qualified domestic security-printing capacity and ensure that every ballot paper, result sheet and other sensitive document could be tracked throughout the production and distribution process.

    The former vice-president extended his call for transparency to the printing of higher-denomination banknotes, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria to disclose its current arrangements and clarify the respective roles of NSPMC and any foreign contractors.

    **Atiku Questions INEC Personnel Changes**

    Atiku also called on INEC to explain recent postings and redeployments involving officials responsible for election administration and technology.

    The statement cited reports that Isa Magaji Gum had been transferred from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi had been appointed to head Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology.

    Atiku asked the commission to disclose the criteria used in making the appointments and demonstrate that the decisions followed established procedures and were free from political interference.

    “These departments are at the heart of election administration. INEC must explain these decisions, publish the criteria applied and show that every appointment and redeployment followed due process, was based on merit and was free from political interference,” he said.

    However, Atiku cautioned against assuming that any official was compromised because of ethnicity, background or personal associations. He said the commission should address concerns through verifiable information rather than general assurances.

    **ADC Alleges Ethnic Bias In Staff Redeployment**

    Separately, the ADC raised concerns over what it described as a pattern of transfers involving officers from northern states serving in sensitive INEC departments.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that some officers working in Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology had been moved to other departments and replaced by officials from Lagos and other South-West states.

    The party said it had received complaints and information about the changes, warning that the pattern required an explanation from the commission.

    “We have specific names of officers moved from Electoral Operations and ICT in a number of northern states and replaced with officers from Lagos and other South-West states. INEC may dismiss this as routine. But we have noticed a pattern, especially along ethnic lines, and we are concerned,” the statement read.

    The ADC did not provide the names of the affected officers or documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations in the statement.

    The party said it was not accusing INEC of having a predetermined motive but argued that personnel changes in departments central to election administration should be explained to avoid undermining public confidence.

    It warned that any perception of ethnic or regional preference in appointments to strategic positions could fuel suspicions about the neutrality of the electoral process and allegations of favouritism towards Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    The party urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to publish details of the recent postings, the criteria used to select officers for the positions and the reasons for the changes.

    According to the ADC, disclosure of the information would reassure Nigerians that electoral officials would carry out their responsibilities impartially, regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or regional backgrounds.

    The party warned that failure to address the allegations with evidence-based explanations could damage confidence in the 2027 elections.

    The concerns come as political parties prepare for the next general elections, with INEC facing expectations to demonstrate transparency in its procurement decisions, personnel management and handling of sensitive electoral materials.

  • 2027: Over 30,000 Enugu Teachers Endorse Mbah, Tinubu

    2027: Over 30,000 Enugu Teachers Endorse Mbah, Tinubu

    ...List Welfare, Increased Education Funding

    Teachers in both public and private schools in Enugu State have resoundingly endorsed the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, for a second term, citing improved teachers’ welfare, increased education funding, promotions and other interventions.

    The teachers also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose economic reforms, Mbah said, had made more resources available to states to embark on massive projects such as the construction of over 267 Smart Green Schools across all the 260 political wards of Enugu State.

    The teachers made their position known through over 12,000 of their members, who marched through parts of Enugu metropolis before holding an endorsement rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday under the auspices of Teachers for Grassroots Movement (TGM).

    In his address, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Theophilus Odo, described Mbah as a Godsend, reeling out the concrete steps taken by the Governor to address the challenges that had bedevilled the education sector in the state before now.

    “On behalf of the NUT, I want to say that we are happy today because God has given us a caring governor, Peter Mbah.

    “He was instrumental to the domestication of the harmonised retirement benefits for the teachers even before he became governor.

    “The building of over 260 Smart Green Schools is a very positive change. Our teachers and children can now compete favourably with their peers in other places.

    “He has started recruiting thousands of teachers, and he is also building smart teachers by ensuring that they attend symposiums and other training programmes to gain more knowledge.

    “There are no outstanding promotions, and our salaries are coming at the appropriate time.

    “So, we, the teachers, are endorsing our governor for a second term in office. The votes of our teachers are only for Governor Mbah,” Odo stated.

    On his part, the Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Enugu State, Nelson Agu, said private school teachers were joining such a rally in the state for the first time ever to encourage what he described as Mbah’s revolution in the education sector.

    He noted that the introduction of Smart Green Schools had challenged private schools in the state to improve.

    “When you came and started the idea of over 260 Smart Green Schools, we thought we were out of service. But we went and upgraded our schools to meet the required standards.

    “Importantly, the idea of allocating 33 per cent of the budget to the education sector for three consecutive years is something to laud your administration for,” Agu told Mbah.

    The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Simeon Akaeme, said the Mbah administration had restored the dignity of teachers and made life better through huge investments in infrastructure and social services.

    The Director-General of the Teachers for Grassroots Movement, Dr. Nwakaego Aja, described education as a springboard to liberation, self-reliance and economic development amid the systemic collapse experienced by the nation.

    Aja assured him of the total support of the over 30,000 teachers in the state.

    “Through experiential learning and innovation, you brought answers to the quest by our nationalists, elevating education to a catalyst for economic development,” she asserted.

    “We, the teachers, are not ingrates. We see what you are doing. You promised disruptive innovation, and you have delivered disruptive innovation. That is why we are here.

    “We promise you this: we will take your good news to the communities, to the staff rooms, to every market, to every polling unit, and we will deliver. Our vote is for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from bottom to top,” she stressed.

    The Commissioner for Education and patron of TGM, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said the endorsement by the teachers in their thousands was a tip of the iceberg of the support coming his way and that of the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

    He added, “On behalf of every teacher gathered here today, I have one message, and that is to thank you for believing and investing in the vision that it is through education that Enugu State will attain greater heights. You have committed so many resources to giving every Enugu child a future.”

    In his remarks, Governor Mbah said the endorsement meant so much to him beyond the 2027 polls, as the future his administration wanted to build for the state depended on education and the teachers.

    “Today’s endorsement carries a particular significance, and that is because everything we do, all the promises we have made, all the projections we have made — growing Enugu’s economy, becoming one of the top three states in terms of GDP, making Enugu State the number one state in terms of investment, business, living and tourism — are in the hands of our teachers.

    “That is why it appears as if we are insane about education when you consider what we are doing in the sector —building over 7,000 classrooms. And we are not talking about the details because we do not talk about 464 furniture items, we do not talk about 25,000 desktop computers, we do not talk about over 5,000 tablets or the free feeding and uniforms, among others.

    “For us, it is about transformation —transforming an education system. And that whole transformation, whether we fail or succeed, would lie largely in your hands.

    “That is why, when I say that I see you and I value you, it comes from the depths of my heart because I understand what you go through to inculcate this knowledge into our children so that we can become that great state. So, we love you and appreciate you dearly,” he emphasised.

    The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, said the endorsement was a great reward for a government that had made education the cornerstone of its development agenda.

    The event attracted senior government officials, political and community leaders, among others.

  • 2027: INEC Releases Final Candidates’ List Amid Protest, Relief

    The release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission has sparked mixed reactions following the omission of prominent opposition figures, including a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.

    While the Ogun PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of mounting pressure on INEC to exclude its candidate, Pantami’s camp urged supporters to remain calm. Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano, is yet to react.

    There was jubilation among supporters of politicians whose names came under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court ruling that raised doubts about their qualification.

    INEC published the names of candidates contesting the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections on its website on Saturday, marking a significant stage in preparations for the 2027 polls.

    Sunday PUNCH review of the list shows that it contains 18 presidential candidates.

    Among the prominent figures whose names appeared on the list were President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, listed under the Allied Peoples Movement.

    The list also includes governorship candidates across 26 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara.

    A review of the published names by Sunday PUNCH showed that while several candidates whose nominations had attracted attention made the final list, others were absent, leaving their political camps to confront questions over their participation in the elections.

    Among those missing were Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State.

    Adebutu’s running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, was also absent. The Accord Party governorship candidate in Ogun, Alhaji Olaniyi Agbongboakala, was similarly missing.

    The omissions have drawn attention to disputes surrounding party primaries and the legal requirements for nominating candidates, particularly following a Supreme Court judgment on the conditions political parties must satisfy in selecting candidates for elective offices.

    The judgment had raised questions about the validity of some nominations, including compliance with party membership requirements and the conduct of primary elections.

    It was not immediately clear whether the omissions of the affected candidates were directly linked to the judgment or to other issues concerning their nominations.

    Pantami’s omission

    In Gombe State, Pantami’s absence from the list raised questions because he had emerged as the PDP’s candidate in a fresh governorship primary conducted after a court ruling invalidated his earlier nomination.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had nullified Pantami’s initial emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered a fresh primary after a suit challenging the process was filed by Usman Garry.

    Garry argued that the PDP failed to conduct a valid governorship primary before announcing Pantami as its candidate on June 26, 2026.

    He contended that the party’s adoption of Pantami without the required primary violated its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.

    In her judgment, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed directed the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral laws.

    The ruling effectively set aside Pantami’s earlier emergence and required the party to repeat the nomination process.

    Following the judgment, the PDP conducted a fresh governorship primary on Tuesday across the 114 wards in Gombe State’s 11 local government areas.

    Pantami won the rerun with 2,024 votes, defeating former House of Representatives member Khamisu Mailantarki, who scored 389 votes, and former Gombe State House of Assembly member Usman Aliyu Garry, who polled 112 votes.

    Despite his victory in the fresh primary, Pantami’s name and that of the PDP were absent from INEC’s published list of governorship candidates for the state.

    The spokesperson for the Pantamiyya Movement, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, urged supporters to remain calm, describing the development as a temporary challenge rather than a final determination of the former minister’s political future.

    In a statement shared on Pantami’s Facebook account, Mohammed said the camp was aware of the omission but remained hopeful that the issue would be resolved as the electoral process continued.

    “This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah,” the statement read.

    The statement did not, however, specify the legal or administrative steps the party or Pantami’s camp intended to take to address the omission.

    The development leaves the PDP facing questions over its representation in the Gombe governorship race, particularly after the party conducted a repeat primary in compliance with the court’s directive.

    The commission’s published list showed Bala Bello as the ADC candidate, Ardo Kumo as the NDC candidate and Gwamna Isyaku as the APC candidate in Gombe.

    Ogun PDP alleges interference

    In Ogun State, the PDP accused the APC of mounting undue pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu from the final list, alleging that the ruling party feared losing the governorship election.

    The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, who urged residents and party supporters not to panic over the omission.

    The party maintained that Adebutu remained its duly nominated candidate and expressed confidence that his name would eventually be published by the electoral commission.

    According to the PDP, Adebutu registered as a party member within the stipulated period, obtained a printed membership card, underwent verification and submitted the required information to INEC before the deadline.

    The party said the omission would not deter its efforts to challenge the APC in the 2027 election.

    “The public should be informed that the omission of our candidate’s name in INEC’s list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election,” the statement said.

    The published list included 13 governorship candidates for the state, among them Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, of the APC; Jimi Lawal of the ADC; Babajide Rotimi of the Allied Peoples Movement; Adenuga Adekunle of the Boot Party; and Akinbola Rotham of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. The Accord Party candidate, Agbongboakala, was also missing from the list.

    Chinda, Omo-Agege, Ochei make the cut

    The list also featured some high-profile candidates whose nominations came under scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s ruling on political party membership registers and candidate selection.

    On September 24, 2026, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld an appeal filed by INEC and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which the Court of Appeal had earlier invalidated. The case originated from a suit filed by the Zenith Labour Party challenging the constitutionality of the provisions.

    Under the restored provisions, only members whose names appear in a political party’s membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before its primary, congress or convention may participate in the exercise.

    Parties must use the submitted register, while failure to submit it within the statutory period prevents a party from fielding candidates. Section 84(2) also provides for candidate nominations through direct primaries or consensus.

    The judgment raised questions about politicians who changed parties shortly before their primaries, including Kingsley Chinda, Ovie Omo-Agege and Victor Ochei.

    However, the Supreme Court did not expressly disqualify any of the politicians, meaning the validity of their individual nominations depends on compliance with the applicable legal requirements.

    But the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chinda, and a former Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege of the Nigeria Democratic Congress contesting Delta Central senatorial district made the list.

    Also on the list is the former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Ochei, contesting the Delta North senatorial list under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

    Other candidates

    The list also provides a clearer picture of the candidates expected to contest governorship elections in the 26 states covered by the publication.

    In Kwara State, Zakari Mohammed is listed as the ADC candidate, Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the APC candidate, Abdulmumin Ajia as the NDC candidate and Kawu Bolakale as the PDP candidate.

    In Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is listed for the ADC, Obafemi Hamzat for the APC, Doherty Adeshina for the NDC and Doherty Olugbemiga for the PDP.

    In Abia, the candidates include Kalu Agu of the ADC, Ndubuisi Ogah of the NDC, Kelechi Anosike of the PDP and Eric Chinemeucheya of the APC.

    Adamawa’s list includes Modibo Ribadu of the ADC, Aishatu Ahmed of the NDC, Maurice Vunobolki of the PDP and Ahmed Galadima of the APC.

    In Akwa Ibom, John Akpanudoedehe is listed for the ADC, Michael Eyong for the NDC, Sunday Akpan for the PDP and Umo Eno for the APC.

    Benue’s candidates include Hembe Lorwase of the ADC, Terhemba Shija of the NDC, Michael Aondoakaa of the PDP and Governor Hyacinth Alia of the APC.

    In Borno, Babagana Buhari is listed for the ADC, Ibrahim Kashim for the NDC, Abba-Gana Baba for the PDP and Mustapha Gubio for the APC.

    In Ebonyi, the candidates include Ukpai Udeh of the ADC, Igwe Paulinus of the NDC, Chukwuma Ifeanyi of the PDP and Francis Nwifuru of the APC.

    Enugu’s list includes Ocho Chukwuma of the ADC, Christian Ohaa of the NDC, Geoffrey Nnaji of the PDP and Ndubuisi Mbah of the APC.

    In Kaduna, Isa Ashiru is listed for the ADC, Bawa Usman for the PDP and Sani Uba for the APC. Kano’s list includes Ibrahim Amin of the ADC, Yusuf Kabir of the APC and Abacha Sani of the PDP.

    In Oyo State, Yusuf Adebola is listed for the NDC, Adegoke Adegboyega for the ADC, Gbolarumi Ola for the PDP and Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun for the APC.

    The list also names Aliyu Ahmad of the NDC, Manir Dan’iya of the ADC, Abdullahi Sokoto Abubakar of the PDP and Aliyu Ahmed of the APC in Sokoto State.

    In Plateau, Akuns Sunday is listed for the NDC, Sura John Sunday for the ADC, Ropshik Wungak for the PDP and Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the APC. Punch

  • 2027: ADC To Inaugurate Presidential Campaign Council Friday

    2027: ADC To Inaugurate Presidential Campaign Council Friday

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The African Democratic Congress will inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council on Friday as the party steps up preparations for the 2027 general elections.

    The ceremony, scheduled for 4pm at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, will be presided over by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark.

    In a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the inauguration would formally activate the party’s presidential campaign structure.

    He said ADC leaders, governorship candidates, National Assembly candidates and state House of Assembly candidates were expected to attend the event.

    According to Ologbondiyan, the gathering would strengthen coordination among party leaders and candidates as the ADC prepares to take its campaign message to voters nationwide.

    The inauguration comes as political parties intensify activities ahead of the 2027 polls, with the ADC seeking to establish itself as a major opposition platform against the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    The party has recently stepped up efforts to strengthen its structures across the country and coordinate its political activities ahead of the elections.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar holds the ADC presidential ticket, placing the party among the opposition groups seeking to consolidate support ahead of the presidential election.

    The party had earlier appointed Abia lawmaker Austin Akobundu as Director-General of its presidential campaign council, which Atiku described as a lean campaign structure.

    Ologbondiyan urged party leaders and candidates to attend the inauguration, saying their participation would demonstrate unity and commitment to the party’s preparations for the elections.

  • Umahi Dismisses Rift With Wike, Says They Need Each Other

    Umahi Dismisses Rift With Wike, Says They Need Each Other

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has dismissed reports of a strained relationship between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

    Umahi described Wike as a progressive politician and member of the same political family, insisting that there was no serious disagreement between them.

    The minister spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during a press conference where he addressed reports of divisions within the All Progressives Congress and speculation over his relationship with Wike.

    “We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” Umahi said.

    He said political opponents had exaggerated whatever differences existed between them, adding that their relationship remained cordial.

    Umahi urged political actors to focus on national development rather than allow political disagreements to distract from the work of government.

    Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, had said in January that his rainbow coalition represented a departure from conventional party politics towards a broader political movement focused on the interests of Rivers State.

    However, the Progressive Governors Forum has maintained that it would not support political alliances that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

    Speaking on the activities of his ministry, Umahi said the Federal Government inherited 2,068 ongoing projects valued at approximately N13 trillion.

    He said the administration was working to close the country’s infrastructure gap, adding that borrowing for infrastructure should be considered an investment where the projects could generate returns and stimulate economic growth.

    On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the minister defended the procurement process, saying Nigerian law permits open competitive tendering, selective tendering and special procurement.

    He explained that special procurement was adopted for the first phase of the coastal highway because of the complexity of the terrain and the need for a contractor with specialised experience in coastal engineering.

    According to him, the procurement process was approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council.

    Umahi also disclosed that the external financing component of the project attracted more than $100 million in excess commitments from international financiers, which he said demonstrated confidence in the project and its handling.

    The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government had commenced “Operation Rescue” on the Asaba-Benin road following difficulties associated with its concession.

    He said the government had intervened in seven sections of the route to restore movement, while plans were being made to redesign and reconstruct the road with concrete pavement.

    Defending the use of concrete for major highways, Umahi said the method offered greater durability and could last for several decades, potentially up to 100 years, when properly designed and maintained.

    He added that the first 119-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway had been completed, while the second section, measuring 164 kilometres, was expected to be completed by November 15.

    Umahi said the infrastructure projects being undertaken across the country reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to tackling the infrastructure deficit and improving connectivity between communities and regions.

    “There is no part of this country, there is no state that is not a construction site under President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

  • Rainbow Coalition: Wike, Chinda Hold Talks With Fubara

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some leaders of the Rainbow Coalition met with the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the latter’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Also at the meeting were the state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kingsley Chinda and Senator Magnus Abe.

    Though the purpose of the meeting could not be immediately ascertained, it was the first time the FCT minister had visited the governor since the beginning of the political crisis that rocked the state and even after the feud between them was resolved.

    Recall that after peace returned to the state, a reconciliation committee headed by former Senator Magnus Abe had met with Fubara twice at the Government House on how to accommodate the governor’s supporters in the new political arrangement.

    Fubara himself had, during a public function in Port Harcourt, declared that he had returned to his political family.

    On the latest visit to the governor’s private residence, which Wike led, sources described the meeting as “strategic and part of the ongoing fence-mending by the minister ahead of the Rainbow Coalition’s campaign for the 2027 general elections.”

    A source who pleaded anonymity said, “It is also part of measures to cement the renewed peace in the state. You know the Senator Magnus Abe-led reconciliation committee has met with the governor twice.

    “Now, maybe it’s time for the FCT minister to visit the governor to show that peace has truly returned.”

    The coalition had yet to officially kick-start its campaign for the forthcoming poll.

    It was learnt that the meeting brought together core supporters of Fubara and Rainbow Coalition leaders in the state.

    They were said to have agreed to collaborate and strategise on how to work together for the common purpose of winning the next general elections in the state. Punch

  • 2027: Turaki Urges Nigerians To Reject Vote-Buying, Choose Leaders On Merit

    2027: Turaki Urges Nigerians To Reject Vote-Buying, Choose Leaders On Merit

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    A factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, has urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and assess candidates based on their ability to provide quality representation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Turaki made the call on Monday at the second Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Colloquium held in Bauchi to mark the 68th birthday of Governor Bala Mohammed.

    He particularly appealed to young Nigerians to become more involved in politics and governance instead of waiting to be described as “leaders of tomorrow.”

    Turaki warned voters against exchanging their votes for money, rice, spaghetti or other material inducements, arguing that such practices could weaken citizens’ ability to demand accountability from elected officials.

    “We must not vote in exchange for spaghetti, rice, money or any other inducements. We must vote according to the capacity of the candidates to offer quality representation and contribute to national development,” he said.

    He said the quality of leadership produced by the electoral process was partly determined by the choices made by voters, adding that citizens who refused to participate in elections could also contribute to the emergence of poor leadership.

    Turaki urged youths to take an active role in political processes and decision-making, rather than being treated merely as campaign supporters or election-day voters.

    “We must stop saying that youths are the leaders of tomorrow; when will that tomorrow come?” he asked, stressing that young people should be involved in decisions concerning the country’s future.

    The PDP factional leader also expressed concern about the quality of legislative representation in the country.

    He argued that attention should not only be placed on the number of laws passed by the National Assembly but on whether such legislation addresses challenges confronting Nigerians, including hunger, unemployment, poverty and insecurity.

    According to him, effective legislation should improve citizens’ living conditions and address the country’s fundamental problems.

    Turaki also disagreed with comments by former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who had earlier criticised what he described as growing executive influence over the Senate.

    Baba-Ahmed, in his keynote address at the event, argued that repeated interference by the executive had weakened the independence and vibrancy of the Senate. He also questioned whether lawmakers were primarily representing the executive or the citizens who elected them.

    He called for a legislature that would be more willing to defend citizens’ rights and assert its constitutional independence.

    Responding, Turaki said the focus should be on electing legislators capable of producing quality laws that respond to the needs of Nigerians.

    He argued that Nigeria had experienced differences in the quality of legislative representation over time and said understanding past and present developments was important to improving the country’s democratic future.

    Turaki said a strong legislature was necessary for effective checks and balances and called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the political process.

    The event brought together political figures and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s democratic development and the role of institutions ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • 2027: Anambra Govt Urges APGA Supporters To Reject Obi, NDC

    2027: Anambra Govt Urges APGA Supporters To Reject Obi, NDC

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Anambra State Government has urged supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to reject Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The government made the call in a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, accusing the former Anambra governor of working against APGA since he left the party in 2014.

    The statement, titled “A Betrayal Alert for Ndi APGA,” described support for Obi and the NDC as a threat to APGA’s political strength in the state.

    “A vote for Peter Obi and the NDC is a vote to kill APGA,” the government said.

    It alleged that Obi had been working to undermine the party that produced him as governor after his departure from APGA.

    The government also contrasted Obi’s political position with that of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that Tinubu supported APGA while Obi backed efforts against the party.

    “Do not be deceived by a man who abandoned his own house. Anambra is APGA. Ndi APGA, defend your home. Resist the NDC,” the statement added.

    Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 after emerging as the APGA candidate. He left the party in October 2014 and joined the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He later moved to the Labour Party in 2022 and contested the 2023 presidential election, finishing third behind Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

    Obi left the Labour Party in December 2025 and joined the African Democratic Congress before subsequently aligning with the NDC ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

    The latest exchange comes amid an increasingly heated political relationship between Obi and the administration of Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo.

    The two sides have also been engaged in a dispute over financial obligations linked to projects implemented during Obi’s tenure as governor.

    The state government said in September that Obi’s administration was associated with external financing valued at $123.77 million, with $92.35 million reportedly outstanding as of June 30, 2026, citing figures from the Debt Management Office.

    Obi rejected the characterisation of the facilities as loans he personally obtained for the state, saying he neither borrowed from financial institutions nor issued bonds on behalf of Anambra during his tenure.

    The state government has also challenged Obi’s claim that his administration left N2.1 billion in ecological funds, saying it could not establish that the money was held in the account and bank identified by the former governor.

    The political dispute is unfolding as parties and political groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with APGA remaining the governing party in Anambra and Obi seeking the presidency on the NDC platform.