Politics

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Arewa Consultative Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum have called for greater scrutiny of the backgrounds and records of politicians seeking elective positions. The groups said Nigerians had the right to know the educational history, integrity and track records of candidates before entrusting them with political power. The ACF said presidential aspirants should be prepared to account for their past and provide more than just certificates to prove their qualifications. The ACF Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Baba, said candidates seeking the presidency should expect questions about their history, stressing that leadership required transparency and accountability. He added that Nigerians were ultimately more concerned about the impact of governance on areas such as healthcare, education, housing and household welfare.PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, supported the call, saying aspirants should make their life journeys and records available to the people they intended to serve. He compared political leadership to a job application, where candidates were expected to present their experience and qualifications. Similarly, MBF President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said candidates should be judged by their achievements and track records rather than campaign promises. He urged all aspirants to subject themselves to proper scrutiny so voters could make informed decisions. However, Afenifere General Secretary, Chief Ademola Folarin, cautioned that while examining candidates’ backgrounds was useful, moral judgments could be subjective. He maintained that legal requirements remained the ultimate standard for determining eligibility for public office.

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has disagreed with African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027. Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi argued that subsidy removal remained necessary, saying the major problem was the alleged mismanagement of funds saved from the policy. Obi said the government should have redirected the savings into programmes that would benefit Nigerians instead of allowing the resources to be “mismanaged and stolen.” He added that he had proposed an organised approach to subsidy removal in his 2023 manifesto. Atiku, who had supported fuel subsidy removal during the 2023 presidential election, recently said he would restore the policy if elected in 2027. The disagreement formed part of wider debates among opposition presidential candidates at the NBA conference over Nigeria’s economy, insecurity, policing and governance.

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu has outperformed every democratically elected Nigerian president during their first terms in office. Morka made the statement on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, saying Tinubu inherited an economy that was in serious crisis when he assumed office in 2023. He attributed the country’s previous economic challenges to successive administrations, describing the Muhammadu Buhari government as a transition from the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party. Morka also argued that Tinubu’s policies had improved Nigeria’s macroeconomic situation, claiming that even some critics of the administration were beginning to acknowledge the progress. However, he did not provide specific economic indicators or comparisons with previous presidents to support his claim that Tinubu had outperformed them all.

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.