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Category: Politics

  • Massive turnout as Kwara APC sensitises members on voter registration, security strategies

    Massive turnout as Kwara APC sensitises members on voter registration, security strategies

    Kwara’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend sensitised party faithfuls across the state on the need to actively partake in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

    The party also educated members on the security efforts of the present administration in the state and the roles they are expected to play as citizens to collectively defeat the criminal elements.

    Held at the Arca Santa Arena in the capital city, the event attracted the National and State parliamentarians, senior government officials, party leaders and stalwarts, including House of Representatives’ member for Edu/Patigi/Moro Federal Constituency, Hon Ahmed Saba; Speaker Kwara House of Assembly Rt. Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi.

    Others were Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Mamman Saba Jibril; Local Government Chairmen; former PDP Chieftain and Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola; Chairman of Governing Council for Kwara State University (KWASU), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali; Vice Chancellor, KWASU, Prof Shaykh Luqman Jimoh, and Deputy VC, Prof Moshood Mahmud Jimba.

    Kwara APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said voters’ registration is not just a routine civic duty for the people of Kwara but a foundation upon which to consolidate the resounding winning streak of the APC in Kwara and across Nigeria.

    He said anybody, who does not possess a voter registration card is not eligible to become a member of a political party.

    “As APC faithful, your mobilization for voter registration will amplify the gains of our administration, ensuring our victory in 2027. Let us go forth, register voters, and secure a brighter future,” he said.

    “I charge each of you to ensure that at least 20 more persons register to vote through your own efforts. It is doable. That is the way to thank the President and the Governor for their commitment to sustainable development in our state”.

    Fagbemi said the party’s dominance is no accident but stems from a proven track record of transformative governance under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “We have delivered impressive strides in infrastructural development, human capital empowerment, rural transformation, while laying strong foundations for the future through massive investments in education, health care, agriculture, commerce, digital economy, tourism, creative industry, justice system, and social protection programmes,” he said.

    Read Also: ‘APC has prevented Osun from being plunged into crisis’

    Both leaders have exemplified unparalleled statesmanship in managing public resources with prudence and prioritizing the welfare of our citizens, the Chairman added.

    He said the party has done so much under Governor AbdulRazaq that it is asking Kwarans to enlist as voters in sustaining the gains.

    Rt. Hon Danladi, in what appeared to be a legislative proceeding, engaged the party members in “Aye and No” verbal voting to ascertain their level of awareness and acceptance of the resolution at the gathering.

    He urged them to give the voter registration exercise the needed  seriousness in the interest of the party and the state at large.

    Enlightening the gathering, Alhaji Muhammed Babatunde Yusuf, who is a former INEC staff, commended the ruling APC in the state for sensitizing people on their civic duty, saying that complements the work of INEC. 

    He urged all party faithfuls to accept the calls to support the INEC officials by mobilizing their eligible people to partake in the exercise before the close of its first phase on 10th December, 2025.

    Describing the voter registration as an integral part of elections, Yusuf said INEC reopened its portal to accommodate those who were not up to age 18 or were not around during the last registration exercise; those whose cards are lost or damaged; and those who want to transfer their polling units.

    Commissioner for Works, Engr Abdulqowiyu Olododo, Chairman, Niger River Basin Development Authority, Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu, and Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, took turns to sensitize participants on the topics of discussion, and speak on some of the developmental projects of Governor AbdulRazaq administration. 

    Olododo touted the administration’s scorecards on road infrastructure in the last two years and refuted the claim in some quarters that most of these road projects were awarded to non-indigenes.

    He said 70 percent of road projects executed so far were awarded to local contractors.

    Alakawa enjoined people of voting age to take the advantage of the ongoing voter registration, and to obtain their PVCs, describing the process as a weapon to elect leaders of their choice.

    He however said that security is everybody’s business and urged Kwarans to be vigilant and always assist security agencies with useful and intelligent information to nab criminals.

    Aliyu said various measures have been put in place by government to check security challenges and restore peace in the affected parts of the state.

    He said plans are at the advance stage to recruit and equip a total of 2600 security guards under Nigerian Forest Guards who will be working in synergy with the security operatives to ward off crimes in the hinterlands.

    Adaramaja said as of Friday, a total of 89,056 Kwarans have successfully registered online, while 10,547 have so far completed their physical registration.

    He said about 70,000 of those who registered online still have to visit INEC office to complete their registration, asking them to hurry up.

  • As Sokoto adjusts budgetary sails, maintains course

    As Sokoto adjusts budgetary sails, maintains course

    • By Louis Achi

    FOR its compelling 2025 governance trajectory, the Sokoto State Government set sail with a princely ₦526.88 billion budget. But nine months into the budget year, it became imperative that critical adjustments must come into play to accommodate evolving dynamics and new realities on the ground.

    Without much ado and flowing from bold, meticulous fiscal calculations, the necessary adjustment propositions leading to the reallocation of ₦38.81billion to boost budget performance were put forward and swiftly approved by the State Executive Council, awaiting the nod of the state parliament for implementation.

    As it were, in consonance with this nimble governance footing, the Sokoto State Government, on Tuesday, September 9 2025, approved the reallocation of ₦38.81 billion from underutilised areas to critical sectors, aimed at improving implementation and addressing emerging priorities in various sectors.

    The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Dr. Abubakar Zayanna, while briefing journalists shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, explained the adjustment was necessary to ensure a more “realistic and intentional budgeting system” that aligns with public financial management provisions.

    Zayanna noted the approval of the amendment does not alter the ₦526.88 billion budget size earlier passed for 2025. His words, “All we did was move funds from one code to another. We reviewed non-discretionary capital receipts that were unlikely to materialise, removed their corresponding expenditure lines, and increased allocations in areas where revenues over-performed. This will help us achieve 70-80 per cent budget performance by year-end.”

    The Commissioner further clarified the adjustment will ensure that every naira in the budget works for the state within the next few months, avoiding a situation where funds remain tied to dormant projects while urgent priorities suffer. The amended budget proposal will now be transmitted to the State House of Assembly for legislative approval, after which it will become a legal instrument for implementation.

     For further needful clarity, following SECs approval of the 2025 budget amendment, Dr. Zayanna stated that the amendment was geared towards improving implementation and addressing emerging priorities without increasing the overall budget size. Another significant dimension to the 2025 budget tweak is the confident assurance by Zayanna that Sokoto State is likely to achieve 70-80 percent budget performance by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

    These carefully weighted adjustments speak to close budget performance monitoring which has enabled an alert Dr. Zayanna, in close concert with Governor Aliyu to identify crucial gaps and proactively take imperative administrative measures to ensure the state maintains its human and infrastructural development trajectory. 

    Before delving deeper into this circumspect budgetary juggling, it will be germane to note that Governor Ahmed Aliyu stands out for his administration’s fiscal discipline which has significantly and seamlessly aided the execution of numerous developmental projects without resorting to loans as well as maintaining a debt-free status with contractors. This circumspect approach ensures long-term sustainability and reflects a governance model rooted in accountability and financial responsibility.

    This pathway is also unusual in a socio-political milieu where many states grapple with unsustainable debt and yet indulge in cavalier borrowing sprees. It is worth noting here that any borrowing done by the Sokoto State Government predates the administration of Governor Aliyu who is boldly traveling a different path.

    Barely 28 months in the saddle as the state’s chief executive, Governor Aliyu has stamped his authority in human and infrastructural development proceedings in the conservative North-Western enclave by deploying frugal, circumspect, empathetic and inclusive governance nous in administering the state – particularly in a time of multifaceted challenges.

    The new Sokoto State in the works is clearly driven by the sheer power of visioning that has birthed cutting-edge growth and governance development models firmly anchored by prudent Governor Aliyu. For Sokoto, it’s game on as its state chief executive powerfully recalibrates her development journey.

    For context, Nigeria’s debt has surged significantly in recent quarters, climbing from N49.85 trillion before the 2023 general elections to N150 trillion currently. This sharp increase primarily reflects the impact of policy-induced Naira depreciation, aggressive government borrowing, and rising borrowing costs. Despite the related negative impact that has cascaded down to the subnational level, a few governors are nevertheless navigating with fiscal wisdom.

    Ultimately, fiscal transparency and financial responsibility mean living within an entity’s means. Under the circumspect leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto State has been living within its means. The state has never borrowed a kobo.

    It’s out in the public space: Sokoto State has been recognized as a leading example in fiscal transparency. In a recent assessment by the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme, Sokoto ranked first in the country. This ranking was based on rigorous criteria, including the publication of fiscal documents, accessibility of budget information, and implementation of sound financial management practices.

    Read Also: CVR: Akwa Ibom, Kano, Sokoto lead INEC in-person registration

    The state operates a fully functional e-procurement platform. The platform is designed to enhance transparency in public procurement by publishing all procurement details, allowing for public feedback and ensuring fair competition. The platform aligns with international best practices and serves as a critical tool for minimizing corruption and inefficiencies in public resource management.

    Under the SFTAS programme, Sokoto State has implemented key reforms to enhance fiscal transparency and accountability. These include: Publishing budget implementation reports and audited financial statements promptly; Adopting a citizen-friendly budgeting process to involve the public in financial planning and execution; and strengthening internal control mechanisms to ensure prudent resource management.

    Governor Aliyu stands out for his administration’s fiscal discipline which has significantly enabled the execution of numerous developmental projects without resorting to loans as well as maintaining a debt-free status with contractors. This circumspect approach ensures long-term sustainability and reflects a governance model rooted in accountability and financial responsibility.

    It could be recalled that Governor Aliyu assumed office with the enunciation of a 9-point smart agenda. These include – education, health, water, agriculture, security, youth empowerment, local government autonomy, religious affairs, and economy. These have guided the compelling impact his administration has wrought in Sokoto State, just 28 months in the saddle.

    Governor Aliyu has simply prioritized unambiguous budgeting and economic planning as a strategy with which to refocus knowledge-driven, data-based governance across board in the Seat of the Caliphate. This new thinking which targets total elimination of ambiguity in governance smoothly dovetails into the administration’s nine-point smart agenda.

    Not to be forgotten is that in alignment with this new trajectory, the state government is to develop a three-year, Medium-Term Sector Strategy, MTSS, for key social sectors. Consequently, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been tasked to design their budgets using a scientific and realistic approach for the good of the state.

    The arrowhead of this new approach is of course Dr. Zayyana, who recently threw the challenge at a recent Training Workshop on the Development of Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) for 2026-2028 for Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Social Protection organized by his Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF.

     Accurately gauging the future of Sokoto State, a subnational entity impatient for accelerated, progressive change, Dr. Zayyana stressed that MDAs’ budgets should be based on their programs and activities to align with the government’s nine-point smart agenda, noting that ambiguous budgets or those designed without proper planning are no longer acceptable. He correctly asserted that weak and ambitious planning always leads to failure.

    Dr. Zayyana also highlighted the importance of program-based budgeting in achieving desired goals and emphasized the need for teamwork to move the state to greater heights. As he correctly explained, the budgetary adjustment was necessary to ensure a more “realistic and intentional budgeting system” that aligns with public financial management provisions.

     Unquestionably, Sokoto State means business.

  • One Nigeria: How Mbah is leading the Azikiwe dream

    One Nigeria: How Mbah is leading the Azikiwe dream

    • By Majeed Dahiru

    A few weeks to his inauguration as governor of Enugu State on May 29 2023, I had my first meeting with Peter Mbah along with a few other colleagues. The meeting, which was at the instance of my good friend, brother and perhaps one of Nigeria’s best media relations guru, Uche Anichukwu, held at the Abuja Transcorp Hilton. Present at the meeting was also my good friend Ifeanyi Ossai, then deputy governor- elect of Enugu State. For many years, I have been deeply connected to the political leadership of Enugu State to the extent that the state has become my second ”state of origin”. And in these years, I have come to appreciate a leadership value system that is firmly hinged on a deep connection between the political leaders and the people of Enugu State. In my close interaction with leading lights of Enugu State such as former Governor Ifeanyi Uguwanyi , former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu, former house of representative members Patrick Asadu and Toby Okechukwu among many others, I have come to the realization that if there is one state in Nigeria where democracy is truly work in progress then it is my second home state.

    But throughout my years of involvement in Enugu affairs, I never met Peter Mbah, who by then was busy carving a niche in the ecosystem of Nigeria’s organized private sector as a leading player in the oil and gas industry as the chairman of Pinnacle until the Abuja meeting. At the meeting, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a lawyer, businessman and politician who previously served as chief of staff in the administration of former governor Chimaroke Nnamani, in a very calm, composed and stoic mien, took us through his vision for the state. In fact, he reiterated his campaign promises including the creation of a 30 billion dollar economy, resuscitation of urban water supply, ending sit at home, upgrading of health facilities and most importantly the building of smart schools to usher Enugu children into a future that is today. Listening keenly to this gentleman, I saw a serious minded man who means the business of governance.

     Satisfied that Peter Mbah knew exactly what he wanted to do as governor, I decided to quip in a little suggestion on the need for him to run a government that should be inclusive of all Nigerians resident in the state irrespective of ethnicity and religion, especially given the fact that Enugu was the former regional capital of the old Eastern Region. I specifically made this suggestion to the incoming governor, because of the widespread perception that the Igbo people of Nigeria are not accommodating of other groups as they are accommodated outside their eastern heartland home region and this issue is often weaponized against individual politicians seeking the highest office in the land from one of Nigeria’s most important sections. As I made this appeal, Governor Peter Mbah, an otherwise straight-faced man with an expressionless mien, let out a smile of appreciation without saying a word. Little did I know that I was preaching Catholicism to the Bishop of Rome.

    The recent controversy surrounding the abandonment of a multi-billion naira contract for the construction of Governor Mbah’s smart schools across the state, which was awarded to Olasijibomi Ogundele, a Lagos based Yoruba property developer has clearly revealed Peter Mbah as a detribalized pan- Nigerian nationalist who is leading and living out the vision of the Great Zik of Africa of one united Nigerian nation of citizens away from a fractured country of disunited tribesmen. After all it all began in 1952, when Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NCNC party threw up Mallam Umaru Altine, a Hausa speaking Muslim from northern Nigeria, who was resident in Enugu city as the Mayor of the regional capital of the Nigeria’s Igbo homeland; a feat in national integration that has remained a reference point in national unity for more than half a century.

    This commentary is not about the business dispute between Brethren Olasijibomi Ogundele and Enugu State government but more about the fact that Governor Peter Mbah has shattered the myth or if you like the fallacy and falsehood about Ndigbo not being accommodating of others as they want others to accommodate them. By entrusting some of his most important project in the hands of ”others” Governor Mbah’s action has clearly vindicated the Igbo people of Nigeria and rebranded their image as a people who truly believe in the philosophy of ”Nwanne di na Mbah” [a brethren can be found in foreign land]. Interestingly, Olasijibomi Ogundele is not the first and only beneficiary of Enugu state government patronage within the context of this commentary.

    Recently, the Governor commissioned five ultra-modern bus terminals in Enugu state as part of his administration’s transportation master plan to provide affordable and seamless interconnectivity across the state’s major towns and city centre. Four of those terminals were constructed by Planets Projects; a Lagos based construction whose major promoter is Eng Biodun Otunola. The modern Oshodi Bus terminal in Lagos was constructed by this firm. Similarly, the multi-billion naira Enugu State Command and Control Centre, which is reported to be the biggest in Nigeria with AI-enabled surveillance cameras across the state vide fibre optic cables, was built by Hajaraisan Nig LTD. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company is Aminu Uba Miko, an indigene of Kano state, while Ibrahim Shehu from Jigawa state was engaged to develop the Enugu State Vehicles’ Identification System Software. And XEJET, the operator of the recently launched Enugu Enugu Air; an Enugu state owned airline was founded by Emmanuel Izah from Kogi state.

    The good thing about these engagements is that they were competitively bidded for but the Yoruba or Hausa ethnicities of Enugu State government’s preferred bidders did not limit or diminish their chances of winning the contract in Peter Mbah’s Enugu. Just as Planets Project has a track record in transport infrastructure construction and management, so does Olasijibomi’s Sujimoto Property construction firm have a solid track record as pioneers of smart buildings in Africa. That the Enugu state government has taken steps to sanction Olasijibomi Ogundele clearly shows that Governor Mbah has no incestuous relationship with the young man and that his engagement was purely based on the belief that he can deliver on the job.

    Read Also: Gov. Mbah is welcome to join APC

    Away from these few cases amongst many others, Governor Mbah in making strategic appointments in Enugu State has demonstrated the oneness of Nigeria, where the principles of inclusion, equity and justice reigns supreme. The Managing Director of Enugu state Broadcasting Service is Ladi Akeredolu-Ale, a veteran broadcaster from Ondo State, while the man helping Governor Peter Mbah to drive his vision for available, accessible and affordable healthcare is Dr Yomi Jaye, his Special Adviser on Health Matters. To boost the IGR of the state, Governor Mbah hired Adenike Okebu as his Senior Special Assistant on Revenue. While Alh Abubakar Yusuf Sambo serves as the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, the Commander of Enugu Forest Guard is Olamitisoji Akinbamilayo, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police who served in the Enugu State Command. The retired DCP was in charge of operations when Governor Mbah directed the full implementation of the ban on sit-at-home and other violent activities by miscreants. For his meritorious service to the state, DCP Akinbamilayo was retained by the state as part of its security management team.

    Peter Mbah’s Enugu State is the Nigeria of our dreams. And when the Igbo people of Nigeria are accused wrongly, they should point in the direction of Peter Mbah’s Enugu State. Like I have consistently maintained, Nigerians are essentially one people and the various ethnic groupings are simply members of the same family that are living in different parts of the family compound. A movement from one part of the family compound to another should not render a member of the family an outsider inside his/her family compound. This is called citizenship. And as citizens of Nigeria, we should be free to reside in any part of the federation without the dichotomy of ”indigene and settler” wherein one’s ethnicity can enhance or diminish access to state provision and protection. The fundamental condition preceding national development and security of any sovereign entity is the social cohesion, national integration and unity of the constituent peoples. Now we know why Peter Mbah’s Enugu State is working progressively.

    • Dahiru is an Abuja-based public affairs analyst.
  • New parties, old fears: What INEC’s registrations portend for 2027 elections

    New parties, old fears: What INEC’s registrations portend for 2027 elections

    As Nigeria heads toward another high-stakes general election, the move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register fresh political parties has sparked debate over whether the development expands democratic choice or dilutes it. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports.

    On a humid morning in Abuja last week, a cluster of reporters gathered at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced a new wave of political parties seeking recognition. Fourteen associations, from the African Transformation Party (ATP) to the Abundance Social Party (ASP), had cleared the first hurdle toward registration.

    The All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and the Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC) are among the other associations that were shortlisted for registration.

    The announcement by Prof. Yakubu drew swift reactions. “This is the beauty of democracy — more voices, more choices,” said Dr. Ifeanyi Ogu, a political science lecturer. But civil society activist Aisha Abdullahi countered: “We’ve been here before. More parties don’t always mean more democracy — sometimes they just mean more confusion.”

    For ordinary Nigerians, the news feels both distant and immediate. At a shopping mall in Lagos, a shop attendant, Emeka Okafor, shrugged: “We already have too many parties. Only two or three matter in the end. Why waste time with new names?” But across town, student activist Grace Olorunfemi was more optimistic: “We need fresh voices. The PDP and the APC have failed us. Maybe new parties can push different ideas.”

    As Nigeria moves toward 2027, the central question is clear: does the proliferation of political parties expand democratic choice — or dilute it?

     The legal maze

    INEC disclosed on September 5 that 171 groups had submitted letters of intent. By last Thursday (September 11), 14 had been cleared to proceed. Interim chairmen and secretaries of these pre-qualified associations have been invited to a briefing on Wednesday (September 17), after which physical verification of their claims will be conducted before final registration approval.

    READ ALSO: Top 10 African countries with largest military air fleets in 2025

    The criteria are listed in Section 222 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022: submission of executive members’ names and addresses; evidence of inclusive membership; proof of internal democracy; adherence to federal character; and an approved constitution, manifesto, and symbol.

    Still, critics doubt enforcement. Yusuf Dantata of the PDP alleged: “We know how these rules are applied. Some groups with connections fly through. Others are frustrated with endless queries. If INEC wants credibility, it must be even-handed.”

    For INEC, however, discretion is limited. “We do not manufacture requirements,” Yakubu said at a press briefing. “If groups fulfil them, we cannot lawfully stop their registration. That is democracy — messy, but lawful.”

     Ballot overload

    Party proliferation carries practical risks. Analysts warn of ballot congestion, voter confusion, and invalid votes.

    “Choice is fundamental, but excess choice creates paralysis,” explained Dr. Ayo Okunlola, an electoral scholar. “In 2019, voters struggled with ballot papers that resembled posters. Some mistook party logos, others spoiled ballots outright.”

    Examples abound. In Kogi State’s 2019 governorship election, polling agents reported voters asking for clarification on party logos, often confusing minor parties with similar symbols.

    The key risks include: Decision paralysis: too many options discourage careful choices.

    Superficial voting: voters rely on symbols, not manifestos.

    Spoiled ballots: mistakes rise, especially among less literate voters.

    The numbers tell the story: Three parties in 1999; 91 in 2019; then 18 after deregistration. Projections for 2027 suggest around 32.

    At a motor park in Lagos, driver Sunday Akinola was blunt: “If I see 30 logos, I just look for a broom or an umbrella. The rest are decorations.”

     INEC’s heavy burden

    For INEC, more parties mean heavier logistics. Longer ballots require more paper and secure printing. Transporting these ballots across the 36 states would stretch the incurred costs. Training thousands of ad-hoc staff becomes harder.

    Yakubu insists the commission is ready. He said, “INEC has managed 91 parties before. We will manage whatever number emerges in 2027. Our duty is to deliver credible elections, not to block citizens’ rights.”

    However, insiders admit strain. A senior staff member of the commission who pleaded for anonymity confided in our reporter: “Verification of new associations alone consumes weeks of manpower. Monitoring compliance, campaign finance, and internal elections multiplies our workload. It diverts resources from other core preparations.”

    Many civil society activists share this concern. “Logistics is the heart of credibility,” argued Ezenwa Nwagwu of Partners for Electoral Reform. “When INEC is overstretched, errors creep in. Errors in Nigeria are not neutral — they fuel suspicion and conflict.”

     Opposition in pieces

    Politically, proliferation could fragment the anti-APC vote. In legislative elections, which are decided by simple pluralities, APC candidates may win with slim margins while opposition votes scatter.

    “This is déjà vu,” said Dr. Oby Nwosu, a civil society activist. “When you have 10 opposition candidates against one ruling party candidate, you don’t need to be a mathematician to know who benefits.”

    Opposition leaders agree but often act otherwise. Within the PDP, some younger politicians are privately eyeing new political platforms to realise their ambition in 2027, while others have already jumped ship. “The PDP is too compromised,” one said. “We need fresh energy, even if it starts small.”

    APC stalwarts see an opportunity for their party with the division within the ranks of the opposition. Senator Musa Ibrahim declared, “Register 200 parties if you want. Opposition will divide itself. We will organise and win.”

     Proxy politics

    Beyond fragmentation, civil society activists warn of manipulation. Some new parties may be covert projects of the ruling party, designed to split opposition votes in key states.

    “Some of these so-called new parties are proxy outfits,” said Ene Obi of CLEEN Foundation. “They are spoilers, not competitors.”

    A former opposition governor who does not want his name in print alleged: “In the last election cycle, people were quietly offered ministerial slots if they would float new parties instead of strengthening coalitions. It’s a divide-and-rule strategy dressed as democracy.”

    Such allegations are hard to prove, but the suspicion is widespread.

     Lessons abroad

    Here are relevant comparisons to help clarify the picture: In Kenya, while small parties abound, coalitions are the norm. In order to pool resources, prevent vote splitting, and present united fronts prior to elections, disparate parties form alliances (such as Kenya Kwanza). That model forces opposition to negotiate early. This tends to reduce fragmentation.

    Ghana demonstrates how strong parties with clear internal structures and fairly enforced rules (for registration, primary elections, and electoral thresholds) support a mostly two-party system in practice (despite more parties legally existing). Voters in Ghana know that the contest is between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) vs the New Patriotic Party (NPP); fringe parties exist, but they don’t dominate ballot space or media conversation.

    Smaller parties can win legislative seats in South Africa according to their votes, thanks to the country’s proportional representation system. This gives credible incentives for parties to institutionalise and maintain coherence, rather than simply contesting for symbolic recognition.

    In Ethiopia, proliferation along ethnic lines has fueled polarisation and conflict, a cautionary tale. In Germany, a five per cent threshold filters serious parties from symbolic ones.

    Dr. Grace Adeyemi summarised the lessons thus: “The problem is not legal proliferation, but weak institutions. Nigeria has many logos, but few real parties. Without internal democracy and grassroots structure, parties remain shells.”

     History repeats

    Party proliferation is not new. Dozens of small parties, many ethnic or regional in character, mushroomed during the First Republic of the 1960s. Military rule swept them away.

    The Second Republic (1979 to 1983) permitted only five parties. The Third Republic experiments of the 1990s had the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) duopoly. The Fourth Republic began in 1999 with three parties: the PDP, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the All People’s Party (APP).

    Justice Dahiru Musdapher’s 2002 court ruling against restrictive registration rules triggered a surge, peaking at 91 parties in 2019. After poor electoral showings, INEC deregistered 74, leaving 18.

    History shows a cycle: proliferation, confusion, deregistration, and consolidation.

    Ultimately, Nigeria’s democracy requires a balance between choice and order: a multiparty system that offers genuine alternatives without producing debilitating fragmentation. Achieving this balance will require legal reforms, institutional strengthening, and political responsibility from all stakeholders.

     Shielding INEC from interference

    Strengthening INEC’s independence is essential. Experts recommend:

    Technology: invest in robust platforms for registration, finance tracking, and results transmission.

    Autonomy: constitutional safeguards to shield INEC’s funding and leadership from executive interference.

    Transparency: publish clear criteria, reasons for approvals and rejections, and timelines for registration.

    Former INEC chair Attahiru Jega has long advocated for an Election Offences Commission. Civil society agrees. “Until politicians fear consequences, impunity will continue,” said Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa.

     Beyond numbers

    Party registration reform should go further:

    Performance thresholds: tie continued registration to minimum vote shares or number of seats won.

    Clear rules: publish criteria and decisions openly.

    Coalition incentives: encourage opposition groups to merge platforms.

    Civic education: expand awareness so voters distinguish parties by programs, not logos.

    Civil society oversight: watchdogs must audit INEC decisions and expose irregularities.

    “Numbers alone don’t make a democracy stronger,” said activist Hauwa Ibrahim. “Credible parties, fair rules, and knowledgeable citizens all contribute to its strength.”

     Expansion or dilution?

    Nigeria now stands at a crossroads. Party proliferation may expand choice, but without safeguards, it risks confusion, manipulation, and fragmentation.

    If INEC remains opaque and opposition remains divided, 2027 could reproduce old flaws: crowded ballots, disoriented voters, and entrenched incumbents.

    Yet, reform is still possible. With transparency, stronger institutions, and coalition-building, Nigeria could turn proliferation into renewal.

    As one Abuja-based analyst concluded, “The 2027 general election will not just test politicians. They will test the resilience of Nigeria’s democracy itself.”

  • Adeleke deserve forgiveness from Osun residents, not second term — Ex-IPAC chair

    Adeleke deserve forgiveness from Osun residents, not second term — Ex-IPAC chair

    As the 2026 Osun governorship race gathers momentum and stakeholders warm up, ex-chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Adewale Adebayo, speaks with TOBA ADEDEJI about the opposition’s preparedness for the forthcoming election, among other issues. Excerpts.

    You seem to have gone underground since your tenure as the chairman of IPAC in Osun State lapsed. What happened?

    That is not correct at all. Finishing my tenure allowed me to focus more on the opposition role. I have been playing an active opposition role more than ever because my responsibilities as the IPAC chairman were impeding this, but now our party, APM, is even more active in criticising this government in a very reasonable manner than ever before. You are a journalist; you can fact-check my claims.

    Since the government of Ademola Adeleke came on board, APM has commended the government in the areas where it needs to be commended and condemned the action of the government where it is necessary to put them on their toes. I and my party,  the APM, never went underground. We are engaging more, mobilising more people, especially youths, into our fold, especially with the ongoing CVR in the state. I can tell you categorically that our party is the future of Osun State, especially the way the incumbent government is running the state with impunity, nepotism and favouritism.

    How is the current governor running the state? What is your assessment of his performance?

    This is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. The government lacks accountability, excellence and fails to prioritise the welfare of the people. If you focus on Osun under Adeleke, he is running a government of Ede, by Ede, and for Ede. Since he assumed office in 2022, his administration has consistently shown that it places little value on the collective will of the Osun people who voted him into power.  One of his earliest actions was the erection of a statue of his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, at the entrance of the Osun State Secretariat in Abere, while also changing the official address of the Secretariat from Osogbo, the state capital, to Abere in Ede land. This symbolic gesture alone revealed his intentions—shifting the identity and pride of Osun’s capital toward his hometown.

    Months ago, when the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) raised concerns that Adeleke’s infrastructural projects were being disproportionately concentrated in Ede, we were dismissed and ridiculed. Today, it has become undeniable. Every road in Ede has either been rehabilitated or newly constructed under Adeleke’s watch. Roads are being opened to private homes—both prominent and obscure. In less than three years, Ede’s infrastructural development has outshone Osogbo, the state capital, as massive, high-quality roads are being strategically routed into the Governor’s hometown.

    I challenge anyone who may want to oppose my claim to first take a drive through Ede because I did, and the truth will hit you in the face. Roads everywhere — from major expressways to inner streets — roads have been constructed or rehabilitated with precision and quality.

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    Can you give an instance?

    Sure! A dual carriageway from Akoda–Redeemer University junction to Oke-Gada 8.6km, multiply it by two, it is 17.2km. Another dual carriageway from Abere to Ede spanning over 5km, it is 10KM, then 10km Ofatedo–Ede dualisation project, yet another dual carriageway from Oke-Gada road to Ara Junction. No other town in Osun has received this scale of attention, not even Osogbo, the state capital.

    Meanwhile, the administration attempts to cover up its nepotism by announcing flyover projects in Osogbo and Ile-Ife—projects that appear more like political distractions than genuine commitments. Recently, after a gale of defection hit his inglorious party, the PDP, to distract from these moves, the government dishes out politically timed, token projects in Ilesa because of Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who is from Ijesaland. He rushed to flag off a token dualisation project in Ilesa—barely 3km long—just to buy sympathy.

    Similarly, after Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi of Ila-Orangun left the PDP, the Governor hastily approved another ill-conceived dual carriageway there, ignoring the far more critical Ila–Ora–Kwara boundary road, which remains impassable and has effectively cut off communities. Even Iwo, all the governor could offer was a 3km dualisation project. These token projects are nothing but Greek gifts—unfinished promises to be recycled as campaign tools in 2026.

    The truth remains clear: in three years, Adeleke has ensured that Ede enjoys over 40km of quality road construction and rehabilitation, while no other town can boast of even 3km under his administration.

    This is happening despite Osun reportedly receiving nearly ₦1 trillion in federal allocations for the state alone, aside from Local Government, within this period. With such resources, one would expect balanced development across Osun. But what do we see? Ede reaping gold, while other towns get crumbs.

    Governor Adeleke’s discontinuation of Ipade Imole, his supposed town hall accountability session, is no coincidence. He has chosen opacity over transparency, refusing to face the people and answer for the lopsided governance style that benefits Ede above all. He is evading public scrutiny. When challenged, his administration hides behind shallow PR while Ede soaks up the dividends of collective resources.

    Osun people are no longer deceived. If Governor Adeleke can be this intentional about building only his hometown, the people of Osun will be just as intentional about returning him home in 2026.

    But the present government is doing roads, launching N100 billion and N156bn Infra plans, paying salary arrears for workers, among others…

    You are a journalist who should fact-check these. It is nauseating to count them as achievements, and it is even absolutely irresponsible of that government to come out and openly tell us that they are doing well while, in the real sense, they are doing next to nothing.

    Let me start with the road construction, which dovetails with the mirage called Infra plan. On October 28th 2023, Adeleke unveiled a N100bn infra plan, stating that he will build five overhead bridges within one year and construct 45 roads within this period. As a journalist, how many of those bridges have they completed or commissioned, and how many roads have been done?

    I ought not to do this but let me do it because I should not be their spokesperson, they started with Oke-Fia bridge which is less than 70 percent completed since about two years, work has stopped in Ile-Ife and Lameco, but recently they started work in the latter because of second term bid and two others are missing, nothing was done in both Ikirun and Owode-Ede proposed flyover bridge till today despite that the money was encapsulated in the N100bn infra plan.

    Talking of the 45 roads, how many have been completed, except the Old-Garage to Lameco dual carriage way, which was commissioned by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, and that was haphazardly done because of his second term in office. Remember that one of the roads was awarded to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. I wonder if EFCC and ICPC are still working in the country because by now, he should be facing prosecution.

    But the government has launched another N159bn Infra plan, which attracted commendation. What is your take?

    This present government is a joke; if there is no yesterday, there can’t be today, and tomorrow will be impossible. What is the state of the N100bn infra project? Fiction! Nothing to show for it, then they come open to declare another N159bn infra plan, they are just taking us for a ride.

    Let me even point this out: if you add up the breakdown of what they said the infra plan will address, you will see what is involved. From the speech of Adeleke, N101,799,993,595.05 was earmarked for road and lighting, N1,989,433,956.69 was billed for the education sector, and the health sector gulped N2,763,124,364.50. When you total these, it is in the region of N104 billion. He failed to tell the Osun people what N55 billion would be used for. They assume that we don’t know, but we know.

    Do you remember that he collected N5 billion from the Federal government for palliative? We never heard anything about it till today.

    But are there other local roads receiving adequate attention by the administration?

    Sure, those roads are local government roads which were done to justify the money of the local government that they have squandered. Imagine, between November 2022 to November 2024, N183,196,629,321.19 was credited to the 30 local government councils, and nothing to show for it, which forms part of the reasons why they don’t want to obey the Court of Appeal judgement reinstating the 2022 elected chairmen.

    But is the governor doing well in the aspect of workers’ welfare?

    Evaluating Governor Adeleke’s administration since his swearing-in in 2022 is akin to applauding with one hand—there are notable achievements, but significant shortcomings remain. One of his commendable actions was the clearance of salary arrears owed to civil servants and pensioners from the Rauf Aregbesola administration, demonstrating his commitment to workers’ welfare.

    However, while he prioritised wage payments, other sectors of governance have suffered severely. Upon assuming office, Adeleke sacked over 20,000 workers employed under his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, without hiring replacements. These included health workers, exacerbating the crisis in the state’s healthcare system.

    Many hospitals and health centres, including general hospitals, are critically understaffed. A tragic example was the widely reported death of a pregnant woman in Iwo due to the absence of a doctor and qualified nurses. Even teacher recruitment suffered, with no replacement to date. His administration has also faced allegations of breaching procurement laws. Most ongoing projects were neither advertised nor subjected to a bidding process.

    Contracts were reportedly awarded to political allies, with one particularly controversial case involving a contract worth about N5 billion awarded to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. Details of such transactions have surfaced on Governor Adeleke’s official Twitter page.

    On fiscal management, concerns persist over transparency. Last year, Osun State’s budget stood at approximately N317 billion, yet the government received around N450 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), excluding internally generated revenue (IGR).

    The whereabouts of the surplus N100 billion remain unclear, raising accountability questions that anti-corruption agencies should investigate. Adeleke’s administration has also been accused of undermining the independence of the judiciary by his attempt to unlawfully remove the Chief Judge, later reversed by the National Judicial Council (NJC), is a case in point. Similarly,  his executive order to depose six monarchs who were selected by kingmakers. But Adeleke came on board, sacked them, and appointed Warrant chiefs who were PDP members. But thank God, the court is restoring some level of stability.

    Local government autonomy remains a contentious issue. Allegations that the administration is suppressing local government operations have only been reinforced by ongoing crises at that level. Furthermore, Adeleke’s government has defied legal and institutional frameworks, opposing the Court of Appeal’s verdict and the Federal Government’s stance on local government elections.

    Press freedom has also come under threat. Journalists critical of the administration have reportedly faced intimidation, with some allegedly receiving direct threats to their safety—an alarming trend in a democratic system. While there

  • Politics should be about service, leadership not about personal gains – Ex-Imo Labour governorship aspirant Ugomuoh

    Politics should be about service, leadership not about personal gains – Ex-Imo Labour governorship aspirant Ugomuoh

    Before joining politics, Charles Ugomuoh, served in the Nigeria Police, and retired as an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). He later joined politics, and contested the governorship position under the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State during the 2023 general elections. Earlier, he emerged as the Senatorial candidate of the Accord Party (AP) in the state during 2019 general elections. He was the Chairman, National Implementation Committee on the Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria. In this interview, he talks about life as a politician, Labour Party, among others.

    Given your experience in politics so far, will it be right to say you have burnt your fingers?

    There must be a struggle if you want to lead your people. For you to lead your people, you must have to go through a political party. And you must win the nomination of the political party to become their candidate. So, you could burn your fingers here and there. But definitely, it’s a sacrifice for the people. You want to lead your people. And your people have said that, okay, we want you. ‘Please, you lead in this capacity.’ You were the AIG, and you have carried us all along over time. Why can’t you come out? And you see a lot of support. But despite the support, you are still looking at your pocket. That is the issue.

     The people, from your experience, appear more interested in the now than the collective gains of the future…

     People must know that service matters more than the peanuts they get as stomach infrastructure today, because they have children who will grow up. You have to build infrastructure. You have to build human capital. Your schools have to be equipped. Your hospitals have to be equipped. Things have to be done the right way. If things are done the right way, and there are jobs for people after graduation, and you are sure of your daily bread, things will change. People will not become so hungry and beggarly.

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     Who do we blame for this?  Is it the poor who have been repeatedly used and dumped, or the greedy leadership?

     The blame goes both ways. The blame goes to the rich because when you are hungry, all you want to say is where is the blessing coming from? So, it is the leadership that has built the culture of poverty. The people are hungry. That is why it is difficult to change their mindset.

    But the blame also goes both ways because there are people who revel in tribal sentiments and religious bigotry. They don’t think in terms of capacity. They don’t even bother about what you have. But here, what you can give is of their primary concern.

     What do you do now that you are no longer in active service?

     I run a security company. I’m an administrator and a technocrat. So, we are used to our words being our bond. And that is why most of us who are technocrats who went into politics, our pensions went into it.

    We wanted to serve the people, and it really brought us close to the people. When I was in the police service, I was in operation , but in politics, every Tom, Dick and Harry comes to you. The only problem with this is that they come with various demands. So it becomes fund tasking.

    In 2019, I was the senatorial candidate of the Accord Party for Imo East. Well, it appeared all rosy and going well, but at the end of the day, I lost. And once you lose, the whole funding is gone. That didn’t deter me. In 2023, I was also a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party for Imo State. It’s all fund tasking.

    I have come to realise that who you are is not relevant in politics. You come with lofty ideas to lead your people, to give them good governance, but all they are interested in is in how much you give and a lot of lies like you rightly said. We(technocrats)are not used to lies but the people that come to us come with lies. Well, that is it, but politics should actually be for service and leadership. If people can really examine the people they put into power in terms of capacity and educational background; where you have given your service before, it will go a long way, so that you don’t vote for people and collect some peanuts, and at the end of the day, start complaining about the same people.

    What is your assessment of governance in your state, Imo, so far?

    Well, in Imo State, His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma, had a lot of trust deficits and that impacted on his administration. That trust deficit created pervasive insecurity, so, he had to contend with that insecurity, which was as a result of that trust deficit. But recently, I think he is beginning to get his act together by putting up some road infrastructure here and there, like Owerri to Umuahia, Owerri to Orlu and others, but he needs to do more. The hinterlands are not accessible. Like I wanted to go to my village, Mbaise, but I could not access it because there was no road. I had to go back.

    Be that as it may, I think the trust deficit is gradually waning. And I still want to appeal to our people to cooperate with him. He has two years to go, so he can put up whatever democratic infrastructure he wants to do. With that trust deficit and insecurity, there is nothing he can do, except he gets the cooperation of the people. So, there must be a way to mitigate the gap created by that trust deficit.

    The Imo state government recently increased the state civil servants minimum salary to N104, 000 which some have said is not sustainable especially for the incoming administration in 2027. What is your take on this?

    No, I don’t think so. For him to have come to that, he must have done his homework and the issue of sustainability shouldn’t come in. He has two years to go, so he has two years to operate it. If he is putting that on the table, it’s good and he should be encouraged.

    Honestly speaking, it’s magnanimous enough that he’s putting that on the table. But the important thing is that the people should be paid. So we have one year and a second year, to see if he can. But mind you, with the level of  inflation, even after a year or two, it is supposed to go higher, because we need a living wage for the people. You can’t tell me, with the increased budgetary allocations here and there, that it is not sustainable. It’s sustainable.

    The problem is the political will, the will-power to implement it; it is sustainable. He has done well by increasing it to that amount, which is beyond what is paid in the Southeast region. So, there’s nothing to talk about sustainability, because he’s still the man on the ground. So, let him operate it and I’m obviously expecting that even before he leaves, it should go higher. It is okay that he has increased it to over N100, 000 but it’s still not a living wage. It’s a step in the right direction.

    Peter Obi was the biggest name on the Labour Party ballot. He is being courted by the  PDP and ADC…

    I was with the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi was the presidential candidate of the LP in 2023. I was the chairman of the security and reconciliation committee of the party. And I tried to bring unity and harmony to the party. Before Obi actually made a serious inroad into the Labour Party, in most of the states, what they had were placeholders. while they scouted for people of means and substance to fly the tickets. It was difficult, and that created more problems for the party.

    When Peter Obi came to the party, and it became popular, they tried to replace those placeholders, and they became stubborn because they felt they could do as well. The advent of Obi transformed that. All those placeholders were replaced, and they became a problem for the LP. But be that as it may, Obi became a shining star in the party.

     Obi is still a force to reckon with, and he has the right to belong to any political party of his choice.

    He is also looking at the ADC because he sees it as a bigger platform. The PDP may be angling for Obi because they know that he has the capacity, and he has the cult followership. You know, some people have gone ahead to describe Buhari’s followership like that of Obi.

    When the parties announce their presidential candidates, we will then know where Obi stands. There may be a kind of rejig in the political strategy. But I bet you, if Obi emerges as the ADC presidential candidate, it will be a tough fight. So, I think all these things he is doing are just biding his time. It’s a kind of study. Whether he has gone from one party to the other, he has that right. The constitution allows that movement.

    Having burnt your fingers, would you still want to return to politics?

    Why not? After all, I was the senatorial candidate of the Accord Party. Eventually, I was a governorship aspirant in Imo State a few years back. I have not gotten to that position of leadership. Be that as it may, I still have the urge to serve my people.

    Having attained this level, would you say you are fulfilled?

    I am fulfilled, but I cannot say it’s 100 per cent fulfilment yet. I’m a retired officer. I’ve come into politics and gotten some satisfaction, but my desire to serve my people and provide infrastructure for them has not been met. Actually, what I wanted to do, apart from creating jobs everywhere, taking entrepreneurship and other stuff, into different segments, into areas of comparative advantage, because there are areas in the state that have clay. There are areas where you have oil. There are areas of agriculture. We need to segment them into areas of comparative advantage and then invite investors. Investors will bring their blueprints and go to areas that align with their blueprints.

    So, we packaged some people to be sent to Singapore so that the industrial chain of palm fruits will be put in place in Imo State. We have a lot of it. We had a lot of coaching programmes. But when we were not elected, even the man  elected may not even call for advice. Even when you advise, they’ll be like, Wait for your turn.

    So, I’ll still call on the government of Imo State to look around and see people with capacity and capacity. Whatever they do, try to close the gap of this trust deficit. But you can close the gap by improving the welfare of the people and creating infrastructure. This applies to the police, too.

    How has it been since you retired from the police?

    From the rank of AIG, I think when you retire and if you have made enough preparations towards retirement, I don’t think there is any cause for alarm.

  • PDP okays ward congress in Adamawa

    PDP okays ward congress in Adamawa

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Congress Committee in Adamawa State, Chief  Gebon Kataps, has okayed the party’s ward congresses held across the state.

    Speaking to journalists in Yola as his Committee concluded its monitoring of the congresses Saturday afternoon, Kataps said the elections were conducted without any major incidents across all 226 wards in the state.

    He expressed the optimism that the PDP, which produced incumbent Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, among many other governors, would bounce back at the national level in no long time.

    Kataps admitted that the party is battling challenges but expressed confidence that it would overcome them.

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    “Yes, we are facing our fair share of challenges at the moment, some self-inflicted and others caused by those seeking to destabilize the party, but I can assure you, the PDP is a party that is deeply rooted in Nigeria,” he asserted. 

    He added that the party remains in the hearts of the people as Nigerians love it, stressing, “The PDP will rise again.”

    ‎The Adamawa congresses, held across the state Saturday, form part of the nationwide ward congresses being held by the PDP to elect party executives at the grassroots.‎

  • Obasa denies reports on next political move

    Obasa denies reports on next political move

    Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has dismissed claims that he openly declared his next political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Obasa clarified that he did not state his intentions to contest for governorship or a senatorial seat during a live appearance on TVC’s programme; ‘Beyond the Headlines.’

    “As a politician, you must wait for the hierarchy of the party to determine where they want you to go; whether as a lawmaker, governor, or senator.

    “People should not be misled or try to misinterpret the party’s plans. Let all tension calm down. Our main focus is how to move the country forward. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is making significant progress day by day,” Obasa explained.

    While stating that he is not retiring from politics yet, Obasa said that he remains mindful of life after public service.

    “Nigeria is our home, our party is our strength, and those of us in the APC are family members. The APC is getting stronger every day,” he said.

    Responding to questions about his future ambitions, Obasa added: “Life is next. So let’s concentrate on living that life.”

    Explaining the realities of political aspirations, the Speaker noted that ambition must be balanced with party discipline.

    “When we talk about politics, you have to be a member of a political party, and as a member, you must believe in the leadership of that party. 

    “At some point, you cannot determine what’s next for you on your own. Of course, you may aspire to become something, but you still have to respect the party and how it is managed.

    “The party leaders will eventually sit down and decide who goes where. So, whether as a Speaker, Deputy Governor, Governor, or Senator, it’s all about consultation and engagement with party leaders. As an individual, you must align with the process,” Obasa said. 

  • ‘Tinubu’s reform drawing people to APC’

    ‘Tinubu’s reform drawing people to APC’

    Former Chairman of the defunct National Conscience Party, (NCP), in Edo State Victor Ogba said at the weekend that economic reforms of the President Tinubu government are responsible for the mass movement into the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    Ogba, who said in an interview in Abuja that he was returning to the APC on Tuesday, September 16 lauded the President for his courageous reforms.

    He said: “I was received by my ward chairman in Ward 5, Isoko South local government of Delta on Aug.22. I have played politics all through in Edo but it is time for me to go back to my home state which is what I am doing on Sept. 16”.

    He said his decision to return to the APC was in line with his commitment to a progressive Nigeria and expressed his determination to use his wealth of experience in politics to the greater good of APC 

    Ogba affirmed resolve to continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders like Sen.Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Delta South and Gov.Sheriff Oborevwori in the APC to promote and stabilize the polity especially in Delta.

    Ogba, who reiterated the imperatives of taking APC to higher grounds, pledged to abide by the dictates of the party constitution.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to support the APC aimed at making President Tinubu’s vision feasible.

  • Guru Maharaj tackles El-Rufai, says Tinubu fixing Nigeria

    Guru Maharaj tackles El-Rufai, says Tinubu fixing Nigeria

    Spiritual leader and founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji has warned former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against making divisive statements, saying no one can break Nigeria.

    He stated President Bola Tinubu is on the right track and deserves support.

    Reacting to El-Rufai’s recent comments that Nigeria may not survive if APC wins the 2027 election, Maharaj Ji said the former Governor must learn to speak peace. 

    He accused El-Rufai of pushing religious and political division. 

    “He is a robot of the Anglo-Arab theological group, trying to keep Black people down through religion. But in Africa, we have our own natural laws and principles,” he said.

    He dared El-Rufai to publicly swear that he never stole public funds during his time in office. “Let him go on TV with a glass of water and swear. If he’s clean, let’s see what happens in four weeks,” he said.

    He also criticised other political and religious leaders who were silent during herdsmen attacks in the South but are now vocal. 

    “They ignored killings in Benue and Plateau. Now that their influence is fading, they are pretending to care,” he said.

    The spiritual leader defende Tinubu’s leadership for his policies, stating that the President has taken bold steps to fix the country like making education free, supporting businesses, and improving electricity. “Tinubu is giving hope and working for the good of the country,” he said.

    He also called on Nigerians to stay united and resist being used by politicians. 

    “Nigeria is a no-war zone. Let El-Rufai and his group leave us alone. We believe in Tinubu’s leadership,” he stated.