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  • ‘Lagos APC ready for 2027’

    ‘Lagos APC ready for 2027’

    •’No room for complacency’ •‘Party will monitor council chairmen’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is putting its house in order ahead of future polls.

    Cornelius Ojelabi, cleric and chairman of the chapter, said party members are ready for 2027, stressing that the leadership is girding its loins.

    “We are looking inward to have the statistical data of our members through e-registration,” he said, stressing that it is the critical baseline for mobilisation with certainty.

    Tragedy befell the party in 2023 when it lost the presidential election to the structureless Labour Party (LP) adopted by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as platform. Although the poll-confident Lagos APC won other layers of elections, its ego was momentarily deflated.

    For the first time in his entire illustrious political career, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lost his home base to a political foe.

    Having learned very instructive lessons from that inexplicable complacency, the chapter has vowed that the curious mistake will not be repeated in the Centre of Excellence.

    The Lagos APC has been up and doing. The party is more cohesive than before. There is peace in the state executive committee of the party. There is harmony in the State Executive Council chaired by Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu. There is no friction between the party and the government. The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) is playing its gerontocratic roles. The tension between the governor and House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa is fading. The friction among the state lawmakers is fizzling out.

    Ahead of the March party congresses, Ojelabi has informed the vast members that the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided that they should obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said old members are expected to revalidate their party membership and new or those yet to be registered should avail themselves of the opportunity.

    Ojelabi spoke with reporters at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja. With him were the vice chairman, Moshood Mayegun, Secretary, Dr. Adeola Jokomba, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser Folasade Bakare, Youth Leader Dr. Muritala Seriki, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, former Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Dr. Lateef Ibirogba, and former council chairman, Abiodun Mafe.

    The membership registration, which kicked off across the pre-existing 245 wards,is expected to end on January 31.

    The chairman said: “The registration will be done at the ward level. Possession of PVC is critical to permanent registration. Without PVC, you register temporarily.”

    Urging party members to actively participate in the democratic responsibility,Ojelabi said:”This is our country. We don’t have another country. Let us always remember our president, governors and other leaders in our prayers.”

    Echoing the chairman, the Publicity Secretary  Seye Oladejo, said:”E-registration is imperative because our party has become larger as more members are coming in.”

    To motivate members to participate, the party has introduced some incentives across the wards and local governments.

    Ojelabi urged Nigerians to join the president in creating a peaceful atmosphere, saying:”If there is peace, our leaders will be able to tackle all the challenges.”

    In particular, the party chairman called for support for President Tinubu in his bid to halt insecurity.

    Ojelabi spoke on internal democracy, reconciliation in the chapter and efforts to foster accountability in the local government.

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    He dismissed insinuations that imposition of candidates for elections is rampant in Lagos APC, clarifying that loyalty, dedication and commitment are criteria for the choice of candidates.

    Noting the grievances of some party members arising from local government nomination politics, the  chairman disclosed that reconciliation has been set up preparatory to the congresses.

    He also noted the anxiety on the part of members who anticipate positions in the councils as secretaries, supervisors and other aides, assuring that the announcement would be made soon across the local governments.

    Ojelabi hailed the healthy competitions among council chairmen for performance, saying that it is in the interest of Lagosians. He noted that many of them have justified the confidence reposed in them by the grassroots.

    The chairman reminded the council chairmen that the directive that mandates them to live within the jurisdiction of the council was still in force.

    Ojelabi said the chairmen would be closely monitored to ensure that they maximally deliver democratic dividends to Lagosians.

    He added:”We have set up the Assessment Committee on senatorial basis that will exaamine them as they showcase their performance. Assessment will also be on yearly basis. This is aside from the oversight by the House of Assembly.”

  • ‘Despite 2023 setback, APC can win in Abia’

    ‘Despite 2023 setback, APC can win in Abia’

    Chinenye Anyim was the first All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State. He also served as the party’s first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast. In this interview with Correspondent SUNNY NWANKWO, he speaks on the Alex Otti administration and how the APC can bounce back in the state.

    Are you still active in politics?

    I took a break from politics after being appointed Southeast representative on the National Pension Commission (PenCom). During that time, I was less active in politics, which might have led people to think I had left the scene.

    But there is a proverb in my place that says when the mother hen forbids scratching, what will she use to feed her chicks? Politics has become part of me, to the glory of God. It is not proper for me to say that I have retired from politics at this stage of my life. I have not retired.

    Abia APC is said to be balkanised. Which faction do you belong to?

    Abia APC is not divided. Right now, there is only one APC in the state. People exaggerate when they talk about splits or factions in Abia APC.

    Like every family, there can be misunderstandings. You disagree to agree, and that is healthy in a true democracy. We listen to different views. Where there are dissenting opinions, you sit down and resolve them. That is why people think there is a problem.

    Right now, Abia APC has one chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, and one secretary, K.C. Avoaja. No one else can claim to be the party chairman. That shows there is only one APC in Abia State.

    The APC did not perform well in the 2023 general election. What do you think went wrong?

    In 2023, our governorship candidate was Chief Ikechi Emenike. Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Otti, who is now the governor, ran on the Labour Party (LP) ticket.

    It’s worth noting that before Otti became governor, he was a strong APC member and was well-positioned to become our governorship candidate before Emenike.

    Many factors were involved. The Obi wave in the Southeast had a significant impact, affecting more than just the LP. Also, people like Alex Otti left the APC shortly before the election, taking their supporters with them. We hope these things won’t happen again.

    Some observers say the process that produced the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate hurt the party. Do you agree?

    No selection process makes everyone happy. That’s true in every political party. What matters is maturity. After the primaries, people should put differences aside and work together to win elections.

    In 2015, you and others, such as Donatus Nwankpa and Rochas Okorocha, were mocked for joining the APC. How do you feel today?

    When we started the APC, our opponents mocked us and called us names. Now, many of those same people want to join the party, and some already have. What’s interesting is that our vision has stayed the same. Many who once mocked us now see what we saw years ago. We thank God for how far the party has come.

    Some people feel you have been sidelined despite your contributions to the APC in Abia. Is that true?

    No one has sidelined me, and no one can. People like me can’t be pushed aside.

    There are basic facts critics can’t ignore. I was one of the 89 people who formed the APC. I was the first National Vice Chairman for the Southeast and the first APC governorship candidate in Abia State. After me came Dr. Sampson Ogah and then Chief Ikechi Emenike. So, there’s nothing to sideline.

    What are the chances of the APC winning the Abia governorship election in 2027?

    Our chances are strong, even stronger than before. One tree doesn’t make a forest. With the many political heavyweights now in the Abia APC, we’re not afraid of any election.

    Even with Governor Otti’s incumbency advantage?

    We know incumbency is an advantage, but we’ve also seen incumbents lose re-election.

    Are you still nursing the ambition to govern Abia State?

    As you know, I was the first APC governorship candidate in Abia, and I’m still with the party. Dreams and visions don’t die.

    The Bible says in Habakkuk that a vision is for an appointed time. It might be fulfilled by you or someone else, but the vision itself lives on.

    If you lose the APC ticket in 2027, would you support whoever emerges?

    Yes. There are many aspirants in the APC. Whoever wins the ticket through a fair process will get support from others. Our main goal is for the APC to govern Abia State, just as we do at the national level.

    There are rumours that Governor Alex Otti wants to return to the APC. Would you welcome him?

    Of course. Otti was once a member of the APC. Politics is like a family—you can leave today and come back tomorrow to reach your goals. If he decides to return, he is welcome and free to do so. Some APC leaders have even been urging him to return to his roots. The Bible talks about first love, and in this democratic dispensation, his first love was the APC.

    Are you personally calling for his return?

    If he wants to return, he is welcome to do so. Some worry that if he comes back, party leaders will interfere with his work. But he is the governor and has executive powers. Who can tell him how to govern? Where are those people now, and what have they achieved?

    As a founding member of the APC, has the party performed well since 2015?

    You have to look at where Nigeria was before 2015. The APC didn’t create the problems Nigeria faces today; we inherited them.

    It’s not perfect, but there have been achievements. There’s progress in some areas, and not everything is negative. The APC government has tackled some critical issues.

    How would you assess Governor Otti’s performance so far?

    He has done well in his own way. All governors today, including Otti, have received more federal funds. There’s been a financial boost compared to past years.

    With these resources, no governor has an excuse not to perform. It would be wrong to have so much and not do well. So yes, he is doing well and making efforts.

    Your view contrasts with that of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who accused the governor of wasting resources. Is that a contradiction?

    No. These things are relative. There’s a value-for-money audit. From what I’ve seen, it wouldn’t be fair to say Otti has done nothing, especially compared to past administrations. The Federal Government has also invested a lot in states, so governors are expected to perform.

    Igbos have long complained of marginalisation. Has the situation improved?

    Yes, things have improved. There is hope now. We have the Southeast Development Commission. Roads such as the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway are under construction.

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    There are more federal projects in the Southeast now than before. This has happened in just a few years. With more time, we’ll see even more progress.

    Peter Obi has joined the ADC and may contest the presidency. Should he step aside for President Tinubu?

    Every Nigerian has the right to vote and to be voted for. No one should be denied that right.

    As an APC member, I’ll support President Bola Tinubu because he would be flying the party’s flag. I also believe that many Igbos, after seeing what the administration has done, will help him achieve even more by voting for him in 2027.

    What do you think about Tinubu’s economic policies, especially the new tax law?

    The new tax law went into effect on January 1. It’s too soon to judge it completely. We need to see how it works in practice.

    This government knows people are suffering and is working to fix it. If a policy doesn’t work, the government will make changes.

    For example, removing the fuel subsidy was hard at first, but now fuel is available, and prices are not fixed. Rice used to be scarce and expensive during Christmas, but now it’s easy to find. We shouldn’t criticize everything.

    How would you assess the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity?

    Insecurity was a big problem in the past. Fighting insecurity is tough, just as fighting corruption is. The government needs support from Nigerians to succeed.

    The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu has generated controversy. Do you support calls for a political solution?

    Yes, a political solution is the best way to resolve the issue.

    What is your advice to Abians and Ndi Igbo on the ongoing voter revalidation exercise?

    People should register to vote and exercise their voting rights. If you don’t register, you deny yourself a voice. The registration exercise is a chance to change what we don’t like by voting. Registration lets you help shape good governance.

  • No room for policy duplication in Lagos, says Obanikoro

    No room for policy duplication in Lagos, says Obanikoro

    Lagos State government will not permit policy duplications and uncoordinate programmes, Special Adviser on Parastatal Monitoring, Babajide Obanikoro, has said.

    The governor’s aide spoke at a summit in Lagos with the theme: “Enhancing Efficiency, Accountability and Strategic Governance across Lagos State and Federal Parastatals.”

    He said the summit is both strategic and timely, coming at a moment when the demands of governance increasingly require collaboration, coordination, and collective responsibility.

    Obanikoro, a former federal legislator, said the Parastatals Monitoring Office would always live to expectation as the channel for transmitting executive decisions and directives affecting all parastatals.

    He also said the office would continue to convene quarterly engagements with the State Chief Executive Officers and act as a critical liaison between Lagos State and other tiers of government on parastatal-related matters.

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     Obanikoro said: “Lagos State remains Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, hosting a significant concentration of Federal and State Government Parastatals operating within the same geographic and socio-economic space.

    “Yet, despite our shared objectives of service delivery and development, limited coordination has often resulted in policy duplication, overlapping mandates, inefficiencies, and the underutilisation of shared resources.

    “These gaps ultimately affect the quality, speed, and impact of services delivered to our people. This summit, therefore, presents a valuable opportunity to bridge institutional divides, encourage structured engagement, and foster pracltical collaboration between Federal and Lagos State Parastatals.”

    Obanikoro said the discussions promoted by the office align with the T.H.E.M.E. S Agenda of the Lagos State Government, which prioritises building a smarter, more inclusive, and better-governed mega-city.

    He added:”Achieving this vision requires institutions that do not work in silos, but rather in synergy—leveraging collective strengths, sharing data and resources, and aligning policies for maximum public value.”

  • ‘Atiku, Obi can’t solve Nigeria’s problems’

    ‘Atiku, Obi can’t solve Nigeria’s problems’

    Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, has criticised leading opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, for not offering concrete solutions to Nigeria’s recurring crises beyond social media commentary.

    Speaking on national television, Kachikwu said Nigeria’s opposition politics has been reduced to what he described as “performative outrage,” where prominent politicians react to tragedies with statements and tweets but fail to propose actionable alternatives.

    According to him, whenever the country is hit by major incidents ranging from insecurity and violent crimes to economic hardship, the same political figures emerge to condemn the situation without outlining how they would address it if entrusted with power.

    “In the last two years, every time we’ve had a national tragedy, all you hear from the people you mentioned Atiku, Obi is talk, mostly tweets. ‘It’s a shame,’ ‘It’s a tragedy,’ ‘We are sorry,’” Kachikwu said. “They jab at the government, but they never, ever speak to solutions.”

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    He argued that such responses fall short of the responsibility expected from politicians who aspire to lead a country of over 200 million people, especially given Nigeria’s persistent security and economic challenges.

    Kachikwu stressed that meaningful opposition should go beyond criticism and instead present clear policy options, particularly on issues such as terrorism, kidnappings, violent crime, and governance failures. He questioned why opposition leaders have not articulated detailed plans on tackling insecurity, reforming the economy, or strengthening institutions.

    The former presidential candidate warned that Nigerians must become more critical of political messaging and resist being swayed by rhetoric without substance. He maintained that without concrete proposals, repeated condemnations of government failures amount to political grandstanding rather than leadership.

    Kachikwu’s remarks add to the growing debate over the quality of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political alignments intensify and public scrutiny of both the ruling party and opposition figures deepens.

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  • Battle for Kaduna Govt House

    Battle for Kaduna Govt House

    Governorship contests in Kaduna States are rarely won in the election year alone. Rather, they are shaped by quiet alignments, strategic defections and subtle recalibrations that begin ahead of the polls. Senior Correspondent ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE examines factors that may determine how the pendulum would swing

    In Kaduna State, the early signs are already visible. Political actors are repositioning, party loyalties are shifting, and fault lines that were once dormant are gradually re-emerging, all pointing to what is likely to be a fiercely contested governorship race.

    For now, there are no officially declared candidates across the political spectrum. However, in practical terms, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the only party with a clear arrowhead in the contest, as incumbent Governor Uba Sani holds both the constitutional right of first refusal and the enormous leverage that comes with incumbency.

    To properly situate the unfolding permutations, it is important to revisit Kaduna’s post-1999 political history. Following the return to democratic rule, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governed the state for 16 uninterrupted years, mirroring its long dominance at the federal level.

    That dominance was broken in 2015, when the APC, riding on the momentum of President Muhammadu Buhari’s nationwide appeal, swept into power across several states in what analysts famously described as a political tsunami.

    In Kaduna, that wave produced Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai as governor after he defeated the incumbent PDP administration led by Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, marking a decisive shift in the state’s political direction.

    Since then, the PDP has struggled to reclaim Lost ground in Kaduna. While the party maintained a visible presence through seats in the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, it failed to translate legislative relevance into executive power.

    The 2023 governorship election was widely regarded within PDP circles as the party’s best opportunity to return to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. Yet, despite internal optimism and favourable national sentiments in some quarters, the APC once again prevailed, producing Senator Uba Sani as El-Rufai’s successor.

    As the 2027 election cycle gradually approaches, the PDP’s position has further weakened. The party’s national leadership crisis, defined by factionalism, litigation and ideological drift, has had a cascading effect on state chapters, Kaduna inclusive.

    Within Kaduna PDP, cohesion has thinned considerably. Competing tendencies, weakened grassroots mobilization and uncertainty about national direction have combined to erode the party’s once formidable structure.

    The most damaging development, however, came with the defection of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Southern Kaduna, to the ruling APC, a move widely seen by political watchers as a strategic and psychological setback for the opposition.

    Beyond the numerical loss of a Senate seat, Katung’s exit punctured the PDP’s long-held advantage in Southern Kaduna, a zone that historically delivered overwhelming margins to the party.

    Supporters of the defection argue that it reflected not personal ambition, but a calculated reading of constituent sentiment, particularly satisfaction with governance outcomes under the APC-led governments at both federal and state levels.

    The project distribution data and federal presence metrics appear to support that argument. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani, Southern Kaduna has witnessed a concentration of federal institutions and infrastructure that far outpaces allocations recorded in previous administrations.

    Notable interventions include the establishment of a Federal University in Kachia, a Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan, major inter-city and rural road projects, the Skills City initiative in Zangon Kataf, as well as strategic appointments at the federal level.

    These developments, according to local political stakeholders, have altered long-standing perceptions of exclusion and recalibrated voting behaviour across the zone.

    It was against this backdrop that Senator Katung openly declared that even if he had remained in the PDP, he would still campaign for President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in 2027, citing tangible dividends of democracy.

    While the PDP still retains two senatorial seats from Kaduna State, insiders admit that retaining internal discipline and cohesion up to 2027 remains uncertain.

    More significantly, party strategists privately concede that presenting a gubernatorial candidate capable of matching Governor Uba Sani’s incumbency advantage, financial muscle and expanding cross-regional goodwill will be a tall order.

    Yet, political contests rarely follow linear projections. Even as the PDP falters, a new opposition force is quietly gaining traction, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    What distinguishes the ADC in Kaduna from its footprint elsewhere is leadership. The party is being driven by a former two-term governor who understands the APC’s internal mechanics, electoral psychology and mobilization playbook, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.

    El-Rufai’s political experience, institutional memory and statewide networks place the ADC in a different category from conventional opposition platforms that rely solely on protest votes.

    Though his public criticism of the Tinubu administration has noticeably softened, sources insist that the former governor has redirected his energy toward subterranean mobilization aimed at challenging his successor.

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    Ironically, Uba Sani once occupied a central position in El-Rufai’s political machinery, serving as Political Adviser and later as Senator, where he successfully lobbied the National Assembly for approval of a $350 million foreign loan critical to Kaduna’s urban renewal programme.

    That loyalty initially positioned Uba Sani as El-Rufai’s most dependable ally. However, insiders maintain that the former governor had alternative succession plans, a divergence believed to have triggered a gradual but irreversible rift.

    Uba Sani’s deep control of party structure, honed during periods when El-Rufai focused more on governance than party management, ultimately proved decisive in securing the APC governorship ticket in 2022.

    The fallout became evident shortly after Sani assumed office, with El-Rufai and several of his loyalists exiting the APC for the ADC.

    Since then, El-Rufai has reportedly been working behind the scenes to forge a broad opposition alliance, including outreach to key PDP figures such as Hon. Isa Ashiru, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate.

    However, the ADC’s viability as an electoral vehicle will depend largely on its capacity to manage competing ambitions within its fold, as several heavyweight aspirants are already positioning for the governorship ticket.

    Uba Sani has used the power of incumbency strategically, reconciling with erstwhile APC adversaries, absorbing influential defectors from opposition parties, and stabilizing fragile political blocs across the state.

    Measured by elite defections, cross-regional acceptance and control of party machinery, Sani appears to be consolidating faster than any challenger.

    With incumbency advantage, expanding alliances and an image carefully cultivated around inclusion and political healing, Governor Uba Sani heads toward 2027 as the man to beat—though Kaduna’s famously unpredictable political terrain suggests that the contest remains far from settled.

  • Register every member or be removed, Yilwatda warns coordinators

    Register every member or be removed, Yilwatda warns coordinators

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has directed all state coordinators of the party’s ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise to ensure all members are registered.

    He also warned that failure by the coordinators to live up to their responsibility may cost them their appointments.

    Yilwatda handed down the warning on Monday in a meeting with all the State Registration Coordinators at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja.

    The directive came on the heels of the disclosure by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru that the party had registered over two million members within one week of the take-off of the nationwide exercise in some states.

    The ongoing registration exercise is scheduled to end on January 30, 2026.

    Addressing the coordinators, the National Chairman said no member of the party is left unregistered and warned that any coordinator who fails would be replaced.

    According to Yilwatda, the position of coordinator is not ceremonial but a responsibility to strengthen the party.

    “If any coordinator does not get all members registered in his or her state, we will drop you and appoint another person. The position you occupy is an opportunity to make the party better,” he said.

    Yilwatda reminded the Coordinators that they are the foot soldiers of the party, stressing that when party structures at the state level are strong and functional, the party itself becomes strong.

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    He also charged State Party Chairmen to cooperate fully with the coordinators to ensure a seamless and successful exercise.

    “Nobody contests elections at the National Secretariat. Elections are won or lost at the state, senatorial, constituency, local government, and ward levels. The performance of the party rests squarely on you,” he stated.

    The Chairman decried a situation where the party claims millions of members in a state but records very low votes during elections, describing such discrepancies as unacceptable going forward.

    He disclosed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) has created a conducive environment to ensure the success of all party programmes and insisted that party structures at all levels must begin to reflect real membership strength.

    The chairman further warned that any State Executive Committee (SEC) member who fails to register before January 30, 2026, will be removed from office, stressing that NEC, the second highest organ of the party after the Convention, has the constitutional authority to enforce compliance.

    He implored all the State Chairmen to support the drive of this registration exercise. It is not negotiable. This warning must be sounded from the state level down to the ward level,” he said.

    Yilwatda also condemned sharp practices aimed at blocking or excluding party members from the registration process.

    “No Chairman, no Coordinator, and not even a Governor has the power to stop any party member from being registered. No one must be disenfranchised,” he warned.

    To ensure speed and efficiency, the Chairman directed coordinators to use Android phones where tablets are unavailable, stressing that no state should delay the exercise waiting for devices.

    He urged Coordinators to avoid making the exercise unnecessarily expensive for state governments and disclosed that in his own state, registration officials were recruited from within their wards to ease logistics.

    Giving an update on progress, Professor Yilwatda revealed that Delta State is currently leading, followed by Lagos, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Plateau States, and encouraged other states to emulate their pace and commitment.

    He announced that he would review the progress of the progress in five days.

    The APC Chairman also linked the electronic registration to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing reforms, stressing that the party must reflect the same spirit of modernization and accountability.

    “We need accurate data to support the President. We must be different from all other parties. We cannot make decisions on faulty premises. This registration must succeed,” he declared.

    He explained that the electronic registration, the first of its kind by any political party in Nigeria, will give APC a credible, verifiable and real-time membership database, enhance internal democracy, improve campaign planning, eliminate fraud, and ensure that party resources are deployed based on real and reliable data.

  • Folarin, Adelabu, Ajimobi, Oyo APC leaders vow record votes for Tinubu in 2027

    Folarin, Adelabu, Ajimobi, Oyo APC leaders vow record votes for Tinubu in 2027

    Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have resolved to mobilise record votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

    This signaled early and coordinated consolidation of the party structures across the state.

    The leaders resolved to ensure Tinubu’s and APC candidates victory during the continuation of the 14-Federal Constituency Tour jointly organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Oyo State chapter of APC, covering Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East and Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituencies.

    The tour was jointly led by former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi; Oyo State Ambassador for Renewed Hope, Senator Teslim Folarin; Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Senators Sharafadeen Alli, Abdulfatai Buhari, Yunus Akintunde, Femi Lanlehin, Ayo Adeseun, Hosea Agboola and Kola Balogun, alongside Alhaji Olayide Abass, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, and other key party stakeholders.

    Speaking during the engagements, Folarin said the Federal Constituency Tour was designed to strengthen internal cohesion, rebuild confidence within party structures, and lay a solid foundation for early and disciplined mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.

    He said: “Ibadan is the political nerve centre of the South-West. Oyo State proved its strength in 2023 by giving Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the highest differential votes nationwide. In 2027, we are ready to raise the bar and deliver record votes for Mr President.”

    Folarin said Tinubu administration’s reform agenda, though demanding, but necessary to stabilise the economy and lay solid foundation for long-term national growth.

    He noted that effective communication of these reforms at the grassroots level would be critical to winning public understanding and sustained support.

     Ajimobi, urged party leaders and supporters to remained united.

    According to her, cohesion and discipline were vital to sustaining APC’s strength in the state. 

    She said the engagements provided an opportunity to reconnect with the grassroots and consolidate support for President Tinubu ahead of 2027.

    Senators Buhari, Alli and Akintunde described the Federal Constituency Tour as timely, noting that it had helped to rebuild confidence within party structures. 

    Buhari urged party members and supporters to prioritise voter registration and continuous voter registration (CVR).

    He said early registration, unity, and disciplined mobilisation would be critical to securing victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

    Chief Adelabu lauded the APC’s open-air meeting and emphasised the importance of unity, early reconciliation, and disciplined mobilisation.

    He noted that electoral success depends on consistent engagement at ward and polling-unit levels rather than last-minute campaigns.

    Also speaking, the Oyo APC Chairman Olayide Abass, alongside Hon. Remi Oseni, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Engr. Idris Adeoye, former Minister Adebayo Shittu, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Hon. Bolaji Repete, Hon. Akeem Akogun, and other party chieftains, called for intensified voter education, continuous voter registration, and coordinated mobilisation ahead of the next generals elections.

  • Ondo APC chairman urges members to participate in e-registration

    Ondo APC chairman urges members to participate in e-registration

    …says ongoing exercise key to party’s strength 

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, has called on party members and stalwarts across the 18 local government areas of the state to actively participate in the ongoing electronic registration (e-registration) and revalidation exercise.

    Adetimehin said the nationwide e-registration exercise is crucial to the ruling party’s preparedness ahead of future general elections, noting that it is aimed at strengthening inclusiveness, cohesion and internal democracy within the APC.

    The state APC chairman spoke at the weekend in his hometown of Idanre Local Government Area shortly after revalidating his membership during the ongoing nationwide e-registration and revalidation exercise of the party.

    According to him, the exercise would enable the APC to build a credible and verifiable membership database, enhance internal democracy and improve coordination at all levels of the party.

    “Let me use this opportunity to encourage our party members to actively participate in the ongoing e-registration exercise. The success of this process will determine how well we organise, plan and mobilise as a party. I urge all members to come out en masse and register.

    “As the leading party in Ondo State and Nigeria, we should justify our numerical strength through proper documentation of our membership. I also encourage party leaders and stakeholders to not only participate but to intensify mobilisation and awareness creation at the grassroots,” he said.

    Engr. Adetimehin explained that the exercise would capture new members as well as update the records of existing ones, thereby ensuring proper representation and participation in party activities.

    While assuring members of fairness and transparency in the party’s affairs, he urged ward, local government and state executives to mobilise members to take advantage of the exercise, stressing that the process is simple, transparent and accessible.

    He further assured that the party leadership would address any technical challenges that might arise during the exercise to ensure that no willing member is left out, while appealing to party stalwarts to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the process.

    The APC chairman added that the e-registration aligns with the party’s commitment to reforms and the use of technology to deepen participation and accountability within its structures, noting that unity and discipline remain critical to the party’s progress in the state.

    Engr. Adetimehin reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to justice, equity, fairness, and inclusive governance, assuring that the party would continue to carry the people along in all its programmes.

    The e-registration exercise is expected to run across all wards in the state, with designated centres and officials assigned to guide members through the process.

  • Osun 2026: We’ll resist rigging against APC — Oyebamiji 

    Osun 2026: We’ll resist rigging against APC — Oyebamiji 

    The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has vowed that the party will resist any form of  rigging during 2026 election slated for August 8th. 

    Oyebamiji, alleged that APC was rigged out during 2022 Osun state governorship election, asserting that the party will take over the governance in 2026. 

    The guber candidate speaking at APC state secretariat, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, Osun State, on Sunday during a meeting with the youth arm of the party, tasked members to commence door-to-door awareness. 

    Addressing the youths, he said, “I want to assure you that 2026 will not be like 2022 when we were rigged out of office. We should work hard. For this forthcoming election, all governments across the world will stand with us. 

    “Many people who are seeing what President Tinubu is doing are willing to join the course. We must deliver, you must work, this government will be for the youths, we are going to programme a system that will reward the youths.”

    He admonished the youths not to be lackadaisical about the forthcoming election, saying “We are eager to take over but we have yet to work towards it. God has given us a goal post and set us up to play penalty on an empty net, despite this, we should work assiduously.

    “We must go back to start doing house-to-house, door-to-door awareness about the forthcoming poll. Our opponents have started lying to the Osun people, you must break these lies.”

    He lauded President Bola Tinubu, Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, pioneer National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande for making the party viable despite being out of government since 2022. 

    Earlier, the State APC Youth Leader, Olagoke Akinwemimo, said “the choice of Oyebamiji is perfect which has shattered the expectations of the opposition, who predicted division and failure within our party.”

    He assured that Osun APC youth structure remains the most formidable in the struggle to reclaim the mandate, adding that “Since 2022, when we were denied victory through orchestrated electoral irregularities, our youths have remained resilient, active, and well-organised under the leadership of our party.”

  • Okechukwu blames Atiku’s ambition for strain on Nigeria’s democracy

    Okechukwu blames Atiku’s ambition for strain on Nigeria’s democracy

    A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the nation’s democracy is under threat due to alleged efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to weaken the opposition.

    Okechukwu, a former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), said Atiku’s long-standing presidential ambition—not the current government—is responsible for any strain on the country’s democratic framework. 

    He made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday while responding to Atiku’s recent warning.

    He argued that a deeper reflection would show that the deterioration of Nigeria’s democratic culture began with Atiku’s decision to disregard the long-standing rotation convention during the 2023 presidential election. 

    According to him, this breach significantly contributed to the political imbalance and the weakening of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Okechukwu further accused the former PDP presidential candidate of taking the same path ahead of the 2027 elections with what he described as a “Kasuwa Ndollar” approach to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries. He said non-adherence to the rotation principle and Section 7 of the PDP Constitution played a major role in destabilising the party.

    “Atiku Abubakar is, regrettably, one of the foremost culprits of this unforced error, which gravely cannibalised the PDP,” he stated.

    He added that Atiku risks repeating past mistakes in the ADC, noting that no other presidential aspirant in the party can match his financial capacity.

    Okechukwu recalled that the rotation convention, adopted at the onset of the Fourth Republic in 1999, was designed to reinforce unity, equity, and stability through the alternation of presidential power between the North and South. 

    He said Atiku benefitted from this arrangement, as he would not have become Vice President in 1999 without it.

    He also referenced the commitment of northern political leaders such as Abubakar Rimi, Umaru Shinkafi, Adamu Ciroma, Bamanga Tukur, and Sola Saraki to the zoning formula, which enabled Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to contest after his release from detention during the Abacha era.

    Okechukwu reminded Atiku of his departure from the 2014 PDP National Convention, when he protested that it was the North’s turn to produce the President, leading to his eventual defection to the APC.

    “Whereas one admits that my great party APC, has its own fault lines, is it not a calamity that the same Atiku Abubakar, widely acknowledged as the mastermind of PDP’s rotation breach and its resultant destabilization, is now allegedly setting the stage for a similar breach within the ADC, when knows that our presidential primary is “Kasuwa Ndollar?”Okechukwu queried.

    “Or should President Tinubu now be blamed for this fresh violation of the same zoning principle?” The deliberate breach of rotation 

    He therefore submitted that Atiku Abubakar’s assertion that “the systematic weakening of opposition platforms represents a grave danger to Nigeria’s democratic future” deserves more rigorous self-scrutiny and contextual honesty.

    Accordingly,Okechukwu posited that Atiku cannot harvest Buhari’s 12 million Vote-Bank, because majority in the north subscribe to the rotation convention and also they know  him as Mai Kasuwa and among Nigeria’s less than transparent clan, therefore not Mai Gasakiya (incorruptible).