- APC debunks ex-chair Adamu’s alleged movement to ADC
- Bauchi PDP says Bala Mohammed still with party
- LP faction to INEC: Accord Usman recognition; wishes Obi well in ADC
- Dickson: I’m still in PDP but keenly monitoring developments
Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the 2023 elections, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed shock that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is still seeking Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Datti recalled that Atiku has been seeking to occupy the highest office in the land since his (Datti) National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days.
Baba-Ahmed made the remark yesterday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He noted that the country needs a new generation of leaders, adding that many capable citizens are willing to address the country’s challenges but are discouraged by what he described as an expensive and difficult political system dominated by godfathers and unfulfilled promises.
According to him, “When I was doing my NYSC, Baba Atiku was an aspirant, and in 2018, we contested the primaries together. In 2023, we contested again, with me as a vice-presidential candidate elsewhere, when his vice president had left him. And, for God’s sake, in 2027 again.
“There is a need for a new generation of Nigerian leaders, and they do exist. A whole new generation is waiting for a new leader to lead them to a new party.
“There are good Nigerians capable of solving Nigeria’s problems, but they are discouraged by an expensive, difficult and treacherous system filled with godfathers and broken promises.”
The Labour Party chieftain also dismissed claims that he had declared interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election.
He clarified that he only reaffirmed his membership of the Labour Party and did not announce any presidential ambition.
“I never declared to contest the presidency, even though there could be a possibility of that happening. I certainly did not declare for the presidency. I simply reiterated my membership of the Labour Party,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed added that decisions on future elections would depend on the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the position of the party, urging the public to ignore what he described as sensational narratives circulating on social media.
Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress, APC has denied viral online reports that its former National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has defected to the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The report, circulated online on Thursday, claimed that Adamu’s alleged defection was “neither sudden nor accidental, but the culmination of months of deepening rifts, quiet consultations, and growing dissatisfaction with the internal direction of the APC at both national and state levels. As a founding pillar of the ruling party and one of its most influential power brokers since 2015, Adamu’s exit would represent a symbolic and strategic blow to the APC’s cohesion.”
Debunking the rumour yesterday, the APC in Nasarawa State said Adamu is still a committed member of the party.
A statement signed by the party’s state organizing secretary and coordinator of the APC e-membership registration exercise, Barr Hassan Abubakar, a copy made available to our correspondent yesterday in Lafia, described the rumour as unfounded and mischievous.
The statement reads: “We state categorically and without any ambiguity that this claim is false, malicious, and deliberately concocted to mislead the public and sow seeds of confusion within the APC family.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator (Dr) Abdullahi Adamu, CON remains a steadfast, committed and card-carrying member of the APC. At no time did he defect, contemplate defection, or associate himself with any other political party.
“The photograph being mischievously circulated online was taken during the ongoing APC e-membership registration and revalidation exercise, a nationwide programme aimed at strengthening the party’s database and consolidating internal democracy.
“The said image clearly captures Senator Adamu revalidating his APC membership, in full alignment with the party’s constitutional processes and reform agenda.
“It is therefore irresponsible, intellectually dishonest and politically desperate for faceless individuals and their sponsors to twist a legitimate party activity into a false narrative of defection. Such acts amount to deliberate misinformation and an affront to political decency.
“Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s pedigree, sacrifices, and towering contributions to the growth and stability of the APC are well documented and need no validation from purveyors of fake news. His loyalty to the APC is unquestionable, unshaken, and unwavering.
“We call on party members, the media, and the general public to disregard this falsehood in its entirety” the statement added
Adamu, had in a newspaper report dismissed his rumoured defection to the APC as false and a social media attempt to attract attention, saying “I am not an ungrateful politician.”
“Don’t mind the social media reporter. They want to draw me out, but I have nothing to tell anybody. I am not an ungrateful politician. I served at the highest level of my party, and I am where I am today,” the former APC chair was quoted to have said.
A similar report about Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed planning to defect to the ADC has also been debunked by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The state PDP Chairman, Hon. Sama’ila Adamu Burga, described the defection claims as fake, baseless and politically motivated in a statement issued yesterday.
He urged the public to ignore the misinformation being shared on social media.
Burga said the rumour was already addressed at a stakeholders’ meeting held on January 4, 2026, where party leaders reaffirmed their loyalty to the PDP and passed a vote of confidence on the governor.
The meeting was attended by top PDP officials, members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, State Executive Council, local government chairmen, party executives, serving lawmakers, and other political stakeholders.
According to Burga, stakeholders commended Governor Mohammed for his leadership and commitment to good governance as governor of Bauchi State and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
He added that despite media attacks and political pressure, the governor remains committed to defending democratic values, fairness and constitutional order.
Burga noted that Governor Mohammed expressed gratitude for the support and reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, promising to continue promoting peace and development in Bauchi State and Nigeria.
He stressed that the governor has never discussed plans to defect to the ADC, APC or any other party, and that major political decisions in the PDP are taken collectively and through consultation.
Burga concluded that Governor Bala Mohammed remains a loyal and principled leader of the PDP adding that the party is open to dialogue with others, but not on the basis of rumours or misinformation.
LP faction to INEC: Accord Usman, Nwokocha recognition
The Labour Party faction led by its interim chairman, Nenadi Usman has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to affirm Senators Usman and Darlington Nwokocha as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively of the party.
The party in a communiqué after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, said this would be in compliance with the rule of law and the April 4, 2025, Supreme Court judgement referenced by the commission.
The communiqué, which was signed by Senator Nwokocha, said the NWC unanimously adopted Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, as the National Leader of the Labour Party.
It wished its former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, who left the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) well in his future political endeavours and in his new political party.
The communiqué reads: “The NWC reaffirmed that the Labour Party remains united, indivisible, indissoluble and steadfast in its mission to build a Nigeria founded on equal opportunity, social justice, and good governance.
“Accordingly, as the party continues to monitor political developments across the country, the Labour Party remains a strong and viable political force and shall continue to operate as an independent, ideologically driven political organisation.”
The party noted the recent expressions of interest by certain individuals to contest elective positions under its platform, stating that “this growing interest reflects the increasing confidence Nigerians have in the party.”
It maintained that the congresses and the National Convention will still hold as scheduled and urged members at all levels to actively participate in the congress processes.
“The Labour Party leadership remains committed to ensuring credible, transparent, and inclusive congresses,” the communiqué added.
I am still in PDP— Senator Dickson
Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has dismissed as false reports circulating in sections of the media alleging that he has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Ajiri Daniels, Senator Dickson categorically stated that he remains a committed member of the PDP and has not decamped to any other political party.
The Senator explained that he is presently in mourning following the death of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. He noted that, as a mark of respect, he has since stepped back from political activities during this period of mourning and has been busy receiving condolence visits from friends, political leaders, allies and well wishers all over the country.
These visitors cut across political leaders from different political parties and persons from all spheres of life.
While noting that he is keenly following developments in the political space, Senator Dickson assured that after the burial, he will consult widely with friends and political allies across the country before taking any decision, which will be formally announced. But in the meantime he still remains a key leader in the PDP, hoping that the party will get its act right in view of its legacy contribution to Nigerian politics.
He urged members of the public, party faithful, and supporters to discountenance the report, describing it as fake news and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, and advised them to rely only on information from his verified communication channels.
