Inside APC Power Struggle as Akpabio, Oshiomhole Eye Senate Control

Political tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly deepening as the face-off between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole is increasingly being interpreted as an early signal of a wider power struggle ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Party insiders say the disagreement is part of a broader realignment within the ruling party, with control of the National Assembly leadership and the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) emerging as key battlegrounds for influence ahead of the next political cycle.

Sources familiar with developments in the party disclosed that recent tensions were partly triggered by a failed attempt to restructure leadership within the PGF, including moves linked to the possible removal of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as chairman of the forum. Although the plan was later reversed, insiders say it exposed underlying fractures within the APC, especially among competing blocs aligned to different power centres within the presidency and party hierarchy.

There are also claims that some influential actors within the political establishment had supported discussions around replacing Uzodinma with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, further intensifying speculation about internal political realignment within the APC.

At the heart of the growing tension is the struggle for control of the Senate leadership structure, which insiders say is already shaping alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. Reports suggest that Senate President Akpabio has begun positioning for influence over a possible self-succession arrangement in the upper chamber, a move that has reportedly unsettled rival political blocs within the party.

READ ALSO:

• Osimhen Fires Galatasaray to Historic Turkish Super Lig Triumph
• NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts
• How Gunmen Attack TCN Substation in Kwara, Force Power Shutdown

Although the next National Assembly elections are still months away, political calculations have already begun, with lawmakers quietly engaging in lobbying and strategic positioning for key leadership roles.

Senator Oshiomhole is also believed to be interested in the Senate Presidency, a factor that has contributed to rising tensions within the Senate leadership structure. Other political heavyweights reportedly considering the same position include former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari and other influential figures within the APC, setting the stage for what insiders describe as a high-stakes leadership contest after the 2027 elections.

Political observers say the unfolding rivalry reflects deeper succession politics within the APC, with multiple blocs already positioning themselves ahead of the post-2027 political order. The tensions are also linked to broader efforts to influence both legislative and executive power structures, including governorship alignments, Senate leadership control, and party hierarchy restructuring.

Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strong influence over the party and National Assembly since 2023, analysts note that internal competition has remained active beneath the surface, with various factions seeking greater control ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The current situation also brings back memories of the 2023 Senate leadership race, where despite strong backing for Akpabio, Senator Yari reportedly mounted a significant challenge and secured substantial support, highlighting the competitive nature of internal APC power struggles.

As political actors continue to position themselves ahead of 2027, the Akpabio–Oshiomhole rift is increasingly seen as a reflection of deeper structural tensions within the APC. Analysts warn that how the party manages these emerging divisions may play a crucial role in determining its cohesion, legislative stability, and electoral strength in the next general election.

Inside APC Power Struggle as Akpabio, Oshiomhole Eye Senate Control

NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts

Former Kano State Governor and opposition leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has declared support for the decision of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, describing the move as necessary for fairness, unity, and political balance.

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Saturday during the party’s national convention in Abuja, where key resolutions on zoning, leadership structure, and party direction ahead of the 2027 general elections were adopted.

According to him, Nigeria is currently facing deepening challenges in security, economic stability, education, and investment growth, largely due to what he described as “weak leadership and poor governance.”

“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. The world is undergoing a profound geopolitical shift, yet our nation has been caught unprepared largely because of poor leadership,” he said.

The former presidential candidate said the economic hardship in Nigeria, rising insecurity, and declining investor confidence have placed citizens under severe pressure, stressing the need for a leadership model that prioritises national unity.

READ ALSO:

• How Gunmen Attack TCN Substation in Kwara, Force Power Shutdown
• RCCG Pastor Faces Rape, Oral Sex Allegation as Church Refuses Suspension
• How Childhood Flogging Cost Me My Left Eye — Undergraduate

Kwankwaso also referenced historical political alliances in Nigeria as justification for rotational leadership arrangements, citing partnerships between the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), and the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) before independence.

He further mentioned the political collaboration between former President Shehu Shagari and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the Second Republic as examples of unity-driven governance.

“It is therefore with a great sense of unity and solidarity that, as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South so that the region can complete its turn in producing national leadership,” Kwankwaso said.

The zoning arrangement, according to party resolutions, allocates the NDC 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single four-year term, after which it is expected to rotate back to the North.

The motion for the zoning structure was reportedly moved by Afam Victor Ogene and seconded by Seyi Sowunmi, and was unanimously adopted by delegates at the convention.

Political observers say the decision could reshape early dynamics within the opposition, particularly strengthening the prospects of key southern aspirants, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who is seen as a major contender within emerging opposition alignments.

The party’s National Chairman, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, also reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to constitutional democracy, internal discipline, and national development, describing the zoning decision as part of efforts to build trust and inclusiveness.

Kwankwaso and Obi are among several high-profile political figures recently linked with the NDC following reported realignments in Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of 2027.

The development is expected to intensify debates around power rotation in Nigeria, zoning politics, and the structure of opposition coalitions as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.

NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts

Baba-Ahmed Defends Move Against NDC, Says Jonathan Ineligible for 2027

A former political adviser and opposition figure, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has defended his decision to challenge the registration of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that his opposition to the party has nothing to do with personal disagreements with prominent politicians such as Peter Obi or Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Speaking amid growing controversy over his planned court action against the party, Baba-Ahmed said the issue was rooted in constitutional principle and the need to protect democratic legitimacy in Nigeria.

According to him, the NDC registration failed to comply with mandatory requirements laid down by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the registration of political parties.

“This is entirely about constitutional principle. I have no personal quarrel with Peter Obi or Rabiu Kwankwaso,” he said.

He alleged that the party neither submitted a formal application nor paid the mandatory administrative fee required for registration, adding that it did not participate in INEC’s official registration process.

Baba-Ahmed claimed the party secured recognition through what he described as “judicial manipulation” and accused INEC of surrendering its regulatory authority by refusing to challenge the court judgment that ordered the party’s registration.

He explained that political associations seeking registration are required to complete INEC’s Form EC15A online after paying a mandatory N2 million administrative fee to obtain access to the commission’s registration portal.

According to him, applicants are expected to upload party constitutions, manifestoes, executive members’ details, affidavits and other documents for verification before approval can be granted.

“But in the case of the NDC, it did not pay the N2 million mandatory administrative fee, it did not collect the access code, therefore it did not fill the Form EC15A and it did not upload anything at all as required by law,” he alleged.

Baba-Ahmed said he had obtained Certified True Copies of the court processes and judgment relating to the NDC registration controversy and claimed none of the fundamental registration documents were presented before the court.

READ ALSO:

• Man Arrested For Killing Okada Rider Over Four-Year Grudge
• No Evidence Of Hantavirus In Nigeria — NCDC
• Troops Neutralise Over 50 ISWAP Fighters In Failed Night Attack On Yobe Military Base

He argued that allowing such a process to stand would undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.

The former adviser also dismissed claims that his position was motivated by bitterness over the refusal of INEC to register his own political platform, ADA.

He maintained that ADA complied with all constitutional and regulatory requirements while the NDC allegedly bypassed the established process.

On the 2027 presidential election, Baba-Ahmed said former President Goodluck Jonathan was constitutionally barred from contesting again.

He cited a Supreme Court judgment and a constitutional amendment signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which he said limits a vice president who completes the tenure of a deceased or removed president to only one additional elected term.

“A person who was sworn in as president to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to that office for more than a single term,” he quoted from the Constitution.

According to him, Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit after succeeding late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequently winning the 2011 presidential election.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised INEC for what he called regulatory failure, accusing the commission of publishing names of NDC officials on its website without adequate legal basis.

He said the commission should immediately appeal the judgment that led to the party’s recognition and enforce its regulations without bias.

On zoning and power rotation, Baba-Ahmed said competence and constitutional integrity should matter more than regional considerations.

He stated that Nigerians should focus on whether candidates emerge through legitimate democratic processes rather than whether they come from the North or South.

“I will support whoever demonstrates radical integrity,” he said while refusing to endorse either President Bola Tinubu or any opposition candidate ahead of the next general election.

He warned Nigerians against blindly supporting politicians based on reputation alone, accusing some opposition figures of lending credibility to what he described as an illegitimate political structure.

Describing the NDC as “constitutionally inaccurate,” Baba-Ahmed argued that the party lacked what political philosopher Hannah Arendt called “public natality” — the legitimate democratic birth of a political institution through due process.

Despite his concerns about the state of the opposition and democratic institutions, Baba-Ahmed said he still believed in democracy but warned that Nigerians must remain vigilant in defending constitutional order.

He urged citizens to critically examine how political parties and candidates emerge, insisting that democratic legitimacy in Nigeria must never be sacrificed for political convenience.

Baba-Ahmed Defends Move Against NDC, Says Jonathan Ineligible for 2027