The Nation Newspaper

Category: Politics

  • 2027: U3 forum endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori, Dafinone, Waive’s re-election

    2027: U3 forum endorses Tinubu, Oborevwori, Dafinone, Waive’s re-election

    The U3 Forum, a political pressure group representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency, has supported President Bola Tinubu, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ede Dafinone, and Hon. Francis Waive ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Meeting at the Ovwor residence of its Chairman, Chief John Oguma, the forum declared unwavering loyalty to the APC and unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the four leaders. The motion was moved by Barr. Jaro Egbo and seconded by Hon. Adelabu Bojour.

    “We must return Tinubu back to the Villa. That one is sealed,” declared Chief Oguma. “The same goes for our governor. He is doing very well. He’s the only one in our history that the 24 Urhobo kings came together and gave a chieftaincy title. That shows unity and respect.”

    Speaking on Senator Dafinone, Oguma said: “We played politics with his father in the NPN. When his father was a Senator, I was a youth leader. Today, the son continues that legacy. His father did two tenures, and so should he.”

    He added that so far, Dafinone is doing a great job at the Senate so he needs to go back to consolidate on his achievements and attract more development to Urhobo Land.

    He also praised Hon. Waive for his developmental strides: “For a long time, we sent people to the National Assembly and saw no impact. But today, we have a representative who brought a Federal Medical Centre to Udu, facilitated a Federal School of Nursing, and a world-class Computer School. This is the kind of politics I believe in—human capital development before anything else.”

    Read Also: Oborevwori managing Delta’s funds prudently, says aide

    Oguma emphasized the forum’s collective resolve: “When I made that statement, no one challenged me. Instead, the support was overwhelming. We don’t play the politics of ‘I’—it’s always ‘we’. Let us respect one another. If it’s not your turn today, it could be yours tomorrow. We have one governor, one president. We must remain loyal and follow their leadership. Fighting them is like fighting God, who put them there.”

    Senator Dafinone echoed this spirit of unity: “There is no more opposition in Delta. We are now one party, with one purpose. There are no victors and no vanquished—we are all winners.”

    He praised Governor Oborevwori for unifying political forces. “Bringing the PDP bloc into the APC was visionary and unifying. Today, federal appointments go through the governor’s office. There is restored discipline and structure.”

    On national challenges, he noted, “The past two years have been tough, but under President Tinubu, the economy is beginning to recover. The tough decisions taken are starting to yield fruit.” 

    He called on Deltans and Nigerians to continue to support the APC government led by President Bola Tinubu, noting that soon, the gains of the economic policies of this administration will take away the momental that some of the citizens had to endure.

    Hon. Francis Waive was visibly moved by the endorsement. “When your people come around, pass a vote of confidence, and say you have the ticket going forward, man, I’m overwhelmed,” he said.

    He pointed to the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in Oleri—signed into law by President Tinubu—as a major achievement, saying, “We are seeing unity like never before. Governor Oborevwori has brought together political forces, and that’s what leadership looks like.”

  • Time for consensus as Kwara North eyes governorship seat

    Time for consensus as Kwara North eyes governorship seat

    • By Abdullahi Habeebullah

    After decades of waiting and devoted loyalty to the state, the people of Kwara North Senatorial District now have a golden opportunity to produce the next governor of Kwara State.

    The current governor, Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak, will be serving out his second term in 2027, thus paving the way for a successor from Kwara North.

    From Bukola Saraki, who governed the state for eight years, between 1999-2007, (Kwara Central); Abdul Fatah Ahmed, from 2007-2015 (Kwara South); to Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak 2015-2027, (Kwara Central); it is only fair that the next governor should come from Kwara North, in 2027, for balance and equity.

    It is in this context that the Kwara North Senatorial District should be putting forward one of its best and foremost politicians to succeed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in 2027.

    Prominent among such names that are being considered for the job is Mallam Tajudeen Abdulkadir Audu (Makaman Lafiagi, Kwara State), chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Venturing into the murky waters of politics in Nigeria requires a lot of guts. Interestingly, for Tajudeen Audu, a man of many sides, the coast is clear and can only be such considering his standing as the most prominent politician in Kwara North, comprising Moro, Pategi, Edu, Baruten and Kaiama local governments.

    As holder of the Makama title, Audu is essentially a high-ranking official who provides counsel and support to the Emir. His traditional title has endeared him in the hearts of the people of Kwara North.

    Hence, many youth groups and associations in Lafiagi revolve around him as a major financier of their development activities in his home community and the environs.

    He had once served as president of the Lafiagi Descendants Development Union(LADDU), during which many community projects were executed.

    Read Also: Army raids bandits’ hideout in Plateau, kill one, recover arms

    These and several other philanthropic activities have endeared him to his people, who now project him as their preferred choice to vie for the office of the governor to succeed the current Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

    Makama’s progressive works also extend beyond Lafiagi to Ilorin Central Senatorial District, where he is regarded as a governor in waiting.

    He has a very large network, including Edu Youth Development Ambassadors, Kwara Central for Kwara North Youth Assembly, Kwara Adequate Ambassadors, Bata Youth Development Association, and Kwara North Integrity Group.

    The aforementioned groups are just a few of the home boy’s support base that connects him with the entire state, thus making him the most visible contender for the office of the governor from Kwara North.

    One of Audu’s unique selling points is the fact that he maintains very close and cordial relationships with these groups as a progressive and grassroots politician.

    His background training as an administrator and manager of public finances gives him a major advantage for the state to leverage to boost revenues and investments for rapid economic growth and development.

    His foray into politics comes at a critical time when the people of Kwara North Senatorial District need a credible and competent person to present for the office of the number one public servant of Kwara State from the zone.

    His people have decided to draft him as their most preferred choice for the office of the governor for reasons that include being a core professional who is adequately equipped for the job, considering his accomplishments as a chartered accountant, as well as his numerous philanthropic services in his community that stand him out among other aspirants jostling for the coveted seat from Kwara north.

    Given this current high level of acceptance by his people as their preferred choice for the office of the governor of the state in 2027, and his general popularity in the Ilorin Central Senatorial Zone, and the south district, as well, he is now seen as the new Kwara State poster boy and next governor in the making.

    Makama, as he is popularly known in political circles in Ilorin, has become a household word across all parts of Kwara State.

    In this vein, there are very strong indications that he will emerge as the consensus candidate from Kwara North Senatorial District, as moves are already being made by the stakeholders in the zone to ensure that other aspirants unite behind him to avoid a divided house before the primary elections next year.

    Close aides of Governor Abdulrazaq have also hinted at the governor’s support and endorsement for Makama, who enjoys very good relationships with him.

    Tajudeen, a scion of Lafiagi, where the next governor is expected to come from, parades very impressive credentials that make him stand tall above others.

  • How NOA mobilises NYSC members for civic rebirth

    How NOA mobilises NYSC members for civic rebirth

    The Cross River State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) exemplifies the agency’s civic mobilization mandate, writes Sola Thomas

    When the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Cross River State Directorate welcomed the 2023 batch of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Obubra, it was clear that the interaction was not going to be a regular one. The speeches delivered were not mere protocol, while the pamphlets handed out were not just for casual reading. They were conceived as blueprints for a civic movement in the making.

    Since 2023, the Cross River Directorate of the NOA has embarked on a dynamic journey to turn NYSC members into frontline civic ambassadors. At a time when trust in institutions is fragile and misinformation spreads faster than facts, NOA has chosen to see young corps members not as temporary visitors, but as powerful conduits for civic renewal in the state.

    “Every corps member is a potential change agent,” said an NOA official in Calabar. “If we equip them with the right knowledge and purpose, they become amplifiers of truth and unity in communities that need them most.”

    The process begins at the orientation camp. From the first week of the NYSC Orientation Exercise in Obubra, NOA officers are a constant presence, delivering lectures as well as facilitating discussions on national values, civic responsibility, and the urgent need for youth-led engagement. The NOA’s signature camp programme, “Know Your Country, Serve It Right”, uses interactive modules to teach corps members about the Nigerian Constitution, national symbols, public ethics, and the dangers of fake news. Role-plays, civic quizzes, and debates bring the sessions alive, often culminating in the formation of Civic Vanguards, a select group of corps members tasked with leading civic outreach in their places of primary assignment (PPAs).

    Read Also: Northern groups hail Tinubu’s Choice of Danfulani to lead NAIC

    Once deployed across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, corps members do not just teach in classrooms or assist in clinics, they become part of NOA’s community mobilisation network. In schools from Ogoja to Akamkpa, and health centres in Boki and Biase, they help facilitate town hall meetings, environmental awareness campaigns, and voter education drives.

    The NOA also assigns corps members to support its flagship grassroots programme, the “Citizens First” Civic Engagement Series, acting as translators, facilitators, and field reporters during community dialogues.

    “I thought I came here just to serve,” said Omolola Adebayo, a corps member deployed to Ikom. “But NOA showed me how to serve with meaning. Now I’m helping teenagers understand their rights and responsibilities. It’s empowering for them and for me.”

    In 2024, as misinformation around government policies, student loans, and food inflation grew in intensity, the NOA turned to NYSC members. Under the “Fact Not Fear” campaign, corps members were trained as grassroots fact-checkers. Armed with smartphones and simplified civic toolkits, they conducted community sensitization in markets, churches, and motor parks, distributing flyers and countering false narratives, often in Pidgin English.

    Corps members stationed in LGAs like Abi, Yakurr, and Etung became vital informants in NOA’s feedback loop, reporting local sentiments back to headquarters and helping to shape more targeted messaging.

    With Cross River State’s ecological heritage both a treasure and a responsibility, the NOA’s “Green Cross River” campaign found committed allies in the NYSC corps members, many of whom led school tree-planting initiatives and clean-up campaigns in their various places of primary assignment. In Obudu and Odukpani, corps members created student eco-clubs and designed skits to teach primary pupils about the dangers of bush burning and illegal logging. Others collaborated with the Ministry of Environment on local radio programmes, discussing sustainable practices in their host communities.

    With the state’s rich mix of ethnic groups and occasional eruption of clashes among the youth in urban centres, corps members have also been playing key roles in NOA’s “Youth for Peace” and “Unity in Diversity” campaigns.

    At cultural festivals and inter-faith gatherings, corps members staged dramas and recitations on national unity, tolerance, and civic harmony, drawing applause from traditional rulers and faith leaders.

    “It’s one thing to preach peace,” said Chief Eyo Eyo of Akpabuyo. “It’s another to see a young Yoruba girl in NYSC uniform reciting proverbs in Efik, telling our sons to shun violence. That’s when the message truly sinks in.”

    As part of NOA’s digital transformation, corps members have also been instrumental in piloting the NOA Mobiliser App, conducting digital surveys and submitting community feedback in real time. Several have taken to social media—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—to share civic tips, host local trivia competitions, and celebrate local heroes promoting unity.

    These platforms have become hubs of engagement, with corps members producing short videos on issues ranging from PVC registration to public health, often going viral within their host local government areas.

    As each batch of corps members completes their service year, many leave behind more than photos and memories. Some have founded civic clubs in schools. Others have launched WhatsApp advocacy groups still active long after passing out. A few have stayed behind, joining NGOs and agencies to continue the work they began during service.

    “I thought I’d just be marking time,” said Johnson Nwokolo, who served in Calabar South. “But working with NOA showed me what national service really means. I leave here more Nigerian than when I came.”

    For the NOA Cross River State Directorate, corps members remain not just partners, but proof that when young people are trusted, trained, and given a voice, they can do a lot, starting with the mindsets of the communities they serve.

    In an era of disconnection and doubt, the collaboration between NOA and NYSC in Cross River is quietly rebuilding public trust through civic awareness.

  • Ondo governorship election tribunal fixes June 4 for judgment

    Ondo governorship election tribunal fixes June 4 for judgment

    The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed June 4 to deliver judgment in the petitions filed against the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    The three-man panel headed by Justice Benson Ogbu announced the date on Saturday in Akure after all parties adopted their final written addresses.

    Other members of the tribunal are Justice Imelda Etape and Justice Sikka Duarabo.

    According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), the tribunal, which began sitting on Jan. 31, 2025, received five petitions challenging the outcome of the election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the winner of the election.

    The five petitioners are seeking the nullification of the election on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    Read Also: Army raids bandits’ hideout in Plateau, kill one, recover arms

    The petitioners are: Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Mr Abdullahi Olowokere; and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Chief Bamidele Akingboye. Others are: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and its candidate, Kolawole Ogunfeyimi; and African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate, Mr Adeyemi Nejo.

    The respondents are: APC, Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Mr Olayide Adelami; and INEC.

    Mr Ishaka Dikko and Bankole Akomolafe, the PDP’s counsel, argued that the election was marred by substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and asked the tribunal to void Aiyedatiwa’s certificate of return.

    On the other hand, Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, Adelami and the INEC enjoined the tribunal to dismiss the petitions.

    The respondents, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), and Mr Charles Edosomwan, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions for lack of merit.

  • Why PDP defectors may not back Sheriff for governor

    Why PDP defectors may not back Sheriff for governor

    • By Basil Okoh

    It is now evident that many PDP members across Delta State did not join Governor Sheriff and ex-governor Ifeanyi Okowa in their defection to the APC. What was expected to be a big stampede into APC, particularly by the big-name politicians in PDP, didn’t just happen. 

    What we are seeing instead is the drift back into the old PDP and the regrouping of those who refused to defect. The big names are still reticent and holding back, keeping their cards face down on the political gambling table. The expected big lure of Sheriff, drawing people with him into the APC, didn’t happen. 

    To find the reason for the reluctance of PDP members to join Governor Sheriff into the APC will require us to examine the big fights in PDP since 2021 during the tenure of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa when he dissolved his executive council just because some members were using the exco platform to pursue their political ambitions and Okowa wouldn’t grudge them. Okowa was resolute in being the Lord who dispenses political favours to whomever he likes. In the reconstitution of that exco, all politically aspiring members were left out, and the decline and freefall of the PDP started from there. 

    The seeds of discord having been planted in PDP, the primaries that were held later became a contest between factions, each contestant with his own retinue of loyalists. Okowa, using government money, controlled the process and bought off a majority of the electors for his candidate, Sheriff. The result was chaos and litigations, costing Okowa and the government N63 billion to make Sheriff governor of Delta State. 

    So this unusual behaviour of not following Governor Sheriff into the APC is a fallout of the PDP primaries. Sheriff was not popular in PDP and is not popular even now. This lack of followership is uncharacteristic of the Delta politics of the 4th Republic. We won’t follow where the money goes. And since Sheriff is the governor who controls the money, it was expected that the crowd would follow Sheriff into the APC. But this did not happen. If with the control of Delta State finances, Sheriff cannot muster followership among a hungry people, he should have no hope of winning the next governorship election.

    To better understand this changing character of Delta politics, one must first appreciate the ruling Nigerian environment and politics under the present regime. People have suffered and in their suffering have learnt lessons. The knowledge acquired through suffering has taught people lessons in restraint in political behaviour. When asked why they have not followed Sheriff into APC, many young persons answered: “What’s my gain following Sheriff?  “Who Sheriff help?” In Delta parlance, who Sheriff help? would mean how has Sheriff been useful to anyone? This dig means that Sheriff is inconsequential and travelling a lonely road to the APC, all by himself. APC thought that they were buying a town, but what they’re getting is just a household.

    The understanding that most political actors in the state dread being in the opposition is a reason for expecting that most PDP politicians would follow Sheriff without scruples into the APC. Politics is perceived here as a bread and butter contest and every politician wants to identify with the winner who holds the big bread and butter to share. There are no dreams here, no visions and no ideological fantasies. Politics here is clear-eyed about money and immediate gains, so wherever the man who dispenses money goes, there everybody else goes. They call it here “Follow who know road”. 

    Only a few men and women have had the courage not to follow the flow of money and power. For nearly three decades, PDP held the money bag in Delta State. But Okowa’s betrayal and now Sheriff’s defection have brought a new but confusing dynamic into the politics of the state.   This is the first time PDP will be in opposition, not because it lost an election, but because its own elected governor ran away. Now, PDP is confused as to what to do with the wife who ran away. Do you follow her into her new husband’s home and suffer disgrace, or gather your household together and find a new way to live without her? PDP men and women have largely decided to plod on, on their own and live without the runaway wife, Sheriff.

    Read Also: Northern groups hail Tinubu’s Choice of Danfulani to lead NAIC

    Sheriff is not liked in the APC and has no support or strong presence there. He has been pronounced the leader of APC in Delta State, but that’s just a mere pronouncement by the national leaders of APC and the men who procured Sheriff from the PDP. He is not immersed in the APC and may never be. His presence in the APC has raised new quarrels over personal popularity and acceptance within the group. Opposition is already growing among the core owners like Mr. Collins Eselemo and joiners of the group like Mr. David Otiono, that Sheriff cannot lead them into the election because he is not one of them and does not share in their core values and previous struggles. Nobody can dispute the fact that Sheriff is anathema to the founding ethos of the APC in Delta State.

    It must be recalled that because of the imposition of Sheriff as a governorship candidate in 2023,  PDP members had been drifting out of the party since after the governorship primaries of 2022, where Sheriff got an undeserved ticket.

    These groups insist that they left PDP because Okowa, in his skullduggery, imposed Sheriff as the governorship candidate of the party and because of the known cluelessness of Sheriff and his unpopularity among the voters of the state. No one should expect them now to accept Sheriff with open arms in their new abode in APC. 

    Everyone should remember that while expensive litigations were going on in PDP in 2022-2023, the left wing of the party, comprising of the professionals and intellectuals, “formed ourselves into the Delta Unity Group (DUG) and left the Party to join the APC in our mass, first at St. George’s Grammar School Obinomba, Ukwuani LGA, just before the elections of 2023”. And again, the other group of our DUG, led by Mr. Chiedu Ebie, joined the APC in a well-publicised mass defection from PDP and were received by the national chairman of the APC. 

    “Now, we, the men and women who fled from the PDP, have been followed by the same disruptive persons, Sheriff and Okowa, into the APC. We watched with trepidation as leadership of the APC was awarded to Sheriff, the same man who every defector from senator to plebian has been running from in PDP. If this reads like a zany caper from an American writer’s fictive imagination, please be persuaded that it is not. This is realpolitik a la Delta State, Nigeria. We cannot keep running from Okowa and Sheriff. We will deal with the matter squarely this time.

     So now there’s a growing rumble among the earlier defectors, swearing not to cohabit with Sheriff and Okowa in the same political party.  They recall that both men are deeply unpopular and running away from a deserted house which they created in the PDP and would do the same in the APC. They ran the PDP down and are now running to the APC to dodge the shame of defeat. Our group is sworn not to accept Sheriff as the governorship candidate of the APC, and if he is forced on us, we will work for a different candidate. 

    Sheriff will be the reason why the APC will lose the governorship election in Delta State. It should be obvious to the APC that Sheriff has no followership. The general did not surrender with any troops. The government officials who are still with him, Commissioners, Advisers, SAs, SSAs, Local Government Chairmen and Councilors, do not number up to the voting population of one community in the state. Many are with Sheriff only because they need their salaries. They will vote for someone else when the time comes.

    If Peter Obi comes with his gale force campaign again, and the youth of the state back him in their numbers as they did in 2023, not even the rigging machine of Governor Sheriff can hold back a determined governorship candidate backed by the youth in their fight for good governance. Delta politics is in animated suspension for now until a year before the elections, when everything will be brought to the boil. Time will tell.

  • Sanwo-Olu approves LASU/PSSDC diploma

    Sanwo-Olu approves LASU/PSSDC diploma

    • Holders to now advance to Level 12

    It was a cheering news when it was announced that holders of Diploma Certificate in Local Government Administration, coordinated by the Lagos State University (LASU), and Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), has been recognised and approved for advancement by the Governor of Lagos State Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo- Olu.

    This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, during a working visit to Somolu Local Government.

    With this new development, no local government staff has any reason to remain stagnant, “This administration is doing everything possible to ensure that your welfare is better,” Bayewu told Council staff members.

    Bayewu, explaining why many retirees have their benefits delayed, said “We are all aware that there are Service documents  that should be submitted at the Pension’s Office at a stipulated time before we exit the Service, many retirees neglect this vital assignment untill they retired. Let me say it loud and clear, submit all the relevant Service Documents before you retire.”

    The Commission Chairman also advised members of the management to learn to train their subordinates, in order for them to be better officers, now and in the future.

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    The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government who was represented by the Secretary to the Local Government Hon. Dele Afolabi received commendation for prioritising staff welfare, through the provision of a conducive working environment, regular staff training, staff buses, payment of bonuses during festive periods and others.

    Bayewu prayed that the in-coming chairman would continue from where the current Chairman, Hon.Abdul- Hammed Salawu ‘Dullar’ will stop.

    Present during the working visit were the Commissioner representing Lagos Division Hakeem Adisa Bamgbola; member representing Ikeja Division, Taofik Adaranijo; member representing Epe Division, Ahmed Seriki; Director of Establishment, Mrs Olawunmi Dada represented  the PS Establishment  and Training, Mrs Bibilomo Olushekun; Director of Adm. and HR Commission, Mrs. Adebola Ajayi, represented the PS Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Abosede George; Council Manager, Somolu Local Government,  Mr.Peter Abiodun Babington; Director Public Affairs, Olusegun Akinyemi; Director Waste Management and Environmental Services Sanitarian, Hafeez Ogunbekun; Head of Budget, Planning and Statistics, Olufemi Giwa; Human Resources Officer, Mr. Muftau Oyefolu; The Council Treasurer, Mr.Abayomi Odusanya; the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mrs. Bidemi Agboola; top management staff from the Commission and Somolu Local Government; NULGE Chairman, Comrade Waheed Bello and others.

  • Opposition lacks unity, ideology, credibility to defeat APC in 2027 – Alawuje

    Opposition lacks unity, ideology, credibility to defeat APC in 2027 – Alawuje

    The National Coordinator of the Disciples of Jagaban, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will remain the only genuine and serious political party as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.

    In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Alawuje said the APC stands tall as the only party with cohesive structure, ideological depth, and national acceptance. He insisted that the upcoming elections will be “APC versus others,” as the opposition is made up of divided interests, personal ambitions, and frustrated elites.

    According to him: “Most of these so-called parties are not serious political organizations. They are broken alliances of bitter politicians, desperate for power and driven by personal losses, not national interest.”

    Alawuje described the historic political alliance between former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a divine arrangement, saying it was destined and executed by God

    “The script of 2015 was written by Almighty Allah — Buhari was meant to lead, and Tinubu was destined to follow. That is not just politics. It is providence,” he stated.

    He praised Buhari as a principled and disciplined leader and Tinubu as a master strategist and democrat whose influence cuts across Nigeria’s political spectrum.

    According to the Jagaban loyalist, no current opposition leader can match Buhari’s credibility or Tinubu’s political depth.

    “Who among the opposition today can stand as Buhari did in 2013 14 and 15 in the North? Who in the South has Tinubu’s record and reach? None. They are politically angry, frustrated, and aimless. Some of them see the leadership of a country like Nigeria as Guguru and groundnuts,” he said.

    Read Also: Debt payments: Tinubu’s economic achievements deserve national prayer – Alawuje

    He likened the opposition to “political zebras lost in the jungle,” adding that the APC, as “the lion,” remains patient but ready to dominate.

    “Some will be devoured as breakfast, others as lunch, and some as dinner. The APC is not just a party — it is a movement with clarity and purpose,” Alawuje asserted.

    He challenged opposition leaders, calling for a national debate. “Let anyone come forward; I challenge any of them to a public debate. Let’s discuss leadership, vision, and national unity. If they are bold enough, let them face us,” he declared.

    He said political parties should be about shared vision, discipline, and service to the people, adding that, today, APC remains the only party where those values still exist, hence other must learn the basics before dreaming of leading Nigeria.

  • JUST IN: Delta Reps member defects to APC

    JUST IN: Delta Reps member defects to APC

    Ngozi Okolie, a House of Representatives member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    READ ALSO: FG, UNESCO partner to tackle AI misuse, deepfakes on social media — Minister 

    Okolie made the announcement on Friday during a press briefing in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

    Details shortly…

  • Ekiti APC leaders endorse Oyebanji for second term

    Ekiti APC leaders endorse Oyebanji for second term

    Leaders and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekamefa communities, Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, have endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji to continue the governance of the state till 2030.

    The leaders under the banner of the Abejide political dynasty from Ekamefa being spearheaded by the Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Alaba Abejide, said they took the action to reciprocate Governor Oyebanji’s outstanding delivery and leadership style.

    They arrived at the unanimous and overwhelming decision on Thursday, at a well-attended political gathering held at Ipao Ekiti Country home of Chief Abejide and attended by critical stakeholders and members of the party.

    Other high-profile leaders that constitute the political movement are: Chairman, Ajoni LCDA, Hon. Prince Michael Ogungbemi, ex-Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dele Olugbemi, Technical Advisor to the Governor, Hon Muyiwa Olukosi, SSA on Agric Processing Zone, Pastor Kehinde Ajayi and a Special Assistant, Femi Andero, among others.

    Moving the endorsement motion, the Technical Advisor on Policy Evaluation, Hon. Olukosi, said Oyebanji has delivered exceedingly well via completion of the Ele bridge along Itapaji/Iyemero Road, siting of the Agriculture  Processing zone in Ekamefa, the ongoing reconstruction of Ayedun-Irele road, relief materials to rainstorm victims and fairness in terms of political appointments to Ekamefa.

    At the leaders’ prodding, the motion was seconded by the Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture Processing Zone, Mr. Kehinde Ajayi.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2026: Ex-deputy gov Aluko heads committee for Oyebanji’s second term

    Ratifying the endorsement, the leader of the political movement, Chief Samuel Abejide, said the move was a reciprocation of Oyebanji’s goodness to Ekamefa and a request for more dividends for the residents.

    “This is a reciprocation of the Governor’s performance. But we are pleading that the governor should appoint a member of the State Executive Council from this area. We are passionate about this, because our support here is total. We have a one-party here in Ekamefa”, Abejide said.

    A leader of the group and Chairman of Ajoni LCDA, Michael Ogungbemi, commended Governor Oyebanji for not disappointing the citizens, saying they would reciprocate further with votes in the 2026 governorship poll.

    “We have never wavered in our support, we will never deviate from our progressive ways. We are with Chief Abejide, who is a strong supporter of Governor Oyebanji. When things were tough and rough, we delivered, and I know that it will be easier this time”, Ogungbemi said.

    The Ekamefa Central Coordinator, Hon. Afeez Adeyemo, declared that Ekamefa has always been in the progressive fold, saying the area will deliver overwhelmingly for Oyebanji in the next election.

    In his acceptance speech, Governor Oyebanji stated that he was overwhelmed by the quantum of endorsements he was enjoying in Ekiti, describing this as a propelling force that will make him rev up the pedal of delivery to benefit more citizens.

    The governor, represented by the Director General, Bureau of Community Communication, Mrs Mary Oso Omotoso, stated that he was thrilled by the inclusiveness in the party’s mobilisation structures at Ekamefa, which makes the endorsement more worthwhile and exhilarating to him.

    “Let me assure you, Governor Oyebanji will continue to serve you. This gathering shows how much love you have for your government. You know he has always been inclusive; nobody is neglected in this government. I know you have felt his impact in this axis.

    “I am grateful that before the election, Ekiti people have been showing appreciation for the governor’s performance and inclusiveness. He is happy that you show readiness to vote for him. I have no doubt that you will work hard and deliver for us. You have shown the evidence, and we are happy about this.

    “The governor will never disappoint you. He is a people-loving Governor and a friend of the masses”.

  • 2027: Southern youth coalition rallies support for Tinubu’s second term

    2027: Southern youth coalition rallies support for Tinubu’s second term

    A new youth-driven political movement, the Coalition of Southern Nigeria Youth Groups for Asiwaju 2027 (COSONYGA-2027), has officially launched in Abuja, calling on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

    Speaking at the press conference to announce the group’s formation, Executive Director Rt. Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor said the coalition was born out of the belief that President Tinubu has laid a solid foundation for national transformation, which needs more time to be fully realised.

    “Four years is not enough to institutionalise life-changing policies or dismantle entrenched corruption that has long stunted Nigeria’s growth,” Nwajiofor stated. “Asiwaju deserves a second term to nurture these economic and social reforms to greater heights.”

    COSONYGA-2027, which aims to mobilise youth across the 17 Southern states, is positioned as a strategic platform for political engagement, grassroots advocacy, and policy dialogue aligned with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’

    Nwajiofor highlighted Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and leadership attributes, describing him as a visionary with political courage and inclusiveness.

    Read Also: I won’t step down for Atiku in 2027 – SDP’s Adebayo

    He emphasised that the movement is not just about politics but about building a legacy of continuity, youth inclusion, and national unity.

    “Our engagements will be rooted in diplomacy and facts, not political confrontation or divisive rhetoric,” he said. “We want to dislodge false narratives with the truth of Tinubu’s achievements.”

    He called on public and private sector stakeholders to support the coalition’s goals, which include promoting civic education, advancing youth entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for Nigerian youths.

    “We are not just supporters—we are contributors to governance,” Nwajiofor added. “This is our time, our chance to shape the Nigeria we want to inherit.”

    He urged like-minded young Nigerians across the South and beyond to join the movement in organising, educating, and advocating for a better future under President Tinubu’s continued leadership.