Author name: clickreportteam

The All Progressives Congress has dismissed reports that it withdrew the list of members appointed to its 2027 presidential campaign council, describing the reports as rumours. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the clarification on Tuesday, saying the APC had not withdrawn the list. Morka said any decision to alter the campaign council would be formally communicated by the party. The clarification came amid increased political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political parties continue to strengthen their campaign structures and preparations.

Opposition parties have criticised the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, after he expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win re-election in 2027 and that the APC would remain in power beyond 2031. Yari made the statement in Abuja after returning from an overseas trip, saying the APC would fulfil its campaign promises and retain its position as the country’s dominant political party. However, opposition parties including the African Democratic Congress, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and Peoples Democratic Party dismissed the claim as overconfident and unrealistic. Former presidential candidate Peter Ameh said the statement showed the APC was detached from the economic realities facing Nigerians, while the ADC accused Yari of trying to justify his new appointment. The NDC, SDP and NNPP also stressed that the power to determine who remains in office rests with Nigerian voters. The PDP, meanwhile, described Yari as overzealous and urged him to focus on delivering the mandate given to him before making projections about future elections. Former APGA chairman Chekwas Okorie further cautioned Yari against making predictions about 2027, recalling that the PDP had previously boasted of ruling Nigeria for 60 years before eventually losing power. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Christopher Musa reaffirmed his commitment to the APC campaign while maintaining that his primary responsibility remained the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the lives and property of citizens.

Suspected bandits have abducted the King of Igbesi, Oba Moses Iwedunmoye I, in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. The monarch was reportedly kidnapped when armed men invaded Igbesi community at about 11 p.m. on Saturday. While a palace source said the traditional ruler was abducted alongside other residents, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, confirmed that only the monarch was taken. The incident came amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Kwara South, where communities have continued to experience kidnappings and armed attacks. In a separate incident, the first wife of the Baale of Dabu in Ifelodun Local Government Area, identified as Iya Ayoka, was also reportedly abducted on Friday night. Meanwhile, kidnappers have demanded N20 million for the release of 23-year-old Fasilat Babatunde, who was abducted from Wande community on July 15. The Kwara South Development Forum urged the Federal and state governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of the victims. The development also prompted a call from Sokoto State Governor’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), for political, traditional and religious leaders, as well as residents, to unite against insecurity and support security agencies with credible information.

President Bola Tinubu’s decision to respect the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election has been described as an important demonstration of political restraint and commitment to democratic stability. The development was viewed against the history of political violence in the old Western Region, particularly the 1960s crisis known as Operation Wetie, which followed intense political rivalry, disputed elections and federal interference. The 1965 Western Region election was widely criticised over allegations of manipulation and intimidation, eventually triggering widespread violence that left communities devastated and contributed to the political instability that preceded the 1966 military coup. According to the article, Tinubu’s refusal to use federal influence to overturn the Osun electorate’s decision helped prevent a possible escalation of tensions in the state and the wider South-West. His acceptance of the result was described as a departure from a politics of political conquest. The President also congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke by telephone after the election. The gesture was compared with former President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat in the 2015 presidential election and his subsequent congratulatory call to Muhammadu Buhari. However, the article noted that the Osun election was not completely free of violence, as lives were lost during the pre-election period. It stressed the need for political leaders to reduce electoral tensions and prioritise peace and democratic institutions over partisan interests. The article concluded that respect for electoral outcomes and peaceful political transitions should become the norm, warning that political power is temporary while Nigeria’s democratic institutions belong to the people.

Former Liberian President George Weah has warned that democracy cannot be sustained by elections alone, stressing the need for strong institutions, an independent judiciary and an active legal profession. Weah made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He cautioned African leaders against using electoral victories as a licence to weaken democratic institutions, noting that elections were only the entry point into democracy. The former president urged Nigerian lawyers to defend judicial independence and ensure that courts remained accessible to citizens seeking justice without political interference. Weah also recalled conceding defeat in Liberia’s 2023 presidential election, saying he prioritised the peace and stability of his country over personal ambition. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who also spoke at the conference, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial independence and improved access to justice in the state.

Campaigns for the 2027 general elections have officially begun, with concerns mounting that political contests could be overshadowed by hate speech, ethnic and religious profiling, misinformation, personal attacks and violence. The presidential and National Assembly campaigns began on August 19, 2026, and are scheduled to run until January 15, 2027, a day before the elections. Governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns are expected to begin on September 9 and end on February 5, 2027. The concerns have intensified following the signing of the National Peace Accord by some presidential candidates, who pledged to pursue peaceful and issue-based campaigns. President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are widely regarded as major contenders in the presidential race, although Tinubu and Atiku were absent from the Peace Accord signing, while Obi attended. Political analysts, civil society organisations, lawyers and other stakeholders have urged parties and candidates to focus on issues such as the economy, insecurity, unemployment, education and healthcare instead of personal attacks and identity-based politics. They also expressed concern over the growing use of social media to spread misinformation, manipulated videos, inflammatory statements and hate speech, warning that such content could heighten tensions and encourage violence. Stakeholders further called on political parties, security agencies, regulators and the media to ensure that campaign activities complied with electoral laws and the Peace Accord. They urged Nigerians to demand clear policy proposals from candidates and reject attempts to exploit ethnic, religious or regional divisions for political gain, stressing that the 2027 elections should be a contest of ideas rather than identities or violence.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, saying the economic hardship faced by Nigerians should not be regarded as evidence that the policy succeeded. Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, accused the Tinubu administration of triggering increases in fuel prices, transportation and production costs, while the naira depreciated and food prices rose. He defended his proposal for a new subsidy model, saying it would be targeted, capped, time-bound and independently audited, with a focus on supporting domestic production. Atiku also accused the government of celebrating increased allocations while many Nigerians continued to struggle with the rising cost of living.