INC withdraws support for Wike, demands apology to Ijaw nation - Newstrends
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INC withdraws support for Wike, demands apology to Ijaw nation

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Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

The highest Ijaw socio-cultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), yesterday announced its decision to withdraw the support for Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in his presidential ambition.

The INC, in a statement yesterday by a member of the National Representative Council (INC), Elder Christopher Abarowei, called on politicians who had declared support for Wike’s presidential ambition to withdrew it until he tenders an unreserved apology to the leadership of INC, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and the entire Ijaw nation.

According to Abarowei, the office of the Governor of a state and President is supposed to be occupied by persons who are considered by those who voted them into office in the first place as being among the best in terms of their ability to manage success.

He said: “There is a popular saying that you know a person better when you give him power.

“Governor Nyesom Wike has not disappointed those who helped him to be governor as he has turned himself into a complete public nuisance with the way and manner he quickly insults people at the least provocation.

“This drift into uncivilised and uncouth adventure by a state governor is in our opinion unacceptable, undeserving and outrightly condemnable.

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“The recent outburst in a church of all places by Governor Wike against the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) is a clear case of a man whose mental state has to be interrogated.

“It is highly unacceptable for a man occupying the most exalted position of Governor of Rivers State to use derogatory words like ‘Thunder Fire You’ in a church that is supposed to be congregated by decent people and respected workers in the Lord’s vineyard.

“This is a clear indication that the governor lacks the moral compass to manage a state not to talk of his delusional attempt to occupy the most exalted position in Nigeria.

“How will he feel to ask for the votes of delegates of Ijaw extraction from Delta, Edo, Rivers and Delta states whom he wants thunder to fire?

“Governor Wike should better still allow his aides to do what he is shamelessly doing now as the job of an attack dog does not in anyway fit into the job description of a state governor.

“We wonder how comfortable this governor is with him having issues with almost everything around him except for his bloated ego.

“There is a popular rule in boxing that requires a boxer with the longer reach and height to come down to the level of a shorter opponent to hit his target.

“In the process, the shorter man has an advantage to hit the face of the taller opponent with ease. Wike should be knowledgeable enough to know that using gutter languages will force weaker opponents to dive into the gutters with him.”

He said no governor of Ijaw extraction had ever insulted the Ikwerres the way Wike throws caution to the wind to insult Ijaws at random.

He asked him to come down from his high horse and build some moral decency and desist forthwith from insulting Ijaw people as his becoming a governor was a function of some Ijaw persons lifting his head, legs and hands.

Abarowei said his fellow Ikwerre brother, Chibuike Amaechi, the current Minister of Transportation, would have crushed him without the support of the Ijaws.

THE NATION

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APC Releases 2027 Election Timetable, Fixes Presidential Form at N100 Million

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All Progressives Congress (APC)

APC Releases 2027 Election Timetable, Fixes Presidential Form at N100 Million

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its official timetable and schedule of activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, outlining key dates for party primaries and detailing the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for various elective offices.

In a statement issued on Monday night and signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the ruling party confirmed the full breakdown of fees for presidential, governorship, and legislative aspirants.

According to the schedule, the presidential expression of interest form is pegged at N30 million, while the nomination form costs N70 million, bringing the total to N100 million for aspirants seeking the party’s highest ticket.

For the governorship race, aspirants will pay N10 million for expression of interest and N40 million for the nomination form. Senate aspirants are required to pay N3 million and N17 million, while House of Representatives aspirants will pay N1 million and N9 million respectively.

At the state level, aspirants seeking seats in the State Houses of Assembly will pay N1 million for expression of interest and N5 million for nomination forms.

The APC also announced concessions for specific categories, stating that female aspirants, youths, and persons with disabilities will pay the full expression of interest fee but only 50 percent of the nomination fee, in a move aimed at promoting inclusion within the party’s internal electoral process.

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Primary election timetable released

The party also confirmed dates for its primary elections ahead of the 2027 polls. According to the timetable:

  • Presidential primary: May 15–16
  • House of Representatives primary: May 18
  • Senate primary: May 20
  • State House of Assembly primary: May 21
  • Governorship primary: May 23

The schedule signals the formal start of internal political activities within the APC as aspirants begin mobilisation for party tickets ahead of the general elections.

Political implications

Analysts say the release of the timetable marks a major step in Nigeria’s 2027 election cycle, with the APC setting the pace for other political parties to follow.

The cost of nomination forms—particularly the N100 million presidential ticket—is already generating public debate, with concerns around affordability, political inclusion, and youth participation in governance.

With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected to complete his first term by 2027, the timetable is likely to trigger increased political activity within the ruling party as aspirants begin consultations and alliances.

The APC stated that the structured timetable is designed to ensure a smooth, transparent, and orderly selection process in line with internal party regulations and national electoral expectations.

APC Releases 2027 Election Timetable, Fixes Presidential Form at N100 Million

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Lagos 2027: Jandor Denies Tinubu Backing Hamzat, Says APC Race Open

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Obafemi Hamzat and Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Abdulazeez Adediran
Obafemi Hamzat, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Abdulazeez Adediran

Lagos 2027: Jandor Denies Tinubu Backing Hamzat, Says APC Race Open

Former Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the preferred candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jandor, now an APC governorship aspirant, insisted that there has been no official endorsement from the President and no formal declaration of interest from Hamzat regarding the race.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Jandor said the growing narrative that the Lagos governorship race has already been decided in favour of Hamzat is incorrect and misleading.

He stressed that all aspirants are still positioning themselves ahead of the APC primary process, which will determine the party’s eventual candidate.

Jandor also clarified that if there had been any endorsement from President Tinubu, it would have been formally communicated to all aspirants within the party structure.

According to him, no such communication has been made, and the contest remains open.

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He further noted that Deputy Governor Hamzat has not publicly declared interest in the governorship race, describing him as a qualified administrator with extensive experience in governance.

Jandor said discussions within the APC currently point toward the adoption of direct primaries, which would allow party members to vote directly for their preferred candidate.

He emphasized his readiness to abide by whatever process the party eventually adopts, stating that party supremacy remains central to internal politics.

The APC aspirant also revealed that he had met President Tinubu personally, noting that the President neither discouraged his ambition nor promised him any political advantage.

He said the encounter reinforced his confidence to remain in the race for the Lagos governorship seat in 2027.

Jandor further defended his early declaration of interest, saying it reflects self-belief and political determination. He drew comparisons with Tinubu’s own political journey, noting that ambition must be openly declared.

Political activities in Lagos are already intensifying ahead of 2027, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu prepares to complete his second term, opening up the race for new contenders.

Other figures reportedly being considered in the APC succession debate include former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, presidential aide Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Minister of Education Tunji Alausa.

Analysts say the Lagos 2027 governorship election is shaping up to be highly competitive within the APC, with early positioning and internal negotiations expected to continue in the coming months.

For now, Jandor maintains that no endorsement has been made and that the final decision will rest on the outcome of the party’s primary election.

Lagos 2027: Jandor Denies Tinubu Backing Hamzat, Says APC Race Open

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ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi

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African Democratic Congress (ADC)

ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a new turn in Kebbi State after a Magistrate Court in Birnin Kebbi ordered the detention of factional state chairman, Sufyanu Bala, over alleged contempt of court.

The ruling was delivered on Monday by Magistrate Abubakar Koko, who directed that Bala be remanded in custody pending the hearing of his bail application scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The case has further intensified the ongoing ADC leadership crisis in Kebbi State, where rival factions continue to battle for control of the party structure.

The matter was filed by a rival faction led by Abdulrazaq Abubakar Iko, who is also laying claim to the state chairmanship. The faction is seeking a court order restraining Bala from parading himself as the legitimate ADC chairman in Kebbi State, arguing that he has violated an earlier court directive.

Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Garba Abubakar Shehu, told the court that the application was necessary to enforce compliance with a subsisting order, insisting that the defendant had continued to act in defiance of judicial authority.

However, the defence team, led by Barrister Ahmad Abubakar Fingilla, challenged the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court, arguing that the matter was already before the High Court and therefore outside the lower court’s competence.

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According to him, the alleged contempt did not originate from the Magistrate Court, making the proceedings “fundamentally flawed.”

Despite the objection, Magistrate Koko ruled that the case would proceed and ordered Bala’s remand, while adjourning further hearing.

Reacting after the ruling, Sufyanu Bala, who is reportedly aligned with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleged that the case was politically motivated.

He claimed that rival political interests, allegedly working with state actors, were attempting to destabilise the party structure and prevent his faction from participating in future elections.

“Yes, the magistrate ordered my arrest and detention, but the case has been adjourned. Under the Constitution, the court has no jurisdiction, but the state government is behind this,” he said, insisting that the matter would be pursued to a “logical conclusion.”

The rival faction led by Abdulrazaq Abubakar Iko maintained that the action was necessary to enforce an existing court order restraining Bala from acting as state chairman. Iko insisted that Bala had continued to defy judicial directives despite clear legal restrictions.

The ongoing dispute reflects a deepening political crisis within the ADC in Kebbi State, where parallel factions have emerged, each holding separate congresses and issuing conflicting claims to party leadership.

Political observers say the crisis could further weaken the party’s structure ahead of future elections, as internal divisions increasingly play out in court rather than through party reconciliation mechanisms.

Analysts also note that such factional battles are common in smaller opposition parties in Nigeria, where control of party structures often leads to prolonged legal and political disputes.

As the case continues, stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to restore unity and prevent further fragmentation within the party’s Kebbi State chapter.

ADC crisis deepens, court orders detention of factional chairman in Kebbi

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