A former governor of Edo state and national leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Oyegun, has expressed joy over defection of a faction of the Obedient Movement in Edo State into the party.
Last week, a faction of the Edo State Obedient Movement led by Comrade Ikhuenbor Felix Igbinevbo collapsed into the All Progressive Congress (APC) to support reelection of President Bola Tinubu.
“About 95 percent of those here are members of the Obedient Movement and Labour Party stakeholders. We supported Peter Obi in 2023, but we have resolved to support President Tinubu for a second term because we believe his reforms will benefit the common man,” Felix said.
But Chief Oyegun said the defection was a sign that the people were ready to join the struggle for a leadership change in the country.
He said, “A new Nigeria is truly possible. A few days ago, I was in the hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu joined us.
“Today is the first time I saw youths that were committed to the nation building. It is my first time meeting members of the Obedient Movement in this number. We are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.
“You have decided to take up the struggle yourself by joining the ADC. I am happy. I want to say that from the day the coalition came together, I was convinced that we are on the right path.
“I am sure you are not happy with what is happening in Nigeria and Edo State. Remember that the chairman said that we have one target is that we have a country to save. We must start to make sure that through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible.
Edo coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Asemota Idiogbe, said the ADC remained the only party that could battle the APC at the polls.
Hope was reignited among young people in Osun State at a youth stakeholders’ meeting organised by the APC Youths, Osun State, in collaboration with the City Boy Movement, Osun State Chapter, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial flag bearer, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), unveiled his bold, youth-centred vision for the state.
Addressing a gathering of youth leaders, party faithful, and grassroots mobilisers, Asiwaju Oyebamiji made it unequivocally clear that his administration, if elected, would place youths at the very centre of governance and development. He emphasised that young people would not merely serve as foot soldiers during the campaign but would be active participants and decision-makers in his government, with their voices heard loudly and respected at all levels.
The former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) outlined a comprehensive strategy to tackle youth unemployment and economic exclusion. According to him, his administration will drastically reduce unemployment through deliberate investments in small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), expanded skill acquisition programmes, talent and innovation promotion, access to low-interest SME loans, and targeted support for artisans and informal sector operators.
Oyebamiji further highlighted plans to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) into Osun State as a pathway to industrialisation. He noted that industrial growth would create both direct and indirect employment opportunities for youths, stimulate local production, and strengthen the state’s economy. In addition, he promised structured training in various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to equip Osun youths with globally competitive competencies, enabling them to thrive in the digital economy and secure sustainable livelihoods.
He reaffirmed that youth empowerment under his leadership would be intentional, inclusive, and sustainable, aligning with the broader progressive ideals of the APC and the Renewed Hope philosophy at the national level.
The declaration was met with resounding applause, chants, and overwhelming affirmation from youths in attendance, who pledged their total support, mobilisation, and commitment to the AMBO project. The atmosphere reflected renewed confidence, collective excitement, and a shared belief that a new dawn of youth-driven governance is on the horizon for Osun State.
Indeed, AMBO ti dé and Osun youths are ready.
•Olalekan Oni is a Public Affairs Analyst/Social Commentator, wrote from Lagos
Victor Olabimtan is former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) in Ondo State. In this interview with Correspondent TOSIN TOPE in Akure, he speaks on the objectives of the RHA, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, grassroots mobilisation ahead of 2027, and internal reforms within the APC.
Can you briefly highlight the core objectives of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and how they align with President Tinubu’s national development agenda?
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) is a child of necessity, created to bridge the obvious communication gap between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the intended beneficiaries of government policies, programmes, and projects.
You know, when falsehoods are allowed to circulate repeatedly without correction, they risk being accepted as truth. The RHA exists to straighten the narrative, present facts as they are, and ensure Nigerians understand the realities of governance under the Tinubu administration.
Our core objective is two fold: to disseminate accurate and honest information from the federal government to Nigerians and to collect structured feedback from the grassroots for onward transmission to relevant authorities. This two-way engagement ensures inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.
The RHA is a nationwide initiative designed to educate Nigerians on the reforms and opportunities embedded in the Renewed Hope Agenda. Through town halls, market engagements, faith-based visits, roadshows, and stakeholders’ forums, ambassadors translate government initiatives into simple, relatable, and practical terms.
Beyond public enlightenment, the RHA also strengthens party outreach and mobilization by connecting APC structures from the national level down to states, local governments, wards, and units. This fosters unity, consistent messaging, and effective engagement between elected officials and their constituents.
In essence, the RHA serves as a functional governance interface – delivering credible information from government to citizens, while channeling grassroots feedback back to government.
What specific programmes of the RHA are currently being implemented in Ondo State, and what impact have they made so far?
The RHA is still at its formative stage nationwide. The national, zonal, and state ambassadors have been inaugurated, with the Southwest zonal leadership ably led by Distinguished Senator Dayo Adeyeye – a man whose track record speaks for itself.
In Ondo state, we are adopting a bottom-up approach by consulting widely to establish RHA structures at the local government, ward, and unit levels. This is deliberate, as no community or group must be left behind.
The response from the people has been overwhelming. The most significant impact so far is the renewed confidence among citizens that, for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, a practical feedback mechanism is being institutionalized to connect them directly with the federal government.
So, soon, the RHA will swing fully into action nationwide, spreading awareness and endearing government policies to their rightful beneficiaries across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
How would you assess President Tinubu’s performance so far, especially in areas likely to shape his re-election campaign?
Independent economic analyses have acknowledged the impact of President Tinubu’s reforms. A recent Quantus Economist report, analysed on Arise Television by Dr. Reuben Abati noted that the President’s policies helped stabilize an economy that was virtually on its knees when he assumed office.
Key reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, the elimination of dollar arbitrage, and foreign exchange market restructuring have repositioned the economy. The report identified 2024 as a turning point resulting from these bold policy decisions.
One of the administration’s biggest achievements is the naira-for-crude policy, introduced on October 1, 2024.
The policy allows local refineries to purchase crude oil in naira instead of dollars. It is projected to save Nigeria about $7.32 billion annually and reduce monthly forex spending on petroleum imports from $660 million to about $50 million.
This initiative strengthens the Naiira, boosts local refining capacity, reduces pressure on foreign exchange, encourages private investment-such as the Dangote Refinery-and enhances energy security. It is already easing the pains of subsidy removal and stabilizing the economy. These achievements, alongside improving food prices and fiscal stability, are strong pillars for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
President Tinubu has so far proved himself as a purposeful leader who is prepared for the job through his renewed hope agenda. The economy was not just in shambles when he took over; it was running on deficit with government at all levels struggling to pay salaries and meet other financial obligations.
All that are now in the past, and things are gradually getting better. The renewed hope agenda of the president is already yielding massive and visible results.
So, what strategies are being deployed to mobilize grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general election?
Let me tell you, President Tinubu has remained focused on implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda, allowing results to speak louder than rhetoric. Every well-meaning observer can see the visible positive results, except the naysayers.
In whatever endeavour you find yourself, the greatest disservice you can do to yourself is to allow your oppositions or detractors to shape your narrative. As aforementioned, we are not where we ought to be yet, but we are equally far better than where we were before.
The RHA is a key mobilization strategy and designed to ensure Nigerians understand these results and how they benefit from them.
Our work is made easier because the reforms are already yielding visible outcomes. As we often say, we may not yet be where we desire to be, but we are far better than where we were before.
How is the campaign now addressing criticisms surrounding economic reforms?
The RHA was specifically designed to engage Nigerians at the grassroots, explaining both the sacrifices and the gains of the reforms. Governance is complex, and meaningful progress requires tough but necessary decisions. PBAT didn’t mince words when he pleaded with Nigerians to join hands with him in his quest to revive the economy.
This administration adopted a proactive, long-term, and goal-oriented approach, unlike previous reactionary policies. Positive change always demands sacrifice, but the signs are clear that Nigeria is emerging from the woods.
For two years, we discussed our pains. Now, it is time to consolidate and celebrate our gains.
What achievements stand out as the strongest selling points for Tinubu’s re-election?
Without doubt, there are many achievements that can easily pass as the selling points of PBAT’s government. The Naira-for-crude policy stands out as a masterstroke. It promotes domestic refining, conserves foreign exchange, stabilizes fuel prices, strengthens the naira, and positions Nigeria as a regional energy hub.
The initiative was predicted to save Nigeria $7.32 billion annually and reduce monthly forex expenditure on petroleum products from $660 million to $50 million. The policy was introduced on 1st of October, 2024, to allow local refineries to buy crude oil in naira, not dollars, to stabilize the currency, boost local refining, cut forex demand, and increase energy security by reducing reliance on imported refined products.
This policy enables domestic refining, using Naira for crude sourcing and generating refined products (like petrol) sold in naira, thereby strengthening the local economy, reducing dollar pressure, and making fuel cheaper for Nigerians.
The policy is gradually easing the pain inflicted by the removal of the fuel subsidy and also stabilizing the economy. The objectives of this policy are to encourage investment in Nigeria private refineries (like Dangote Refinery); reduce demand for dollars in the oil sector, ease pressure on the naira and boost confidence in the local currency; prevent dollars from leaving the country for crude purchases, keep value within the domestic economy; bring down the price of petrol at the pump and; make Nigeria more self-sufficient in refined products and position it as a regional supplier.
Now, the policy is already yielding visible results with long-term economic benefits as projected by PBAT. The purposeful leadership style of the president has also strengthened many state governments to embrace industrialization; a clear example is Ondo State. These are unique and undeniable achievements.
Additionally, President Tinubu’s leadership has empowered states to pursue industrialization, with Ondo State being a clear example. These are concrete, measurable achievements that cannot be wished away.
How prepared is the Ondo State RHA team for voter engagement and election-day mobilization?
The RHA is an offshoot of the APC that was created as part of the mobilization strategies to re-orientate Nigerians and let them know that we cannot go back to the era where people sleep in petrol stations just to buy fuel, where state governments have to reduce weekly workdays to three because salary couldn’t be paid or where higher institutions of learning were locked down for months due to incessant strike actions.
So, the Ondo State RHA is ready, even though we are still completing our formation process. Once the local government, ward, and unit structures are inaugurated, operations will fully commence.
Under the leadership of our governor, His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa-who also serves as the Ondo State Chairman of RHA – we are confident of building a formidable and efficient structure.
There are reports of internal disagreements within the APC, How accurate are these claims?
Disagreements are natural in any political organization. The APC’s guiding principle is simple: you may disagree, but do not be disagreeable. There is no system that can accommodate or take care of all interests at a go. But as much as possible those agitations will be addressed one after the other. You will agree with me that despite the seeming internal disagreements, the APC has a way of resolving it crisis.
There are different layers of interventions in crisis management within the APC before the leader will step-in. Once the leader steps in the matter, it gets resolved immediately. What many describe as internal crises are largely agitations for recognition. The APC has well-established conflict-resolution mechanisms, and once leadership intervenes, issues are promptly resolved. This is why the party continues to grow stronger.
Are there plans for internal reforms to strengthen party discipline and cohesion?
Yes. The APC is currently undergoing internal reforms. Recently, President Tinubu inaugurated a Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution and Mobilization, chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, with Dr. Muiz Banire as Secretary.
The committee is tasked with developing inclusive, sustainable strategies ahead of 2027. Online membership registration is ongoing, and preparations for party congresses are underway.
The APC is evolving-not just as the largest party in Nigeria, but as the most organized. These reforms reaffirm the President’s commitment to ensuring that democracy works and does not fail.
A group, The National Political Study Group, has warned detractors not to distract President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by bringing to the front burner any nomination politics ahead of 2027.
The group, in a statement by its leader, Emmanuel Aro, dismissed insinuations that the President is under pressure over the choice of running mate for the next general election.
Also, a presidency source said the president is focussed on his mandate and addressing what he described as a wrong perception that Christians are being singled out for attacks across the country.
The source said efforts to correct this narrative are beginning to yield positive results.
Aro, who spoke in Lagos, said although legitimate scheming by politicians have started, the president is not somebody who can be intimidated, manipulated and pushed around by those nursing ambition for relevance.
Also, the Presidency source, who reacted to a report in one of the national dailies which claimed that the President was under pressure to field a Christian running mate in 2027, rather than retain the Muslim-Muslim ticket with Vice President Kashim Shettima, said people are only peddling rumours.
He said: “Look, we are aware that some persons want the VP replaced. Initially, they wanted a fellow Muslim to replace him. But now that they have seen that the arrangement is not flying, they want to latch on the US sentiment to push their new agenda of having a Christian running mate. But I can tell you for free that it will not work.
“Any APC person plotting that does not mean well for Mr. President and our party. Tampering with the ticket as it is will do us more harm than good in the North, especially if ADC eventually sticks by its original plan to field a northern candidate. If it is about winning strategy, we are better the way we are because replacing Shettima with a Christian may affect our chance in the entire Northeast and votes from some critical states in the North.”
He added: “The US angle to the story is all hoax. The US posturing is changing already. Besides, are we no longer believers? If we run with a Christian candidate and God does not want us, if the US like, let them put everything they have into it, it will still not work. So, we should stop playing God.
“Our President is smart and strategic. He has not told us he wants to replace Shettima. We are aware, like you said that some of the presidential aides, in some of their conversations appear to be buying into the idea of having a Christian run with Tinubu. But the truth is those doing that are majorly Christians. Therefore, I can understand their sentiments. However, on Shettima’s birthday, when Mr. President released what looked like a ‘shut your mouth’ statement.”
President Tinubu had during the vice president’s 59th birthday, described him as loyal deputy, insisting that his choice as his running mate in 2023 was never a mistake.
The president said: “The birthday presented another unique opportunity to celebrate you, my brother, co-traveller and Vice President, as you mark another birthday.
“Since we embarked on this journey, united by the shared vision of building a more prosperous nation, your courage, sense of duty, tenacity, determination, and belief in Nigeria’s greatness have remained unshaken.
“You served the people of Borno, your home state, excellently as Governor for eight years and later as Senator representing Borno Central in the National Assembly. In both roles, you showed that leadership is service, not privilege, even in the face of immense challenges.
“However, your service to Nigeria, fueled by your passion for democracy, good governance, and economic development, has been even more remarkable.
“I deeply appreciate your vibrancy, loyalty, partnership, and support as my deputy. In choosing you then as a partner, I selected competence and other qualities that Nigeria could depend on.”
President Tinubu added: “Every day, as Vice President, you have justified that choice by strengthening our work, bringing fresh perspectives, and upholding our commitment to Nigerians. Your dedication reassures me that I did not make a mistake in choosing you as my deputy.
“Together, we have begun to lay the foundations of the Renewed Hope Agenda. From securing new global partnerships across the Atlantic to driving food security and investment reforms at home, your partnership has been integral to our success.
“In the months ahead, as we unlock new trade corridors and deliver more schools, hospitals, and jobs, our partnership will continue to yield results that Nigerians can see and feel. We must continue to work towards the full realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which will foster prosperity in the country and enhance the living standards of our people.
“Our relationship transcends official duties. It is a bridge across regions and traditions, united in purpose and service. You remind us of what is possible when Nigeria comes first — an example worthy of emulation by those who aspire to lead.”
Ndokwa Nation makes the case for a development-driven Anioma State anchored on equity, integration and safeguards.
By Olisa Imegwu
The ongoing debate over state creation in Nigeria—both at the governmental and agitation levels—has remained largely anchored in traditional considerations of geography, history, culture, and ancestry. While these factors are important, they no longer sufficiently address the contemporary socio-economic and political realities confronting communities in a rapidly changing world.
This position paper argues that the discourse on Anioma State creation, particularly as it concerns the Ndokwa Nation, must move beyond a fixation on identity and historical origins and align instead with modern imperatives of socio-economic integration, political equity, and development within the context of a global information- and technology-driven era.
The paper reflects the collective views of Ndokwa stakeholders and seeks to provide a clear, reasoned, and forward-looking framework for engaging the Anioma State question.
Paradigm shift
Global history—from the Industrial Revolution in Europe to contemporary globalisation and geopolitics—demonstrates that societies that prosper adapt to structural change. Today, that change is increasingly shaped by the Information and Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, which prioritises scale, integration, infrastructure, and institutional capacity over narrow identity politics.
Nigeria’s continued reliance on pre-independence and pre-civil-war identity frameworks has constrained development and deepened political fragmentation. The current moment, therefore, calls for a paradigm shift:
From ancestry-driven politics to socio-economic and political integration;
From elite preservation to collective advancement, and
From historical anxieties to future-oriented governance.
This shift does not erase history or heritage; rather, it situates them appropriately within a modern developmental context.
Hybrid identity & regional alignment
Ndokwa and other Anioma groups are part of the broader Igbo-speaking populations historically associated with the Old Eastern Region. While post–civil war developments introduced identity tensions and political realignments, language, culture, and lived social realities continue to demonstrate deep affinities.
The question before the Ndokwa Nation is therefore not one of denying origin, but of choosing the political and economic framework that best advances the welfare of its people in the present and future.
Membership in a reconfigured Southeast Region—should Anioma State be created therein—does not preclude the preservation of local identity, heritage, or autonomy. On the contrary, it offers an opportunity for structured integration with safeguards, guarantees, and negotiated outcomes that protect minority interests within a broader union.
Historical context of the identity crisis
The rejection or ambivalence toward Igbo identity among some Igbo-speaking groups outside the present Southeast Region emerged largely in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Before the war, Igbo-speaking peoples of the Old Eastern Region—including Ndokwa/Anioma communities—were broadly recognised and self-identified as Igbo.
Post-war policies and experiences—including the Asaba massacre, abandoned property policies, and financial disenfranchisement—created deep psychological and political scars. In an attempt to escape stigma and marginalisation, some communities distanced themselves from Igbo identity.
Ironically, historical records show that in the 1930s–1960s, western Igbo communities, led by traditional rulers and political leaders, actively sought integration with the Eastern Region. This historical complexity underscores that current identity debates are neither fixed nor immutable, but shaped by political circumstances.
Traditional authority & historical affirmation
Recent statements by respected traditional rulers, including HRM Professor Louis Nwaoboshi, the Obuzor of Ibusa, reaffirm long-standing historical accounts linking Anioma communities—particularly Asaba—to Igbo origins, notably Nteje.
These accounts, corroborated by other traditional authorities and institutions such as the Ndígbo Traditional Rulers Forum, do not seek to impose identity but to clarify historical narratives that have become politicised and contested.
The Asagba of Asaba’s acceptance of patronage and allegiance to Igbo traditional forums further illustrates the complex and sometimes contradictory positions that now characterise Anioma discourse.
Contradictions in contemporary positions
A central concern of Ndokwa stakeholders is the inconsistency in the positions taken by some Anioma leaders and representatives. These include:
Opposition to Anioma State being located in the Southeast Region
Simultaneous demands for inclusion and benefits from the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC);
Absence of alternative legislative bills proposing Anioma State in another region
Such contradictions weaken collective bargaining power and raise legitimate questions about strategic intent and political coherence.
It is not legally or politically sustainable to reject regional affiliation while seeking benefits explicitly designed for that region.
Legislative reality & political strategy
The legislative record shows that formal proposals for Anioma State—alongside Warri and Toru-Ebi States—were submitted to the National Assembly and recognised in the September 2025 Compendium of Bills on Constitutional Review.
In contrast, opponents of Anioma State in the Southeast Region have not presented any formal legislative alternative. Effective political engagement requires institutional action, not media statements alone.
Identity in a modern context
In today’s AI-driven, globally integrated economy, rigid adherence to identity politics yields diminishing returns. Global examples—from the United States to Singapore, Europe, and Asia—demonstrate that diversity, inclusion, and institutional strength, rather than ancestral origin, determine developmental success.
For the Ndokwa Nation, the critical question is not where ancestors came from, but where future opportunities lie—in terms of infrastructure, energy, ports, political representation, and economic scale.
Igboid vs. Southeast Igbos: a strategic choice
The distinction between “Igboid” peoples and “Southeast Igbos” is acknowledged. However, political and economic relevance in Nigeria increasingly depends on regional cohesion and institutional presence rather than linguistic dispersion.
The creation of Anioma State in the Southeast Region presents a strategic opportunity for the Ndokwa Nation to reposition itself within a regionally coherent and economically viable framework, while insisting on protections against domination and cultural erasure.
Ndokwa’s conditions
Ndokwa Nation’s support for any new union or state configuration is contingent upon the following clearly articulated and documented guarantees:
Transparency in oil production data: We request that DPR and DESOPADEC immediately release verified production figures attributable to Ndokwa communities.
Recognition as oil-producing communities: We also call for the full implementation of legal criteria qualifying Ndokwa communities for 13 per cent derivation benefits.
Equitable share of derivation funds: There should also be a clear articulation of Ndokwa’s entitlement based on production data.
Power infrastructure:
We also request a step-down from the Okpai IPP to ensure comprehensive electrification of the Ndokwa Nation.
Local government restructuring: We demand the creation of additional local governments, particularly to address the size, population, and terrain challenges of Ndokwa East, and to correct long-standing imbalances with the former Asaba Division.
State capital location
We also call for the designation of Aboh, Kwale, or Obiaruku as the capital of the proposed Anioma State.
Maritime Infrastructure: Establishment of a world-class seaport in suitable Ndokwa East riverine locations.
Political representation: Zoning of the governorship to the Ndokwa Nation. It also wants the creation of an Ndokwa Senatorial District, allocation of two Federal House of Representatives seats, and the first opportunity for ministerial and senior NDDC appointments.
Conclusion
Ndokwa Nation’s experience within the Midwestern Region, Bendel State, and Delta State has not produced commensurate socio-economic outcomes, particularly for Ndokwa East.
Should the Anioma State option fail to accommodate these legitimate demands, the Ndokwa Nation reserves the constitutional right to pursue an alternative pathway: the creation of a Ndokwa State, with Ndokwa East as its capital, open to all like-minded communities.
This position is not adversarial but pragmatic—anchored in equity, development, and the collective future of the Ndokwa people.
•Dr Imegwu is a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has affirmed that the people of Akwa Ibom, across party lines, are united in their commitment to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope agenda for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The governor made the declaration on Friday during a New Year homage visit to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, at his residence in Uyo.
He used the visit to reiterate the state’s backing for President Tinubu’s administration and to express appreciation to Akpabio for his leadership, which he said has brought pride to Akwa Ibom at the national level.
“We pray for more wisdom upon you to keep supporting President Tinubu because you are all tied together. We also assure you that we are holding the ground at home for you. That is one assurance you need to know.
“Akwa Ibom is united for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Akwa Ibom is united for you, Chief Akpabio. In fact four days ago the youths of Akwa Ibom State held a massive rally to endorse the President, yourself and my humble self.
“Akwa Ibom is united across party lines. We may have some storms in the teacup, they will always be there. But when you see at the general outlook, you would know that the State is very united as far as 2027 is concerned,” he said.
Pastor Eno commended Akpabio for the New Year gesture of ordering the withdrawal of all cases he had instituted against those who defamed and slandered him, saying such a gesture showed a strength of character.
“It gave me so much joy because that is leadership. Beyond what you did, it is a great encouragement to Pastors that our leaders can listen to a message and be inspired by it.
“It was Mahatma Gandhi who said that forgiveness is not for the weak but for the strong. It takes a strength of character to rise above such feelings of hurt to let go of the past. So I commend you for that,” he said.
On his part, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended Pastor Eno for his support for President Tinubu and said the success of the President is the success of Nigeria as a country.
“We are behind you just as we support President Tinubu. His reform agenda may be painful, but it is working. I want to thank you for your support for the President and also for uniting the whole State to support him.
“We are focused on assisting the President to succeed because if the President succeeds, Nigeria succeeds.”
Akpabio thanked Governor Eno for the New Year visit and quoted Chinua Achebe to buttress it. “When we gather together in the moonlit village ground, it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so,” to underscore the current unity in the State.
“I commend you for the peace that we are enjoying in the state. You have done well in terms of the projects that you have executed. You have done well in terms of infrastructure. You have done very well in terms of human empowerment.
“I have seen joy on the faces of Akwa Ibom people. The joy that you have brought to this State, the unity that you have brought to this State, will outlive you. Generations yet unborn will benefit from it. I wish you a happy New Year,” Akpabio said.
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has called on the Chief Judge of the High Court of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, to immediately recuse himself from any impeachment proceedings or risk being reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In an open letter dated January 18, 2026, and shared with The Nation, ALDRAP warned that should the Chief Judge entertain any impeachment notice from the Rivers State House of Assembly, the association would pursue legal action and file a formal petition before the NJC.
The Abuja-based legal body cited a March 2025 petition sent by the Rivers Assembly to the Department of State Security Services (DSS), alleging age falsification by the Chief Judge, as a potential source of bias.
Titled “Recuse Yourself Immediately From Considering Any Letter Of Notice Of Impeachment Submitted By The Rivers State House Of Assembly Or Face The National Judicial Council (NJC),” the letter was signed by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and Executive Director of the Nigerian Law Society.
He stated, “Your Lordship, Chief Judge of the High Court of Rivers State, Sir, I do not need any introduction because you already know me personally.
“Also, our Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners-ALDRAP does not require any introduction because you already know the work that we did for the Rivers State Judiciary in the year 2021 when we installed the JURISCRIPTA software for the judges of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal.
“You spoke about this during the ceremony for the opening of the 2022 legal year of the Rivers State Judiciary.
“We write this letter to respectfully inform you of our Association-ALDRAP’s firm resolve to commence both a lawsuit and a petition against you, if you consider any letter of impeachment submitted by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The major reason is that you are in a position of conflict of interest, and there is a strong likelihood of bias if you are to consider any letter of impeachment by this particular 10th Assembly of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The reason is that in March 2025, this same Rivers State House of Assembly authored and submitted a petition against your good self to the Department of State Security Services (DSS), stating that they have documentary evidence that you engaged in falsification of your age of retirement. This is reported online.
“In the light of the foregoing, the most noble and legitimate course of action is to recuse yourself and write to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to appoint a neutral Chief Judge of another State of Nigeria to overseer the panel to consider any purported letter of impeachment from the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) demanded.
Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Adamawa State under the aegis of Adamawa Progressive Elders Council have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for second term.
The endorsement was contained in a communiqué by Vice Chairman of the council, Senator Abubakar Girei, and the Secretary, Mrs. Olvadi Madayi after the council meeting at the Muna Hotel, Yola.
The Elders said the decision followed extensive consultations aimed at strengthening internal cohesion within the party while positioning the APC for victory in the 2027 general elections
They noted the council, constituted in line with the recommendations of the APC Reconciliation Committee, was set up with the mandate to address internal disagreements and forge a united front among party stakeholders in the state.
They pledged to work towards resolving all lingering disputes within the party and mobilise support for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the general polls.
According to them, supporting President Tinubu’s second-term ambition aligns with their mandate to build a strong and united APC capable of delivering electoral success at all levels.
They expressed gratitude to President for appointing Adamawa indigenes into strategic positions in his administration, including the appointment of the party’s state leader to sensitive national office.
The elders announced plan to organise a grand rally and reception in honour of all the federal appointees from the state to demonstrate their gratitude to President Tinubu.
To deepen its impact at the grassroots, the APC elders also resolved to take it’s reconciliation and mobilisation activities to the local government and ward levels with the aim of resolving disputes and preventing divisions.
They further reaffirmed their stance that any member aspiring to elective office must step aside from the council to preserve its neutrality and impartiality.
The elders announced the constitution of four committees with Chief Joel Madaki named as Chairman of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee; Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, appointed to head the Conflict Resolution Committee while Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi was appointed as Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, and Ahmad Sajoh, named Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee.
The meeting was attended by key party figures, including a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former Governors, serving and former ministers, as well as experienced legislators.
The gathering also received a goodwill message from the party’s leader in Adamawa State, delivered by the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha.
For the second time in three years, the axe of impeachment has dangled over the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. On October 30th, 2023, the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, began a process of removing Fubara, a few hours after the hallowed chamber of the Assembly was attacked by unknown arsonists.
The political disturbances caused by a worrisome chain of events that threatened lives and property and critical national assets, including oil installations, compelled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers.
The six-month emergency rule anchored by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), saved Fubara’s government and restored peace in the state. The governor, in most of his public outings, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for rescuing him.
When he eventually resumed office on September 18th, 2025, after the emergency rule, Fubara wore the message of peace as his garment. His disposition after the emergency rule gave everyone in the state the impression that the worst was over. Stakeholders believed that peace had come to stay at last.
How fresh crisis began
But no sooner had the governor settled down for governance than a fresh crisis crept into the state. It started subtly with an unusual silence and later began to loom large.
First, the House of Assembly carpeted the governor over what it described as the rot in the educational sector. The report of its Committee on Education was damning. The committee accused the governor of neglecting the sector. In fact, the lawmakers in a plenary wondered why the governor abandoned the sector despite inheriting N600bn left in the treasury of the state by Ibas.
Lamenting the development, Amaewhule said, “Is it that we don’t have funds in the state? Of course we have! At the time the administrator, Ibas, was leaving, he left over N600 billion in the accounts of Rivers State. Over N600 billion by October, can’t such funds be used to remedy the situation in our schools?”
Fubara replied to Amaewhule and said that improving the poor state of education in Rivers was a top priority of his administration. He announced that the sector would receive the largest allocation in the 2026 budget.
He admitted that many schools across the state were in bad shape, but stressed that the decay did not happen overnight.
According to him, the deterioration predated his government and was one of the major issues used by opponents during the 2023 election campaigns.
Indeed, the initial outburst by the House of Assembly was an expose that things were beginning to fall apart and the centre was gradually caving in again. The governor’s later response further gave credence to the emerging cracks.
In his recent project inauguration, Fubara seized the opportunity to address some issues, which expanded the coast of the crisis. His explanation showed that the executive and the legislature were not working together.
Though he declared that he had no personal problem with the House of Assembly members, the governor claimed that he had not been able to meet with the lawmakers because the arrangement for such a gathering had yet to be made by the concerned leaders.
Fubara averred that the leader of the state’s Elders’ Council, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, could attest to the many failed efforts he had made to meet with the lawmakers. In fact, the governor particularly said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, had not made the necessary arrangements for the meeting.
He said: “I have made every effort; I believe that the leadership of the State Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Anabraba can attest to this. I have made every effort to meet with them, and the arrangement wasn’t for me to call them directly. It was for our leader, the Minister, to arrange the meeting, and till now that meeting has not been fixed.
“So when people go about saying I don’t want to meet with them or that I don’t want to meet their demands, that is not true. I don’t have any reason to do that.
I personally said whatever their need is, I am ready to meet it so that we can have peace in the State.
“So, please, I am saying it here. Whoever is telling you that I don’t want to meet with the members of the State House of Assembly is not true. I met with our leaders, and they said they will arrange a meeting. I don’t want to go behind them so that it won’t look like going behind is to divide the house. I am a gentleman and very principled. That is the reason I am saying it here.”
However, Fubara’s statement angered Amaewhule, who, without mincing words, described the governor as a liar. Amaewhule claimed that the lawmakers met with the governor many times after the emergency rule, but that Fubara had refused to implement the decisions reached at the peace gathering.
He recalled that Wike arranged a meeting between the 27 members of the House and the governor at the Minister’s official residence in Abuja.
He also remembered that another meeting was arranged by Wike involving members of the Elders Council, some lawmakers and the governor at the residence of Anabraba.
Amaewhule recalled that in one of the meetings between the governor and the lawmakers, Fubara told them that he would not present any other appropriation bill to the assembly.
He lamented that the assembly was in the dark about the actions of the governor and that Fubara had been spending money without the approval of the lawmakers.
He said: “Emergency rule was declared, and after the emergency rule, we asked the governor to bring his budget so we could take care of all he intended to do. We asked him to present his budget. In 2024, he spent without appropriation. In 2025, he was spending. After the emergency, we had a meeting, and we asked him to bring his budget.
“Here, in that meeting, the governor told us blatantly that he was not going to bring the budget. God is my witness. I shouldn’t have brought all these because we are trying to see how we can mend fences. We kept mum, hoping the governor would do the right thing.
“From September, the governor has been spending without our approval. He has been awarding contracts to his cronies, especially those who masterminded the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly. They are mocking us that they have been rewarded for burning the Rivers House of Assembly.
“The governor does not seek the approval of the Rivers Assembly. He has been spending money from his back pocket. The governor’s outburst is the reason for this conference. We need to set the record straight. The Minister of the FCT means well for Rivers State. He wants peace and wants the state to move forward.
“The Minister summoned all the members of the State House of Assembly, and 27 of us were present in that meeting in the official residence of the Minister in Abuja. The governor sat with us, and we had a meeting with him. We were shocked to hear the governor say that no meeting had been called.
“Let us also inform Rivers people that after the emergency rule, the FCT minister also caused a meeting to take place at the residence of Chief Anabraba in GRA Port Harcourt.
“We had the meeting of the Elders’ Council, and in that meeting, some members were present. How many meetings does the governor want the FCT minister to call for him to do the needful? Is it 100? We didn’t want to do this press conference because we have resolved following the interventions of Mr President to sheathe our swords to allow peace to reign.
“We didn’t want to speak to the press so as not to heat the polity. We kept quiet even when he refused to bring his appropriation bill”.
Amaewhule said as part of their investigations about what transpired during the emergency rule, they discovered that the outgone Rivers Administrator left a whopping N600bn in the accounts of Rivers State.
He said perhaps the governor’s anger was that the House Committee on Education submitted a report that highlighted the collapse of educational infrastructures in the state under Fubara.
Amaewhule said: “Part of what we have found out that transpired during the emergency rule is that the outgone administrator left over N600bn in the account of Rivers State. The governor has been boasting about how he will use the funds to divide the assembly and buy the members.
“The governor needs to know that members of the assembly are not for sale. The 27 of us remain committed to the dreams and aspirations of the people and to our constituents. We are prepared to serve Rivers and to do the needful.
“The governor’s outburst disparaging the FCT minister will not help him. The governor does not need to react in a reactionary way just because of the report of the House Committee on Education. The governor should know that as a governor, he ought to be a leader. At the moment he is failing.
“He doesn’t want to be a leader. His outburst does not show him as a leader. He is sending his attack dogs to insult us on social media. This will not help him. He gives them money everyday to insult us. It will not help him. All those things are not in the best interest of Rivers.
“He needs to show leadership. We are debunking the governor’s assertions. We have been meeting with him, but he has failed to keep to the terms. He doesn’t want to keep to the terms. But we will remain calm”.
The governor was compelled to explain the N600bn he inherited from Ibas. He said: “I want to say to the world that when we left during the emergency rule, our records are there. We left over N300bn, and when we came back, we met about N600bn. Every penny that we are spending the records are there, and evidence of it will be shown between now and the next six months.
“So, there is no issue with what we are doing with our money, or with the money we met. At least nobody can take away my sincerity. I am not associated with anything that has to do with fraudulent acts”.
The main problem
The brickbats opened a can of fresh political wounds, revealing reasons behind the uprising. It was all about failures to keep agreements. The agreements that facilitated the truce had been breached. During one of his visits to local government areas, Wike accused Fubara of flouting the terms of the peace pact. The Minister said the agreement was entered into under the supervision of President Tinubu. He vowed to disclose the terms of the agreement.
Though there has not been an official confirmation of the agreement the governor entered into with the camp of Wike, sources disclosed that Fubara agreed to concede the local government areas to his boss, allowing Wike to produce all the chairmen and councillors of the 23 local government areas. He was said to have agreed that he would not seek a second term and that he would present a supplementary budget to complement the 2025 Budget passed for the state under Ibas by the National Assembly.
The governor was said to have agreed that he would drop Dr. Tammy Danagogo as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and reinstate Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse as the Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, as well as drop Edison Ehie as his Chief of Staff, among others.
The lawmakers and members of the Wike political camp are accusing the governor of being a serial violator of agreements. They believed that Fubara could no longer be trusted. They wondered why the governor was fond of entering into agreements that he was not willing to fulfil. An official of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who spoke in confidence, said the governor was neither coerced nor persuaded to enter into the agreements that returned him to power after the emergency rule.
The source said: “When he discovered that if he failed to settle with Wike and the lawmakers, the President might extend the emergency rule, the governor went alone to meet with the lawmakers and Wike. He was the one who proposed most of the conditions in the agreement. He told them he was only interested in completing his first tenure.
“He also said they should produce all the local government chairmen and councillors. He begged them and vowed that he would keep the terms of the agreement. He even asked the Minister to nominate his commissioners. But the Minister declined the offer and told him to nominate members of his cabinet, but that the assembly would dutifully screen the nominees.
“It was after that meeting that they all went to see the President, where they told President Bola Tinubu all that they agreed. The President advised the governor on the need to keep the terms of the agreement and also told him about his experience in Lagos. So, nobody forced Governor Fubara to enter into the agreement.
“Immediately, he was reinstated, the governor started singing another song. In one of the meetings he held with the lawmakers, they asked him to bring a supplementary budget to facilitate the correction of some of the financial mistakes he made. He bluntly told them that he would not do anything like that.
“The governor’s intention was to operate the 2025 budget approved for the state by the National Assembly, taking advantage of the extra six months window allowed by the constitution, and that will be close to an election period when all attention will shift from governance to election. The lawmakers can no longer trust him.”
Some stakeholders insisted that Fubara should clarify the terms of the truce. Robinson Ewor, a factional Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in the state, appealed to the governor to disclose the agreement to Rivers people.
Ewor said: “In all the places the FCT Minister visited and made speeches, he said agreements were reached before the lifting of the state of emergency and before President Tinubu.
“One of the things he highlighted is that the governor agreed before the President not to run for a second term. The governor agreed that he would drop Tammy Danagogo as the Secretary to the State Government. Ordinarily, these issues wouldn’t have bothered us because he is no longer a member of the PDP.
“But because we are Rivers people, we elected him and gave him a mandate for a period of four years, all his actions directly or indirectly affect us as a people. It is based on this that we demand that the governor should come out clean and tell Rivers all the things they agreed before the state of emergency was lifted”.
But Fubara has remained mute, failing to speak on the agreements he reached with the lawmakers and the Minister.
The anger of the lawmakers boiled over, compelling them to initiate a fresh move to remove the governor. The Speaker Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, in a televised sitting, resolved to serve a notice of impeachment on the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. The House sent two documents containing allegations of gross misconduct to Fubara and his deputy. The lawmakers gave them seven days to respond to the accusations in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Can Fubara survive another impeachment move?
Most of the allegations contained in the notice that was recently served on the governor bordered on financial recklessness; spending from the consolidated revenue without recourse to the approval of the House of Assembly. The lawmakers cited many examples of such expenditures. But most people believe that the Amaewhule’s House may find it difficult to remove the governor.
First, Fubara’s smart move to the APC with his followers would surely slow down any attempt to bundle him out of office. Already, APC governors and the party’s National Working Committee were said to have rallied round the governor. As one of theirs, they were said to be doing everything possible to protect the governor. Besides, the lawmakers and loyalists of the FCT Minister are members of the same party as Fubara, while their principal, Wike, is a leader of the opposition PDP. It was learnt that the NWC was making sure that the issues were settled internally within the party.
Besides, it was further gathered that President Tinubu, who has been playing a father figure in the Rivers crisis was not disposed to impeachment. The President was said to have intervened to ensure that the impeachment notice was withdrawn by the lawmakers. But the President reportedly insisted that the governor must honour the agreement as a precondition for the withdrawal of the impeachment notice.
Signs that the parties were beginning to mend their fences emerged following the moves by some state lawmakers to appeal to their colleagues to temper justice with mercy.
The Minority Leader of the House, Sylvanus Nwankwo and the member representing Degema Constituency, Peter Abbey, were the first to appeal.
Sylvanus claimed that after a plethora of calls and pleas from various elders and leaders within and outside the state, there was a need to seek an amicable resolution of the matter.
While admitting that Fubara allegedly violated some aspects of the constitution, Sylvanus said the issues could still be handled outside the impeachment process.
He said: “You are all aware that the Rivers State House of Assembly issued a notice of impeachment on the governor and his deputy. But we are appealing to our fellow colleagues to temper justice with mercy.
“Let us see how we can solve this matter outside of impeachment proceedings. We are appealing to the conscience of our fellow colleagues, having listened to many pleas, calls from our elders and leaders both within and outside the state, begging for leniency.
“We are begging our colleagues to reconsider our steps and see how this matter can be resolved amicably, even though the governor and the deputy governor had infringed the constitution”.
Abbey, on his part, urged Fubara to henceforth stop taking steps that could lead to the violation of any part of the Constitution to facilitate the resolution of the matter.
He said: “The governor has infringed on parts of the Constitution. But we are human beings, and we want to plead with our colleagues to please reconsider. You don’t swing an axe the way you raise it. But the governor must also take steps not to infringe further on the constitution to bring an amicable solution”.
Two female members of the House, Barile Nwakoh, representing Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi, representing Wike’s Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made a similar appeal.
The legislators said that though the governor and his deputy might have breached the constitution, they were moved by pressure from respected leaders and stakeholders to calm down for an amicable resolution of the matter.
For instance, the two female lawmakers said: “One of the significance of the move by the lawmakers was that none of them denounced their signatories to the impeachment notice. They unanimously indicted the governor but vehemently called for a political solution instead of the outright removal of Fubara.
“The governor has seriously abandoned the agreement entered into in the past with the supervision of Mr President in a bid to find a lasting solution to the constitutional infractions.
“This cast serious doubts on why any person should trust him. However, we have been inundated with calls from some of our leaders and Rivers people begging that we seek a political solution to this problem created by the governor and his deputy.
“We, hereby, state our willingness to look at a political solution rather than an outright removal of the duo. We call our members to also consider this approach. We did not say this as a sign of weakness but because we have forgiving hearts and as mothers”.
In fact, other interventions further mounted heavy pressure on the lawmakers to seek other ways of resolving the crisis. Some prominent groups led by respected leaders, such as the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, immediately set up a committee comprising famous leaders to wade into the crisis.
Permanent solution
Evidently, it seems a truce is being brokered to avert the impeachment. The House was supposed to reconvene on Thursday to act on the impeachment notice, but the lawmakers failed to do so following feelers that negotiations were still on to broker a fresh truce.
But stakeholders appealed to the governor to do everything within his power to find a way to work with the legislature. They advised that parties to agreements must learn to honour them or renegotiate their terms to avert a crisis.
While commending the governor for meeting some of the terms, they called on him to fulfil the rest and amicably renegotiate them to ensure permanent peace in the state. Observers also called on members of the House of Assembly to soft-pedal and embrace dialogue as a veritable tool for resolving crises.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to officially announce a by-election for the Ondo South Senatorial seat at the National Assembly, political gladiators and parties are not leaving anything to chance, as they have started positioning themselves to fill the vacancy that would be created when Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who has been nominated for an ambassadorial appointment, eventually leaves. Correspondent Tosin Tope reports that a fierce political contest has begun as aspirants and political parties intensify their moves to fill the vacant seat.
The vacancy that would be created when Senator Jimoh Ibrahim vacates the Ondo South Senatorial District seat following his nomination for an ambassadorial appointment has ignited quiet but intense manoeuvring among political gladiators, party leaders and interest groups. They are all keen to secure an early advantage ahead of the expected bye-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when the seat is officially declared vacant.
From informal consultations to strategic alignments, the race, though unofficial, has effectively begun, especially across the six local government areas that make up the Ondo South Senatorial District, as political meetings are being convened under various guises.
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of the Senator Ibrahim as a “non-career ambassador,” his name on the list for the diplomatic job has already triggered a fresh scramble among power blocs within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition parties in the southern senatorial district of the state thereby opening a prized political window for the bye-election to fill the seat.
Senator Ibrahim, who hails from Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state, was a first-timer and was part of the 64 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate arm of the National Assembly on December 18, 2025.
His confirmation by his colleagues in the National Assembly followed his being asked to “take a bow” when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by former Niger State Governor, Senator Sani Bello.
In line with Section 68(1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ibrahim has been required to vacate his seat in the National Assembly, a development that has triggered intense political positioning in Ondo South ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing his colleagues before his exit during the plenary under order 42 (personal explanation), the federal lawmaker lauded the leadership of the 10th Senate, describing the chamber as liberal, inclusive and focused on national development.
“I must sincerely appreciate the effort of this chamber and, more importantly, the leadership of the 10th Senate under your very able leadership,” he said.
Ibrahim, elected on the APC platform and sworn in as a Senator in June 2023, said the Senate’s practice over the last two and a half years reflected liberal democratic principles consistent with Nigeria’s political system.
“This Senate has been one in history that has distilled serious concern for national interest and national development,” he said.
With Senator Ibrahim’s departure, the resulting by-election has now created a rare mid-term opportunity for political actors seeking relevance, visibility, and bargaining power ahead of the next general elections.
APC under pressure:
Several political analysts have predicted that the by-election once announced by INEC could become a major test of political strength within the fold of the ruling APC in Ondo State for the 2027 general election, most especially as the political machinery in Ondo South Senatorial District is roaring to life, setting the stage for an election that may define the state’s political rhythm ahead of 2027.
The district has always been one of the state’s most contested zones in history, due to its significant voter population and an oil-rich coastline whose development needs often become key political bargaining chips.
Several aspirants – both former office holders and new entrants – have begun mobilising consultations across the district’s local government areas, signalling an intense battle for party control in the coming weeks to succeed Senator Ibrahim.
Sources within the APC revealed that some leaders from Ondo South are already insisting that Senator Ibrahim’s replacement must come from within the existing party structure, while others argued that the contest should be thrown open to allow for broader participation in their desperation not to be caught unprepared when the electoral umpire eventually blows the whistle.
Within the party, the anticipated by-election has reopened old fault lines and sparked fresh ambitions. While some party leaders are pushing for continuity and internal cohesion, others see the contest as an opportunity to recalibrate influence within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development has also rekindled intra-party rivalries within the APC, particularly between the camps loyal to Senator Ibrahim, those aligned with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, federal-level stakeholders and moneybags politicians, seeking to assert influence and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to have a share of political positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to insiders, the supporters of Governor Aiyedatiwa are already seeing the upcoming by-election as an opportunity to consolidate his influence within the district as he positions himself ahead of the 2027 cycle, mostly in rallying support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Also, the Abuja power blocs are already tightening their belts with federal-level politicians, including a top minister from the state, political appointees, and APC national powerbrokers eyeing the contest to hold the zone firm for their loyalists.
Some of the aspirants jostling for the seat have begun engaging party leaders, traditional rulers, and influential stakeholders, seeking endorsements and testing the waters, even as many of the interactions are being carried out discreetly, the undercurrent of competition is unmistakable.
Major political parties, particularly the ruling APC and the PDP, are believed to be reviewing their internal strategies. Party chieftains are also weighing zoning considerations, electoral strength, and the prevailing mood of the electorate as they map out pathways to securing the seat whenever the bye-election is declared by INEC.
Amid the early manoeuvrings, the unfolding contest is being shaped by the unique political configuration of the Ondo South Senatorial District, which comprises Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo, and Okitipupa local government areas. Historically, the district’s politics has been driven by a delicate balance of zoning considerations, ethnic sensitivities, and party loyalty; factors that are once again returning to the front burner.
Aspirants eyeing the seat:
Also, the various aspirants coming out to contest the seat are said to be weighing how the zoning sentiments – particularly between the various zones ( Ikale, Ilaje, Apoi, Odigbo and Ile/Oluji) – may influence the party’s ticket, even as consultations with traditional rulers, party elders and influential opinion leaders intensify.
The aspirants include former political heavyweights and officeholders, former federal and state lawmakers angling for a return, technocrats seeking political entry, and grassroots mobilisers who are already putting their heads together and positioning themselves for a potential contest.
They include, but are not limited to, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, Morayo Lebi, a former APC senatorial aspirant; Mayowa Akinfolarin, ex-House of Representatives member; and Mathew Oye Oyerinmade (MATO) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu.
Others are: Former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele; former Chief Press Secretary to the erstwhile Ondo governor, Eniola Akinsola; Boye Oyewumi; Diran Iyantan; and Otunba Kayode Fakuyi, among several others.
Nicholas Tofowomo:
Senator Tofowomo represented Ondo South Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly from 2019 to 2023. In a supplementary election, he was elected to represent Ondo South after defeating the then incumbent Senator Yele Omogunwa. He previously served as the commissioner for transport during the former administration of ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Morayo Lebi:
Lebi, a legal practitioner, is a distinguished figure in the Ondo APC who has established himself as a visionary leader with a career spanning over three decades, having introduced the party to the southern part of the state. He contested various offices, including the Ondo South Senatorial seat in 2015, though he lost. He also contested the 2024 governorship election.
Lebi’s commitment to the party’s ideals is evident in his philanthropic efforts, including an N5 million contribution to support the rebuilding of the APC’s state secretariat, which was destroyed during the ENDSARS protest.
Mayowa Akinfolarin:
Akinfolarin is a former legislator and member of the Ondo State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2011, during which he rose to the position of deputy speaker, and was also a member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023. He won seats in the House of Representatives to represent the interests of the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Constituency.
Akinfolarin further re-contested the seat and again won under the APC in 2019, becoming the only APC candidate to win the National Assembly election in Ondo South Senatorial District. Among several positions, he served as the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of the 9th National Assembly.
Mathew Oyerinmade:
Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, is also a chieftain of the APC and a renowned businessman. He contested the race for the Ondo South Senatorial Seat in 2023.
Born in Oke-Igbo, an ancient town in Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area, on May 27, 1967, Oyerinmade is also known as a quiet philanthropist who has consistently contributed to poverty alleviation, empowerment, and community development in different parts of the state.
Oladunni Odu:
Princess Odu is an astute politician. She was born on December 29, 1952, in Okitipupa Local Government Area. She was appointed as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. She was a Commissioner for Education in Ondo State (1995-1999), a former Commissioner for Women Affairs (January 1999 to May 1999), and the Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) from September 2003 to February 2009.
In 2013, Odu was appointed Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, a position she held till 2015. She was also appointed as the Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission, Akure, in 2015. She was again appointed as the Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board by the late Akeredolu in October 2017.
Jumoke Akindele:
Akindele was the first female speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. She is also a lawyer. She was born in Okitipupa Local Government Area. In April 2007, Akindele contested the Okitipupa Constituency II seat in the Ondo State House of Assembly, but lost to the opposition party. She re-contested on April 11, 2011 and was eventually elected. During her tenure in the House, she served as Chairman of the House Committee on Education.
On May 27, 2015, she was elected Speaker of the Assembly following the sudden demise of the former Speaker, Samuel Adesina. She relinquished the leadership position of the House in a resignation letter dated March 20, 2018.
Eniola Akinsola:
Akinsola was the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the former Governor Olusegun Mimiko. He’s a journalist, writer, columnist-turned politician who hails from Ondo. He’s also progressive and once contested the Senate seat for the Ondo South Senatorial District.
Boye Oyewumi:
Oyewumi is a businessman and seasoned politician. He is a former governorship aspirant under the platform of the ruling APC. He is from Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji. Oyewumi carries with him a legacy of discipline, public service, and community loyalty. He is also jostling for the race to succeed Jimoh Ibrahim.
Oyewumi’s political consciousness was awakened early. As a young activist in the 1990s, he joined the historic Hope ’93 presidential campaign of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, standing firmly on the side of democratic values. He later aligned with the NADECO movement, lending his voice to Nigeria’s struggle to restore democracy.
Diran Iyantan:
Iyantan is a former Federal Commissioner for the National Population Commission (NPC), representing Ondo State and a former governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16th, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State. He also served as a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Ondo State.
The Ikale-born APC chieftain has been involved in progressive politics in the state since the inception of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which later evolved into the APC. He’s also eyeing the Senate seat.
Kayode Fakuyi:
Fakuyi, who hails from Ilutitun Ward 2 in Okitipupa Local Government Area, is also a big player in the ruling APC. He was the coordinator for Buhari Vanguard in Ondo State in 2014/2015. He also coordinated a group of young professionals for the Tinubu/Shettima campaign in the 2023 general election.
He was a leading voice for the restoration of power supply to Ondo South Senatorial District when the distribution company disconnected the entire zone from the national grid. Mr Fakuyi holds a Master’s degree in Legislative Studies from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja. He is a legislative consultant to many federal lawmakers and legislative institutions with a primary focus on public policy, public procurement, and constitutional matters.
Zoning and pressure groups:
Reacting to the political permutations, the Ikale United Front (IUF), following extensive consultations and rigorous deliberations at its annual general meeting, has resolved to support an ‘Ikale aspirant’ to contest the senatorial seat.
The group, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jelili Geoffrey Oladapo, disclosed that the IUF is ready to back any “consensus candidate” from the Ikale axis for the Ondo South Senatorial District.
The adoption, Mr Oladapo said, aimed to strengthen the organisation, advance its objectives, and promote the overall socio‑economic and cultural development of Ikale land.
“The group resolves to deliberately and vigorously strengthen its internal structures at all levels – national, local government, and grassroots – in order to effectively pursue its vision, mission, and stated objectives.
“The Ikale United Front resolves to support and stand solidly behind its active and credible members who aspire to contest for elective political offices, provided such support is achieved through consensus and aligns with the collective interest of the Ikale people,” it said.
Despite the call for consensus, political groups within the party have also stated that, for the sake of equity and fairness, the vacant seat for the Ondo South Senatorial District should be zoned to the Odigbo Local Council Area.
They argued that Odigbo remains the only of the six councils within the district without federal representation, dismissing the agitation to keep the seat in Okitipupa Local Council, where Senator Jimoh Ibrahim hailed from.
The group, Integrity Forum, which is rooting for one of the aspirants, Mayowa Akinfolarin, emphasised that the zoning arrangement for the southern senatorial seat rightly points to the Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Federal Constituency due to its political strength.
According to the group’s General Secretary, Abiodun Adeniji, the nomination of Senator Ibrahim for the diplomatic post inherently opens the seat to new zoning considerations and arrangements.
“So, we want the zoning, if at all it’s going to take place and to come to Odigbo LGA. We are part of the South. The Ikale, Ijaw, Apoi, or Ilaje are not the only ones in the Southern Senatorial District.
“That’s why we too are demanding that we should be favoured. Any plan of Okitipupa Local Government to now want to take over again after Jimoh’s elevation is not applicable and not allowed,” Adeniji said.
Opposition smells opportunity:
In the midst of the political bickering, the opposition parties, particularly the crisis-ridden PDP, are reportedly weighing the option as they hope to capitalise on any cracks within the ruling APC for the vacant Senate seat.
The PDP, which once dominated Ondo South, is now smelling opportunity and quietly mobilising to reclaim lost ground in a district it once dominated, as the timing presents an opening.
The party is yet to regain its old statewide strength, but political pundits insist that a fractured APC could give the opposition a fighting chance – especially in Odigbo and Okitipupa, where it still retains a few pockets of influence.
Party sources told The Nation that the expected by-election is being treated as a strategic opening to test the APC’s grassroots strength and exploit internal divisions. Several PDP hopefuls are believed to be leveraging longstanding political networks and community ties, arguing that voter fatigue and local grievances could tilt the balance in their favour if properly harnessed.
Other opposition parties, such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and the African Action Congress (AAC), are not left out of the calculations. Though unlikely to dominate the race, they are positioning to influence outcomes through alliances or by serving as alternative platforms for aggrieved aspirants shut out of the race.
At the grassroots level, the contest is already stirring renewed political engagement. Community leaders, youth groups, and market associations are being courted, not only with promises of representation but with assurances of development-focused legislation and effective presence in Abuja.
Political pundits in the state note that local concerns such as infrastructure deficits, coastal erosion in riverine communities, unemployment, and lack of electricity and security are likely to feature prominently once campaigns formally commence in a short while.
They explained that the early mobilisation reflects lessons learnt from past electoral contests, where delayed preparation proved costly for some contenders, even though the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the bye-election has become a motivation rather than a deterrent.
As the political temperature gradually rises, the residents of Ondo South are watching with keen interest, as many believe the impending contest offers an opportunity to reassess representation at the federal level and demand greater accountability from their senatorial representative.
For now, all eyes remain on INEC, as the electoral body’s silence has done little to slow the pace of political calculations. In the shadows of anticipation, the groundwork for what promises to be a keenly contested race is already well underway.
