Politics
Reps move for rotational presidency, six-year single term for president, govs
Reps move for rotational presidency, six-year single term for president, govs
Some members of the House of Representatives are seeking a constitutional review to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones.
Specifically, the lawmakers under the aegis of the Reform Minded Legislators are asking for a single tenure of six years for Nigeria’s President and state governors.
A bill to this effect is currently before the House of Representatives and has passed the first reading.
The federal lawmakers, about 30 of them sponsoring the reform bills, contended that it would lead to reduction in government spending, eliminate wastage, bring about efficiency in governance and national stability.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Co-sponsor of the reformers bills and member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the electoral reform bills would be going for a second reading on the floor of the House soon.
He said the bills, if passed into law, would help reduce the cost of governance and campaigns and unite the country.
He also said it would ensure a seamless transition, continuity, uninterrupted development, justice, equity, independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and efficient use of state resources.
Ugochinyere said, “We are a group of reform-minded lawmakers committed towards using the instrument of lawmaking to reform Nigeria and our political process, constitutional and electoral reform has been a burning topic in Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960.”
He added that the arrangement was in line with the realisation that the current political arrangement has some identified distortions, defects and limitations that called for urgent, focused and realistic attention, hence the initiative on political and electoral reform.
Ugochinyere said, “These bills which are 50 in numbers have gone through first reading but today we are starting with public unveiling of about six of them while the remaining will come in the weeks ahead.
“It ranges from governance, economic, security, and justice sector reforms to social bills that will target unifying our nation and ensuring long-lasting peace and national cohesion.”
The lawmakers stressed that they were cognisant of the fact that Nigeria in times past had deliberated on and accepted some of the proposals in the Bills, including the Justice Uwais electoral reforms, the Senator Ken Nnamani electoral reform committee, the Udoji civil service reform reports, the Confab reports, among others.
Against this background, the lawmakers said they are proposing: “Constitutional alteration to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states.
“To amend section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
“To amend the Constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and governors.”
The lawmakers are also proposing a constitutional amendment to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.
They lawmakers said that the first vice president should be a succession vice president, while the second vice president should be a minister in charge of the economy, and both to serve as ministers.
The lawmakers said, “Constitutional amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (North or South) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, i.e., Vice President (Succession), Vice President (Administration and Economy).
“The financial autonomy and accountability of Local Government Councils by prescribing an independent Consolidated Local Government Council Account solely superintendent by Local Councils and prescribing long-term imprisonment for any misuse of Local Government funds.
“To amend section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide that where a State Government fails to remit to the Local Government Councils within its jurisdiction (or within the State), the amounts standing to the credit of that Local Government in the allocation from the Federation account, such State Government shall not be entitled to receive a future allocation from the federal government.’
On electoral reforms, the lawmakers are proposing bills to amend the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to ensure that all elections — presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and local governments are held on the same day.
The lawmakers are also proposing amendment to relevant sections of the Electoral Act to provide that no declaration of a winner of an election shall be done by the relevant INEC Officials until such officer has compared the results with the list of accredited voters and ensured that the results to be declared are in tandem with the list of accredited voters and the B-VAS machine or any other electronic device.
Politics
Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification
Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification
Fresh tension has rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State after former national secretary and senator Iyiola Omisore filed a lawsuit challenging his disqualification from the party’s governorship primary ahead of the August 15, 2026 election. The legal action has reignited debates about internal party democracy and unity within the APC in the state.
Omisore filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeking a judicial review of the circumstances surrounding his disqualification. The case, listed as FHC/OS/CS/261/2025, directly challenges the decision of the APC Screening Committee, which barred him and six other aspirants from contesting the primary held on December 13, 2025. (osundefender.com)
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Party insiders say the disqualification created dissatisfaction among several APC members, with critics arguing that the process lacked transparency and was politically motivated to favor the consensus candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. Omisore has maintained that the screening was flawed, and the decision undermines internal party fairness. (politicsnigeria.com)
The lawsuit has deepened divisions within the Osun APC, raising concerns that unresolved grievances could weaken party cohesion ahead of the governorship campaign. Analysts suggest that the legal challenge could significantly influence the party’s political dynamics and its preparedness for the election. (thisdaylive.com)
In an effort to maintain unity, a delegation of party elders recently visited Omisore at his residence in Ile-Ife, urging him to reconsider his stance and support the party’s governorship candidate. The reconciliation efforts reportedly involve Adegboyega Oyetola, former governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, a key figure in the state APC. (thisdaylive.com)
Despite mediation efforts, the dispute is expected to continue unless an out-of-court settlement is reached. Observers say the case will test the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and could shape the party’s electoral strategy and image in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election. (politicsnigeria.com)
Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification
Politics
Rivers West Senator Ipalibo Banigo Defects to APC, Citing PDP Crisis
Rivers West Senator Ipalibo Banigo Defects to APC, Citing PDP Crisis
Senator Ipalibo Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal party crises and a desire to support national development and economic reforms. The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, during plenary at the Nigerian Senate, when her letter of defection was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In her letter, Banigo explained that the decision followed extensive consultations with her constituents, political associates, and key stakeholders across Rivers West. She highlighted ongoing leadership disputes, internal divisions, and litigations within the PDP as factors that undermined party cohesion, making it difficult to pursue her legislative and developmental agenda effectively.
“I write to formally inform you and my distinguished colleagues in the Senate of my decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequently join the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Banigo’s letter read. She added that the APC provides a more stable and progressive platform to advance her constituency’s interests and contribute to national governance.
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Banigo also expressed her support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and reforms, noting that the APC aligns with her vision for political stability, economic growth, and infrastructural development in Rivers State and across Nigeria. She thanked prominent political figures such as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for their mentorship and influence in her political journey.
“This decision is predicated on my resolve to join my political mentors in supporting President Tinubu’s administration and re-election bid,” she stated. She also emphasized her commitment to collaborate with APC lawmakers in the 10th Senate to further legislative initiatives and development projects for her constituents.
Political analysts say Banigo’s defection is part of a wider wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several governors, senators, and House of Representatives members leaving the PDP for the APC. Observers note that such movements are reshaping party dynamics, particularly in Rivers State, and strengthening the ruling party’s legislative presence.
Banigo’s defection underscores the ongoing political fluidity in Nigeria and reflects the strategic alignment of lawmakers seeking platforms that best support their constituencies and national development goals.
Rivers West Senator Ipalibo Banigo Defects to APC, Citing PDP Crisis
Politics
Turaki‑Led PDP Rejects Court of Appeal Ruling, Heads to Supreme Court
Turaki‑Led PDP Rejects Court of Appeal Ruling, Heads to Supreme Court
The Turaki‑led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected a recent Court of Appeal ruling that nullified the party’s national convention held on November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and announced plans to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Kabiru Turaki, said in a statement that the appellate court judgment, which barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the results of the Ibadan convention, would impose “untold hardship” on party members if implemented. In the statement, the PDP spokesperson for the Turaki faction, Mr. Ini Ememobong, confirmed that lawyers had been instructed to immediately file an appeal at the Supreme Court to seek a definitive ruling. “We are confident that the apex court will swiftly resolve the dispute in the interest of democracy,” Ememobong said, urging party members to remain united during the legal proceedings.
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The Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a Federal High Court decision which held that the Ibadan convention, which produced Turaki and other national officers, did not comply with constitutional and statutory requirements, including proper conduct of congresses in at least 14 states and valid notice to INEC. The court also rejected the Turaki faction’s claim that the matter was purely internal and awarded ₦2 million in costs against the appellants. The ruling has deepened a long-standing leadership dispute within the PDP, which has seen rival factions contest control of the party’s organisational structure and decision-making processes. Legal analysts note that the case raises important questions about intra-party democracy, constitutional compliance, and the judiciary’s role in political disputes.
Observers say the escalation to the Supreme Court comes at a sensitive time for the PDP, as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections. While the Turaki faction asserts that the appeal seeks to protect party members and maintain order, opponents argue that the ongoing legal battle risks undermining organisational cohesion and may affect the PDP’s electoral readiness. Analysts suggest that the Supreme Court’s final determination could set a legal precedent for how internal party disputes are resolved under Nigerian law, particularly concerning the interpretation of party constitutions and the conduct of national conventions.
The Turaki-led faction reiterated its call for members to remain calm and united, assuring that the legal process would soon provide clarity and resolution. The statement emphasized the need to rescue the PDP from elements “masquerading as opposition leaders”, highlighting the faction’s commitment to restoring proper leadership and protecting the party’s democratic structures.
Turaki‑Led PDP Rejects Court of Appeal Ruling, Heads to Supreme Court
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