Presidency, Peter Obi clash over alleged political strategy ahead of 2027

A fresh political row has erupted between the Presidency and Peter Obi after Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala alleged that the former Anambra State governor is using claims about threats to his life as a strategy to mobilise supporters of the Obidient Movement ahead of the 2027 general election.

Bwala, who serves as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, made the allegation in a post on his verified X account while reacting to remarks made by Obi during a policy roundtable hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin, Germany.

During the event, Obi alleged that there had been an attempt on his life after he planned a humanitarian visit to Benue State. He said the state government advised him against proceeding with the visit and claimed that gunfire erupted around the period of the planned trip, raising concerns about his safety.

Responding to the remarks, Bwala rejected Obi’s account and accused the opposition figure of making what he described as recurring allegations without credible evidence. He argued that the former Labour Party presidential candidate had previously made similar claims, including allegations of intimidation involving airport authorities.

According to Bwala, Obi’s latest comments form part of a broader political strategy designed to energise members of the Obidient Movement, the political support base that emerged during the 2023 presidential election.

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The presidential aide also referenced a recent dispute involving Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where Obi had alleged intimidation by airport officials. However, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo maintained that CCTV footage from the airport showed a vehicle linked to Obi violating airport traffic and parking regulations rather than being subjected to harassment.

Obi’s media team has rejected that explanation, insisting the footage released by the Federal Government did not capture the incident the former governor described publicly. His spokesperson argued that Obi’s concerns about his personal security should not be dismissed and maintained that vehicles associated with him had repeatedly faced unusual treatment at airports.

The latest exchange followed Obi’s participation in discussions on governance, democracy and Nigeria’s future at the ECFR forum in Berlin. During the event, he called for greater accountability, stronger institutions and reforms aimed at improving economic growth and restoring public confidence in government.

Political analysts say the public disagreement reflects the increasingly heated atmosphere ahead of the 2027 elections, with leading political figures intensifying public engagements and sharpening their messaging as discussions around possible alliances and opposition realignments continue.

Supporters of both the Presidency and Obi have since taken to social media to defend their respective positions, with the debate generating widespread reactions across political circles.

While Bwala insists Obi’s allegations are politically motivated, Obi has maintained that his security concerns are genuine and deserve serious attention. Neither side has indicated any willingness to soften their positions, suggesting the exchanges could continue as preparations for the next election gather momentum.

The latest development comes amid growing political activity across the country, with parties and influential figures positioning themselves ahead of what is expected to be another fiercely contested presidential race in 2027.

Presidency, Peter Obi clash over alleged political strategy ahead of 2027

2027 Gombe election: Pantami secures major boost as PDP aspirant withdraws court case

The 2027 Gombe State governorship election has taken a significant political turn as the governorship ambition of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, received a major boost following the withdrawal of a court case challenging his emergence and the defection of two influential politicians to the party.

In a development expected to strengthen the PDP’s campaign ahead of the 2027 polls, one of the aggrieved governorship aspirants, Hon. Monica Yahaya Kaltho, formally withdrew from the legal action filed by some non-cleared aspirants challenging the outcome of the party’s governorship primary election.

The withdrawal comes amid ongoing efforts by the PDP leadership in Gombe State to reconcile aggrieved members and present a united front ahead of the governorship election.

During the PDP governorship congress, Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate through an affirmation process after other aspirants failed to scale the party’s screening exercise, a development that prompted some of them to seek judicial intervention.

Explaining her decision, Kaltho said she withdrew from the court case after extensive consultations with political associates and in response to an appeal by the leader of the PDP in Gombe State and former governor, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

According to her, Dankwambo urged her to place the unity and progress of the PDP above personal political interests. She described the former governor as a respected leader and father figure whose advice she deeply values, stressing that she accepted his counsel because the future of the PDP and the development of Gombe State were more important than individual ambition.

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Kaltho also reaffirmed her unwavering support for Pantami’s governorship ambition, pledging to mobilise support and work for the PDP’s victory in the 2027 Gombe governorship election. She urged party members across the state to remain united and committed to the collective goal of returning the PDP to power.

Reacting to the development, Pantami praised Kaltho for demonstrating maturity, patriotism and loyalty to the party. He said her decision to withdraw from the legal challenge reflected genuine commitment to the unity of the PDP and the overall interest of Gombe State.

Pantami assured her and other party stakeholders that everyone would be carried along in the affairs of the party, promising an inclusive leadership style anchored on consultation and mutual respect.

As a mark of appreciation, the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy personally visited Kaltho at her residence to thank her for her support and what he described as her statesmanship. He noted that sacrifices such as hers would help strengthen the PDP’s chances of winning the governorship election in 2027.

Pantami’s campaign also received another boost following the defection of Kelmi Lazarus, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general election.

Lazarus, a former Chairman of the SDP in Gombe State and former General Manager of Gombe Radio Corporation, announced his decision to join the PDP after what he described as wide consultations with his supporters.

He said his decision was based on his conviction that Pantami possesses the competence, integrity, vision and administrative experience required to provide purposeful leadership for Gombe State.

According to him, Pantami remains the most qualified candidate in the race and has the capacity to drive economic growth, improve governance and accelerate development across the state.

Lazarus called on his supporters and residents of Gombe State to rally behind the PDP candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In another significant development, retired Air Vice Marshal B.A. Sani also dumped his former political platform and formally joined the PDP.

The retired senior military officer declared his total support for Pantami’s governorship ambition, describing the former minister as a visionary leader with the experience and credibility required to reposition Gombe State.

Sani said Pantami’s record in public service, leadership qualities and commitment to development inspired his decision to identify with the PDP. He pledged to work for the victory of Pantami and other PDP candidates during the 2027 general elections.

Receiving the new entrants into the party, Gombe State PDP Chairman, Major General A.K. Kwaskebe (Rtd), described the defections as a major boost for the party.

He said the decision by respected political figures to join the PDP reflected growing public confidence in Pantami’s leadership and the party’s vision for inclusive governance.

The party welcomed both Kelmi Lazarus and Air Vice Marshal B.A. Sani, assuring them of equal opportunities to contribute to the PDP’s mission of building a more peaceful, united and prosperous Gombe State.

Party leaders expressed optimism that the latest endorsements and defections would further strengthen the PDP’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the governorship election.

Although Kaltho has withdrawn from the lawsuit, legal proceedings initiated by other aggrieved aspirants challenging Pantami’s emergence are still before the court.

The PDP has consistently maintained that the process that produced Pantami complied with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, expressing confidence that the courts will uphold his nomination.

Political observers believe the latest wave of endorsements, reconciliation efforts and high-profile defections could significantly reshape the political landscape in Gombe State as preparations for the 2027 Gombe governorship election gather momentum.

2027 Gombe election: Pantami secures major boost as PDP aspirant withdraws court case

ADC crisis deepens as Lukman suspends membership, accuses El-Rufai of hostility

A fresh crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections after former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, announced the suspension of his membership of the party, citing what he described as persistent hostility and marginalisation by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Lukman disclosed his decision in a letter addressed to ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, saying he could no longer remain in a political environment where he felt isolated despite his efforts to build a formidable opposition platform.

According to him, his vision of helping transform the ADC into a strong democratic party capable of challenging for power in the 2027 elections has gradually faded because some coalition leaders are allegedly repeating the same political practices that weakened their former parties.

“I will spend some time reflecting and deciding what I want to do with my life. My expectation that we will build the ADC into a strong Democratic Party has been diminished,” Lukman stated.

He lamented that despite spending more than a year working to unite opposition leaders in Kaduna State, he had consistently been treated as the problem by El-Rufai and his political associates.

“I have spent more than a year trying to unite leaders in Kaduna. For Mallam Nasir and his people, I am the problem. I have decided to resolve the problem for them and everyone. I have suspended my membership of the party and the coalition because of the reasons above,” he said.

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Lukman argued that the opposition coalition was gradually losing sight of its original objective of strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, alleging that personal interests had begun to overshadow the broader goal of building a credible alternative political platform.

According to him, some coalition leaders appear more interested in imposing their preferences than fostering internal democracy, warning that such actions could reduce the ADC to a marginal force in the 2027 elections.

The former APC chieftain also criticised former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of engaging with individuals in Kaduna whom he described as having questionable commitment to the party while ignoring those who had worked to strengthen the coalition.

“Already, I can see that HE Amaechi is in overdrive mode and is reaching out to people from Kaduna with questionable commitment. Whatever he wants to do with them is certainly not about building the party into a strong Democratic Party, which is why the views of those of us from Kaduna don’t matter,” Lukman stated.

Despite suspending his membership, Lukman stressed that his decision was not directed at the national leadership of the ADC.

He praised Senator David Mark and other national leaders for their commitment to the coalition, insisting that his grievance was specifically with what he described as the disdainful treatment he had received from El-Rufai and some coalition leaders in Kaduna.

“But it has everything to do with the disdainful treatment being meted out to me by some few coalition leaders, especially Mallam Nasir and his supporters in Kaduna. I am sorry, I just can’t continue,” he added.

Lukman, who previously served as Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), resigned from the APC in 2024 after criticising the ruling party’s internal democracy before joining the ADC-led coalition, where he became one of the prominent figures advocating for a united opposition ahead of the next general election.

His decision to suspend his membership is expected to intensify concerns over unity within the opposition coalition, which has in recent months attracted several high-profile politicians seeking to build a stronger platform to challenge the ruling APC in 2027.

Political observers say the development could complicate ongoing efforts to strengthen the coalition, particularly in key states such as Kaduna, where internal disagreements have continued to generate tensions among leading opposition figures.

As of the time of filing this report, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator David Mark, and the ADC National Working Committee had not publicly responded to Lukman’s allegations.

The latest development comes at a critical time for the opposition coalition as consultations and realignments continue ahead of the build-up to the 2027 presidential election, with party leaders under increasing pressure to maintain unity and resolve internal disputes.

ADC crisis deepens as Lukman suspends membership, accuses El-Rufai of hostility