A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has accused former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of scheming to get the party's presidential ticket for the 2027 election. Atiku, who has been PDP flagbearer for two consecutive times, is believed to be nursing same ambition in 2027. The elder statesman, who spoke on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday, dismissed Atiku's coalition moves. He condemned the former presidential candidate for meeting non-members of the party for coalition talks, while abandoning the key members of the PDP. Bode George was particularly miffed over Atiku's recent visit to former president Muhammadu Buhari. He said, “Those who are now forming mega party, what is the purpose of that mega party. You’re a member of a solid organization, you want to pull out. "You are meeting with Baba Buhari, Is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think is a private fiefdom? "Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip flop because of your personal ambition." On Atiku’s visit to Buhari, the PDP chieftain blasted the ex-vice President for taking his coalition campaign to Buhari, who, according to George, beat him ‘like a little kid’ in the 2019 presidential election. “Look at general Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flopped you like like a little kid, and then you are running there. "And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side, who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. "In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria from the north and then the south?" While reaffirming his stand on zoning, George said: "Is it a private fiefdom? Who was the former president? Was it not General Buhari? Where did he come from? Did he come from Yoruba land or Igbo land? "All we are saying is that we have a system of eight years of presidency in the north and eight years of presidency in the south."

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has dismissed as fabrication of falsehood, the claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike that former Rivers Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi plotted crisis in Rivers State when he held sway as Minister of Transportation under the Buhari presidency. According to Wike, the former Minister of Transportation, actively worked with the federal government to make Rivers State ungovernable during his tenure as governor. He described a turbulent period in which he was assigned 12 Commissioners of Police within just three months, suggesting deliberate efforts to destabilize his administration. He further alleged that his security was withdrawn at 11:30 p.m., a move he claimed was unprecedented for any sitting governor. Wike added that while he stayed back in Rivers to manage the crisis, Amaechi remained in Abuja, detached from the turmoil unfolding in the state. Reacting through a statement made available to NATIONAL POST,Eze said the FCT Minister, as a serial betrayer and unrepentant liar is one Nigerian whose public image remains a sad reminder of the oozing rot in our government. He represents the reality of a massively corrupt, totally dishonest, characteristically unstable, dangerously inept and failed leadership the country grapples with. Eze noted that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi is a distinct specie of politician not given to violence and never supporting events that create atmosphere of insecurity in a bid to curry political relevance unlike Wike who perpetrated crisis, initiated killing and maiming and instigated the destruction of communities during his own administration as Governor, using non-state actors. Eze recalled that the administration of Wike as Governor was notorious for communal clashes, incessant killings, serial kidnappings and other heinous crimes which cumulatively earned the state under his watch the hotspot of sundry criminal activities. During the 2015 election, it "is public knowledge the heinous crimes committed against humanity at the behest of the FCT minister sitting as Governor. People were slaughtered freely, families lost loved ones, it was a bazaar of bloodbaths and to this day, the scar losses and agony deaths of husbands and fathers with promising futures resides perpetually in the hearts of those who were forced into widowhood and orphanages to drive home the ambition of Wike. "The records of how he used Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, the infamous Rivers Police Commissioner whom he later deserted and left to rot in his foolishness, to cause havoc in Rivers State and make the environment ungovernable are there already placed before the world. "The facts of how he used, unceremoniously, five Members of the State House of Assembly to attempt to impeach Governor Amaechi, contrary to the Constitution of Nigeria, are there for any to read. "If there is any iota of truth in the claim of the FCT Minister, one is forced into wonderland to take a deep reflection of how Amaechi pioneered the refund of billions of Naira in debt owed the state by the federal government from projects executed by Peter Odili and same Amaechi during his time as Governor. "As Minister, Amaechi aid efforts to ensure the money was released to Wike, who in turn looted the entire funds and shared the remainder in his usual spendthrift, to various states to further his useless presidential ambition. "In this regard, the Nation Newspaper by January 13th 2021 reported and I quote, "Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says the state has received the N78 billion it spent on the construction of federal roads in the state. President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the refund in June 2020. Sadly, there is no account of how this huge fund influenced by AMAECHI to be released to Nyesom Wike was utilized. "It was widely reported that on October 21st, 2022, President Buhari conferred on Wike “Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery” and if Buhari government was against Wike as he claimed, how come the same Buhari Government honoured Wike with this award though knowing that such an award was dubious and unmerited," he said. Chief Eze called on the public, to, as usual, discard such an erroneous illusory precipitation by a loquacious fellow who lacks capacity to control his tongue before the microphone.

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has vowed that genuine members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), will stop at nothing to kick out any government that brings pain and impoverishment on the masses. The CPC members are loyalists of former president Muhammadu Buhari and have been divided over support for President Bola Tinubu. While some of them are part of the coalition to unseat Tinubu, others are backing the president. However, Lawal told The PUNCH every genuine CPC chieftain who has the interest of the Talakawas— the poor and vulnerable— at heart, will stop at nothing to “kick out any government that brings pain and impoverishment to the people like the Tinubu administration” in 2027. He said, “These guys have given us a reason to come against them because the CPC is a Talakawa Movement. “It’s a movement that has at heart the needs and feelings of the lower class. That is our ideology, which we learned from Buhari. “The primary aim is how to serve the disenfranchised, discriminated people in the society, which this government has taken as a religion to cause suffering and marginalisation. It is as if the sight of a poor person annoys them. So they want to starve them to death. “Now if you are an original CPC person, it will pain you. It will push you into action involuntarily to change this type of system that is out to destroy and marginalise the underprivileged in society. That is what Buhari stands for. That is who we are and what we learned from him.” On Buhari’s blessing, he said, “First of all, we don’t need his (Buhari) blessing. We only needed to tell him what we wanted to do because we were adults. It is also not like we will go and tell Buhari to follow us. Of course, we are mature and intelligent people. “Even if Buhari says, hey, gentlemen, I will join you. It is our responsibility to say, No, Oga please keep off. You are too big for us. We don’t want to involve you. You are part of this government. Please remain there until you are fed up.” He said those still supporting Tinubu were merely scrambling for political appointments.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President  Bola Tinubu, North Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that the Northern region will no longer be deceived into voting based on ethnicity or religion. It could be recalled that religion played a major role in the build up to the 2023 presidential election, with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, running Muslim-Muslim ticket despite public outcry. Tinubu later won the election. However, in a video interview he granted in Hausa language alongside a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, Baba-Ahmed disclosed that the North will in the next six months unveil their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election. According to him, no politician can win the presidency in 2027 without the support of the region, just as he bemoaned the state of the nation. He said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support. “We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” While lamenting the challenges facing the North, Baba-Ahmed said: “Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time Northerners had to unite. "Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” "If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching, elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say enough is enough. The injustice and sidelining must stop," he warned. “We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said. NATIONAL POST reports that ahead of the 2027 presidential election, there is likelihood that President Tinubu will face the toughest challenge from the Northern party of the country. There is mounting opposition against Tinubu from key Northern leaders, including former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Senator Ali Ndume has been speaking out strongly, accusing the president of lopsided appointments.

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President  Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the North will in the next six months unveil their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He said this in a video interview he granted in Hausa language alongside a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf. According to him, no politician can win the presidency in 2027 without the support of the region, just as he bemoaned the state of the nation. He said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support. “We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” While lamenting the challenges facing the North, Baba-Ahmed said: “Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time Northerners had to unite. "Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” "If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching, elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say enough is enough. The injustice and sidelining must stop," he warned. “We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said. NATIONAL POST reports that ahead of the 2027 presidential election, there is likelihood that President Tinubu will face toughest challenge from the Northern party of the country. There is mounting opposition against Tinubu from key Northern leaders, including former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Senator Ali Ndume has been speaking out strongly, accusing the president of lopsided appointments.

A Northern leader, Buba Galadima, has warned that Nigerians will not have a credible election in 2027. Galadima, a former political ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, said unless something was done urgently, Nigerians should forget 2027. He said this in an interview with Vanguard, stressing that votes would not count unless Nigerians rise up and demand an amendment to the Electoral Act. There are talks about a coalition movement to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, but the Northern politician believes something more serious needs to be done. “It is for us to come together and ensure that we get a proper Electoral Act that will ensure that everybody’s vote counts. “That’s the only thing we can do. If we can’t do that one, then let’s forget it, because if Nigerians don’t come together, some people will continue to write the results of the election. “The way we are going presently, votes are not counting in Nigeria. If we don’t amend the Electoral Act, the courts will continue to give everything to them, like they did in Edo. Somebody won an election, they gave the result to another person and the courts affirmed it,” he said. While bemoaning the level of impunity and injustice in the polity, he added: “Look at what happened in Kano. Everybody knows that it’s the responsibility of the governor to approve the appointment of an Emir. “He doesn’t appoint, he approves and gives suggestions. But somebody wants to install an Emir from Abuja, and nobody is talking. So, why should I waste my time talking? “Look at what is happening in Rivers. An unelected person will uproot an elected person. Look at what is happening in the Senate. An elected Senator will uproot an elected senator. “I say, whose fault is it now? It’s our fault. Nigerians allow them to have their way and if you are talking, and they catch you, they put you underground, like the one I tasted. “Does poverty or hunger know a Yoruba man or an Igbo man or Hausa man? We are all in it. So, we have to remove certain sentiments and work for the good of the system, not for an individual. “We have to do that, we have to come together and fight for a better society, fight for a better system, where justice would prevail, irrespective of whatever. “If it affects the Igbo man, we all should shout that it’s not good. If it affects the Hausa man, we all should come around to say this. The point is that what happened to an Igbo man can happen to a Hausa man and a Yoruba man.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state on Friday announced the suspension of Sen Chuka Utazi for alleged anti-party activities. Utazi, a two-time senator (2015-2023), who represented Enugu North Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), decamped from his party and joined APC in 2024. But in a letter of notification addressed to the State Chairman of APC, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah, and signed by the Chairman of APC Uzo-Uwani LGA, Chief Chris Ajodo; the Secretary, Hon. Pius Diara, and APC Chairman, Nkpologu Ward, Hon. Albert Aniebonam, the party stated that Utazi's suspension was sequel to and consequent upon a complaint/petition from the Senator's Nkpologu ward, alleging anti-party activities. The Ward accused Sen Utazi of having participated in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu North Zonal Chapter meetings and endorsement of Barr. Peter Mba, the Governor of Enugu State, for second term in the coming 2027 election. They also accused the senator of granting interviews and engaging in open blackmail and de-marketing of APC Enugu State chapter in public, among others infractions. "These allegations were backed up by online video evidences as the case may be," the party officials stated in the notification letter, which was also copied to the leader of the party in the state, Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji (Nwakaibie). The party officials further clarified, "On receipt of the said complaint, the local government on 8/4/2025 setup a three-man disciplinary committee which notified the Senator of the petition and duly invited him to appear before the disciplinary body. "The invitation was however ignored by the Respondent. The above notwithstanding, the committee carried out a thorough investigation of the allegations and came out with a verdict of “guilt”. "The committee found the conduct of Senator Utazi highly disappointing, repugnant and unbecoming of a bona fide member of APC, and hence, recommended his indefinite suspension from the party. "Upon the receipt of the report of the Disciplinary Committee on 12/4/2025 and after careful examination of same, including the video evidence enclosed thereto, the Local Government Executive unanimously approved the recommendation of the Disciplinary committee, and hence, endorsed the indefinite suspension of former Senator Chuka Utazi from All Progressive Congress (APC) for anti-party activity in accordance with the Constitution of our great party."

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, has warned that th steps being taken by both former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the party's Governors' Forum will lead to a disastrous outcome in 2027. Wike, who warned against impunity, said the PDP would face similar fate it suffered in 2023. Apparently against Atiku's body language of joining the presidential race once more and the governors' endorsement of SKE Ude-Okoye as the National Secretary, Wike told the media on Friday, "Those who said they want a coalition are not truthful to themselves, and those in the party are not truthful; it's just a matter of interest. "Let me start with those who said they don't want a coalition, that is the Governors Forum, they are not sincere to themselves and the party. "On Tuesday, I watched Politics Today and I called Makinde to say you are not telling the truth regarding some issues. "One of the reasons why the PDP lost in 2023 was impunity. You are right; people who believe that they have all it takes and refuse to respect the constitution of the party regarding power-sharing between the North and South.""Now you are making the same mistake with the impunity of the Governors Forum. You are repeating the same thing, and what happened in 2023 may happen again in 2027. "If you don't stop this impunity, it will affect the party. How? The Governors Forum is not an organ of the party; it’s a pressure group that can influence the National Working Committee," he added.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum, has described the decision of the political bloc comprising members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, as a clear message to failed politicians. This came after the CPC bloc rejected the coalition against President Bola Tinubu. The coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the 2023 election and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party is aimed at defeating Tinubu and the APC in 2027. Reacting to the CPC’s decision, the Forum, in a statement released on Thursday by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said: "The North-Central APC Forum salutes the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, for snubbing the opposition coalition being formed against President Bola Tinubu and our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. "By this singular act, Tanko Al-Makura has shown that he is a committed, loyal party man who believes strongly in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the APC. He and his team have demonstrated loyalty to the party and to Mr. President and we wholeheartedly commend them for this exemplary conduct. "By rejecting the opposition coalition, the Al-Makura-led CPC bloc has sent a message to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election. The message, which is loud and clear, is that Nigerians should reject any attempt to derail the reforms and good work being done by President Bola Tinubu's administration to turn the fortunes of the country around. "The failed politicians who are championing the coalition against Mr. President do not have anything better to offer Nigerians - they do not even have the interests of Nigerians at heart - they are only aggrieved because they lost the last election, and they are not part of President Bola Tinubu's government. "Just as the Tanko Al-Makura-led CPC bloc has shown that they are people of integrity and honour by rejecting the coalition, we urge Nigerians to reject the coalition and any other attempt to turn back the progress recorded so far under President Bola Tinubu's administration. "With former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura fully on board, the North-Central APC Forum is confident of actualising the promise to deliver six million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027. "The North-Central is indeed for the APC and President Bola Tinubu and this is not surprising when one considers the historical role played by the zone in the formation of the APC.” The statement added, "The North-Central brought a sitting governor in the coalition. Many of the other zones did not bring anything. "Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State in the North-Central was the only sitting governor that actively participated in forming the APC. "But it is unfortunate that after he became President, Buhari did not even consider that when we asked for the position of Speaker and the position was taken to Lagos. "During Buhari's government the North-Central suffered most - we were denied infrastructure, our roads were not attended to and the high level of insecurity in the region was not addressed. "Instead the North-East and the North-West concentrated all the benefits in their zones. Federal appointments, which many Nigerians believed favoured the North, only went to the two zones. The North-Central was left out."

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has risen in defence of President Bola Tinubu as he faces allegations of skewing appointments in favour of the South-West. Tinubu’s administration has been under attack for giving most strategic appointments to the people from his South-West region. Senator Ali Ndume recently came hard on him, declaring that it was way too bad. But speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani countered the nepotism allegation against Tinubu, arguing that the Buhari administration was worse in terms of favouritism. According to him, It is clear the nation has a very short memory, and then we simply forget what happened the last time Buhari was in power. What was the profile of nepotism at that time? “The DG of SSS, Daura was from Katsina state, the DG of NIA, Rufai was from Katsina state, the MPA, my sister Hadiza, she’s from Katsina state, Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina state, SMEDAN, Katsina state, FRCN Katsina state, NIMET Katsina state, NIMASA Katsina state, Railway Corporation, Katsina state, all those things, you don’t talk of Chairman of federal civil service about 30 (of them) We don’t have time, I can state all of them. All from Katsina state. “At a certain time in this country, the Controller General of Immigration is from northern Nigeria. Customs, Hamid Ali is from northern Nigeria, Civil Defense, Audi is from northern Nigeria, Chairman of Federal Road Safety Corps is from northern Nigeria. Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba is from northern Nigeria, the Chief of Naval staff, the Chief of Army Staff, they’re all from northern Nigeria. We have had all these things here, and you have never had any person from the southern part of the country raising issues.” He then took a swipe at Northerners criticising Tinubu, insisting that they lacked the morality to do so. “And when you keep quiet when it favored you, and now you speak out when it doesn’t favor you,” he said.

The Presidency has played down President Bola Tinubu's absence from Nigeria amid the security challenges plaguing the country. Some concerned Nigerians, including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had criticised the president for staying outside the shores of the country while criminals run riot. However, in a statement on Thursday, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President,(Information and Strategy), said Tinubu was perfectly running th country from Europe. He said, "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully engaged in Nigeria's governance even though he is away in Europe. "His absence remains temporary and in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks. "The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country. "His return to Abuja and the resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday. "The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership. "We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption." It could be recalled that President Tinubu left the country for a working visit to France.