Politics
Obaseki’s ex-commissioners, PDP, LP chieftains defect to APC in Edo
Obaseki’s ex-commissioners, PDP, LP chieftains defect to APC in Edo
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki’s two former Commissioners for Communication and Orientation, Efe Stewart and Andrew Emwanta, were among chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the opposition Labour Party (LP) who defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Benin.
The carnival-like defection took place at Edo APC’s political conference, tagged: “Edo 2024: A Must Win for APC,” which was powered by the Pius Alile Coalition Initiative (PACI).
The defectors were received by a former National Chairman of APC, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by a former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Dr. Pius Odubu, while the conference was also attended by the National Women Leader of APC, Dr. Mary Alile; Edo Chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (rtd.); and many other leaders of APC across Nigeria.
Papers were presented at the conference by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Edoba Omoregie, and a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives (2007-2015), Dr. Samson Osagie.
Oshiomhole, an ex-governor of Edo state, in his speech, declared that there was no categorisation of members of APC as old or new while assuring that on September 21, 2024, the party (APC) would produce the successor of PDP’s Obaseki, and to be inaugurated on November 12 next year.
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The President/Founder of PACI, Pius Alile, a chieftain of APC, said: “The celebrated administration of Comrade Oshiomhole provided the party (APC) a benchmark to be proud of. Since the exit of Comrade Oshiomhole, with his ‘Red Roof Revolution,’ public school renovation and maintenance have been abandoned by the PDP government of Obaseki, which came up with the grand delusion of Edo Best in education. Sadly, Obaseki’s best is the worst that we have had in this state.
“The roads in Edo State, particularly in Benin City, the state capital, are in very bad condition. It is disheartening to note that the ambitious Comrade Oshiomhole’s erosion control project for Benin City, named the Benin Storm Water Project, has been abandoned in the last seven years.
“Obaseki has signed countless MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) with supposed investors, but there is nothing to show for it. Edo residents are presently under the yoke of broken promises from Obaseki and his PDP’s government. The people are in dire need of help. APC must come to their rescue by winning the governorship election and providing purposeful governance.
“APC must get the governorship primary election right, while the leadership must be transparent in the interpretation of the laid-down procedures for the nomination, and then, implementing to the letter. The process must not be compromised to produce a candidate who lacks the capacity and the aura to inspire members of the party and the support of the electorate.”
Alile also hailed Edo APC on the wave of defections blowing its way from the other political parties, which he described as heartwarming.
Obaseki’s ex-commissioners, PDP, LP chieftains defect to APC in Edo
(NATION)
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Politics
Sani Abacha’s Son Emerges Kano PDP Governorship Candidate for 2027
Sani Abacha’s Son Emerges Kano PDP Governorship Candidate for 2027
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has affirmed Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former military Head of State General Sani Abacha, as its candidate for the 2027 Kano State governorship election following the withdrawal of the party’s earlier flag bearer, Muhammad Bello Dalha.
Abacha emerged on Wednesday, September 16, during an expanded meeting of the Kano PDP State Executive Committee, where the party conducted an affirmation and replacement primary to fill the vacancy created by Dalha’s withdrawal.
The development was announced by the Kano PDP Chairman, Bello Gambo Bichi, who said Dalha had voluntarily stepped down after consultations with party stakeholders in Kano and at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Bichi explained that Dalha had earlier won the party’s governorship primary but subsequently withdrew, making a replacement process necessary under the applicable electoral and party rules.
The replacement exercise was witnessed by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The chairman of the replacement primary election panel, Dr Abba Abdullahi, formally declared Abacha the PDP’s governorship candidate after the exercise. He said the process was conducted in accordance with the PDP constitution, party guidelines, relevant regulations and applicable electoral laws.
Abdullahi also said Abacha had satisfied the requirements for nomination, while noting that his candidacy remained subject to the applicable statutory processes and scrutiny by the relevant electoral authorities.
The latest development marks a return for Abacha to the Kano governorship race. He contested the 2023 governorship election on the PDP platform and finished third in that election.
His return follows an earlier PDP primary in which Dalha emerged as the party’s candidate. Dalha’s subsequent withdrawal has now paved the way for Abacha to return to the contest through the replacement process.
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The PDP has also named Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former Kano PDP chairman and former commissioner, as Abacha’s running mate.
According to the party leadership, Kibiya’s selection formed part of a reconciliation arrangement aimed at resolving divisions between rival factions within the Kano PDP.
Bichi said the deputy governorship slot was allocated to the faction associated with former Minister of Special Duties Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as part of the reconciliation process.
The party chairman said the agreement was reached after consultations and that the arrangement had resolved the factional dispute within the Kano PDP.
The reconciliation has also affected other positions on the party’s ticket, with Bichi disclosing that some candidates for the National Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly were replaced as part of the agreement to accommodate members of the different factions.
The PDP leadership has urged its members, leaders and supporters to unite behind the new governorship ticket as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Bichi described the development as a new phase for the Kano PDP and said the party was strengthening its internal structure ahead of the election.
The emergence of Abacha gives the PDP a candidate with previous experience of contesting the Kano governorship. His 2023 campaign was conducted under the PDP, although he did not win the election.
The political landscape in Kano has since changed, with parties preparing new structures and candidates for the 2027 contest.
The PDP’s latest decision also illustrates the role of candidate replacement and internal reconciliation in the preparations for the next election. Rather than overturning the earlier primary result, the party’s process followed the withdrawal of the candidate who had initially secured its ticket.
The party has maintained that the replacement exercise complied with the Electoral Act, its constitution and relevant electoral guidelines. INEC representatives were present during the process, according to the PDP leadership and reports of the exercise. (Vanguard News)
For now, Abacha becomes the PDP’s candidate for the Kano governorship election, with Kibiya as his running mate, while the party moves to consolidate its structure and prepare for the wider electoral contest.
The nomination remains subject to the statutory electoral processes that apply before the 2027 election.
With the replacement of Dalha and the accompanying reconciliation between the rival factions, the Kano PDP will now focus on campaigning, mobilisation and presenting its new ticket to voters as preparations for the 2027 election intensify.
Sani Abacha’s Son Emerges Kano PDP Governorship Candidate for 2027
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Politics
Aisha Buhari Visits Atiku Amid Opposition Coalition Activities
Aisha Buhari Visits Atiku Amid Opposition Coalition Activities
Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has visited former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in Abuja amid increasing political activities and opposition realignment ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Atiku disclosed the visit in a post on his official social media account, describing the meeting with Aisha Buhari as warm and appreciated.
The former Vice-President did not disclose the specific purpose of the visit or the details of the discussions between them.
However, Atiku said the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the economic challenges confronting Nigerian families, including the rising cost of food, transportation, education, healthcare and other basic necessities.
He said the situation had placed a significant burden on households and stressed the need for political leaders to prioritise the welfare, dignity and future of Nigerians.
Atiku said Nigerians deserved an economy that rewards hard work, creates opportunities and enables families to live with dignity and hope. He ended his message with the phrase, “Make Nigeria Affordable Again.”
Aisha Buhari’s visit comes as political parties and opposition groups intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Vice-President is seeking the presidency on the platform of the ADC, which has become the political platform associated with an opposition coalition involving several political figures and groups.
The coalition has been holding discussions on how opposition parties could work together ahead of the election, including the possibility of presenting a common candidate.
The issue has remained subject to negotiations among the parties and political actors involved, with different opposition figures publicly expressing views on the structure and leadership of any eventual arrangement.
At an opposition summit held in Abuja earlier this month, representatives of several opposition parties discussed cooperation and preparations for the 2027 elections.
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Atiku and Peter Obi, who is associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), were not present at the meeting. Their absence generated public discussion, although representatives of the parties involved subsequently said the coalition process was broader than the attendance of individual presidential aspirants.
The question of a single opposition candidate has remained particularly prominent in the discussions.
Recent public statements have reflected differing positions among opposition figures. While some have called for candidates to make way for a common candidate, Obi has maintained that any decision on stepping down or supporting another candidate would have to be determined through the relevant political parties and coalition arrangements.
Atiku has continued his political mobilisation as the ADC presidential candidate, while the coalition continues to address questions surrounding its structure, leadership and electoral strategy.
The latest meeting between Atiku and Aisha Buhari has therefore attracted attention because of its timing and the wider political realignment taking place ahead of 2027. However, neither Atiku nor Aisha Buhari has publicly stated that the Abuja meeting was related to an electoral alliance, endorsement or coalition negotiation.
The encounter also follows an earlier meeting between the two in Saudi Arabia.
In February 2026, Atiku hosted Aisha Buhari, her daughter Hanan and other members of the Buhari family while they were in Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Atiku described that meeting as a family and religious gathering, saying the Buhari family was in the Kingdom to perform the lesser Hajj.
Aisha Buhari has continued to maintain a public presence since the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, in July 2025.
She has participated in engagements involving education, social development and initiatives associated with the late president’s legacy.
Atiku, meanwhile, has remained active in opposition politics and has continued consultations and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
The ADC adopted Atiku as its presidential candidate after the opposition coalition settled on the party as its platform for the 2027 contest.
The party’s interim leadership has included former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who have been involved in the coalition’s organisational activities.
As political activities intensify, meetings between prominent political figures are increasingly attracting public attention, particularly where they involve personalities linked to different political groups.
For the moment, however, the publicly confirmed details of the Aisha Buhari-Atiku meeting remain limited to Atiku’s acknowledgment of the visit and his comments on Nigeria’s economic challenges.
There is no publicly confirmed statement from either party establishing that the meeting resulted in an agreement on the 2027 election, an endorsement or any specific political arrangement.
Further developments in the opposition coalition and the activities of the various presidential contenders are expected as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Aisha Buhari Visits Atiku Amid Opposition Coalition Activities
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Interview
He Does Not Lose Elections”: Abdulmumin Jibrin Predicts 65% Landslide for Tinubu in 2027
He Does Not Lose Elections”: Abdulmumin Jibrin Predicts 65% Landslide for Tinubu in 2027
The Kano lawmaker labels Nyesom Wike an indispensable asset and urges APC governors to embrace the FCT minister.
Federal lawmaker Abdulmumin Jibrin believes President Bola Tinubu will earn at least 65 percent of all votes in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. Sharing his thoughts on Wednesday evening, the representative from Kano State explained that the president continues to gain trust from citizens across various parts of the country while maintaining a long history of election victories.
In addition, Jibrin addressed recent tensions among party figures, describing Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike as a vital teammate who contributed greatly to national stability and local support in Rivers State.
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He noted that members from all backgrounds have gained from Wike’s cooperative efforts, which helped bring different political communities together to support common public goals.
Because building broad coalitions helps modern democracies thrive, Jibrin advised state governors to welcome diverse leaders and collaborate closely with them. Moreover, he emphasized that respectful teamwork across different political roots creates a more united country and makes governance far more effective.
In conclusion, Jibrin expressed confidence that keeping doors open to dedicated partners will guarantee a decisive, peaceful win when citizens cast their ballots in 2027.
He Does Not Lose Elections”: Abdulmumin Jibrin Predicts 65% Landslide for Tinubu in 2027
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