Tinubu Failed to Honour Our Agreement After I Took Political Risk for Him – Makinde

IBADAN, Oyo State – Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to honour a written agreement reached ahead of the 2023 presidential election, saying he took a significant political risk by supporting the then All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate despite belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Makinde made the revelation during an interview with ARISE News, where he explained the circumstances surrounding his decision to support Tinubu in the 2023 election and why he has since become critical of the President’s administration.

The governor disclosed that his decision was based on an agreement to establish a Government of National Unity (GNU) after the election, insisting that the understanding was documented and signed by the parties involved.

According to him, he still has a copy of the agreement, which he said formed the basis of his decision to support Tinubu despite the potential political consequences.

“I’ve had a certain experience with him, you know, where agreement was signed. And he didn’t keep to it,” Makinde said.

He added that the arrangement was not primarily about personal benefits but about ensuring that different political interests would be accommodated in the governance of the country.

Why I Took the Political Risk

Makinde explained that backing Tinubu while seeking re-election as Oyo State governor in 2023 was a risky political decision because he was uncertain how voters in the state would react to his support for a presidential candidate from another political party.

The governor said he could not predict whether the decision would strengthen or undermine his chances of securing another term in office.

He maintained that his endorsement was not motivated by ethnic considerations or the fact that both he and Tinubu are from the South-West, but by his expectation that the proposed government of national unity would promote national inclusion.

Makinde challenged those questioning his political position to examine whether the agreement had delivered the intended outcome.

“Tell us if the agreement was fulfilled. That’s wrong. Tell us if, not in terms of something personal, what has Nigeria got out of this? Are we having a government of national unity right now?” he asked.

Why I May Not Work With Tinubu Again

The Oyo governor’s latest comments also shed light on his reservations about renewing political cooperation with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

When asked about the possibility of working with the President again, Makinde contrasted his experience with Tinubu with his dealings with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

“I’ve not had that issue with him before, with Atiku Abubakar, or H.E. Peter Obi,” he stated.

His remarks suggest that his reservations about further cooperation with Tinubu are connected to what he described as the failure to honour their earlier agreement rather than an unwillingness to work across political party lines.

Makinde’s 2027 Presidential Ambition

Makinde, who is positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has increasingly criticised the direction of Tinubu’s administration.

The governor has also questioned the administration’s handling of the economy, national unity, governance and the impact of economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians.

He has argued that although he initially supported Tinubu because he believed the President could bring Nigerians together and establish a government of national unity and competence, he no longer believes the administration is moving in that direction.

Makinde’s disclosure has brought renewed attention to the political negotiations and agreements that preceded the 2023 presidential election, particularly the expectations of opposition figures who supported Tinubu despite belonging to different political parties.

However, the governor did not publicly disclose the full contents of the alleged agreement, the identities of all its signatories or the specific arrangements expected under the proposed Government of National Unity.

The document was not independently examined during the interview, and neither Tinubu nor the Presidency had responded to Makinde’s allegation at the time of reporting.

Tinubu Failed to Honour Our Agreement After I Took Political Risk for Him – Makinde

What Will Happen to Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid If He Loses Court Battle? Amupitan Speaks

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that the commission will abide by the final court decision regarding former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Thursday while speaking at Chatham House in London during a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The event, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, was themed, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”

Responding to a question about whether Atiku would remain eligible to contest if he failed to overturn the Federal High Court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the INEC chairman said the commission had no option but to comply with lawful court decisions.

“If it travels through the courts and, as you said, he eventually fails, well, I’m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court,” Amupitan stated.

He acknowledged that implementing politically sensitive judicial decisions could expose INEC to public criticism, even when the commission was simply carrying out its legal responsibilities.

“The danger is that whenever there’s such a decision and it’s you who now has to implement it, you become the problem. The problem now is transferred to you, but that is the position of the law,” he added.

The development comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding Atiku’s presidential ambition under the ADC following a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja on November 5.

The court nullified the leadership arrangement of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark and set aside decisions taken by the disputed leadership structure, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the party’s leadership arrangement.

However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and initiated legal proceedings to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Atiku has also maintained that he remains in the 2027 presidential race.

Meanwhile, Amupitan disclosed that INEC was currently dealing with more than 300 court cases as preparations for the 2027 general elections gathered momentum.

He expressed concern that prolonged pre-election litigation could disrupt the commission’s preparations, particularly its procurement of sensitive election materials and other logistical arrangements.

The INEC chairman called for reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved at least six months to one year before general elections.

According to him, early resolution of such cases would give the electoral commission sufficient time to concentrate on election preparations rather than being caught up in prolonged legal battles.

He stressed that the commission had already commenced procurement processes for sensitive election materials, making timely resolution of outstanding disputes particularly important.

Amupitan’s remarks indicate that INEC will allow the judicial process to determine the fate of Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket, with the commission pledging to implement the final decision of the competent courts.

What Will Happen to Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid If He Loses Court Battle? Amupitan Speaks

Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours

ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate and publish the name of Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ogun State within 24 hours.

The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, directed INEC to correct its previously published list of candidates following a legal dispute over the exclusion of Adebutu’s name.

The ruling represents a major development in the political battle over the PDP’s governorship ticket in Ogun State.

The dispute arose after INEC left Adebutu’s name off its list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, citing alleged discrepancies in the PDP membership register submitted to the commission.

INEC had maintained that its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department could not find Adebutu’s name in the register, although the name of the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, was reportedly found.

However, the PDP challenged the commission’s position, insisting that Adebutu’s name was included in the electronic list of candidates submitted through a flash drive.

The party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that the PDP complied with the submission requirements and disputed the flash drive presented by INEC during the proceedings.

The electoral commission, through its witness, Mustapha Mohammed, maintained that Adebutu’s name was absent from the records submitted to it.

In its judgment, Justice Lifu held that INEC lacked the authority to remove a candidate sponsored by a political party without a court order.

The court further ruled that the PDP had established that Adebutu was a registered member of the party in Ogun State.

It also questioned INEC’s authority over the party’s membership register and faulted the commission for failing to establish that the flash drive submitted by the PDP had been altered.

Consequently, the judge directed INEC to immediately restore Adebutu’s name to the list of candidates and publish it within 24 hours.

The judgment clears a major legal hurdle for Adebutu’s participation in the 2027 Ogun governorship election under the PDP platform.

Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours