Politics

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, explained that he could not serve as Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign because he was not a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Wike also said he did not want to risk losing Rivers State, as some previous campaign directors-general had lost their home states during presidential campaigns. He said his priority was to help deliver both the FCT and Rivers State for Tinubu rather than hold a campaign position. Wike added that his support for Tinubu was being coordinated through a cross-party “Rainbow Coalition” involving politicians working for the President’s re-election while remaining members of their respective parties.

Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, has alleged that former Senate President Bukola Saraki was supporting President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, despite leading the PDP in Kwara State. Mustapha, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, said Saraki was backing the “Rainbow Coalition” working to improve Tinubu’s chances of securing re-election in 2027. He explained that his defection was part of a wider move by political groups in Kwara to challenge what they described as the emerging political dynasty of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Mustapha also said the group chose the PDP as its platform after disagreements over the APC’s governorship nomination process, particularly the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the party’s candidate. He insisted that the move to the PDP was not aimed at opposing President Tinubu, but at challenging the political structure in Kwara State.

President Bola Tinubu has constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, with former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, appointed as Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as Secretary. The council, announced by the State House on Saturday, will be chaired by President Tinubu, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda will serve as Vice Chairmen. Other key appointments include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, who were named Deputy Directors-General for the southern and northern blocs. Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will oversee mobilisation, while James Abiodun Faleke was appointed Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring. The campaign structure also includes media and legal directorates, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris, former presidential spokesman Dele Alake and Bayo Onanuga among those handling strategic communications. President Tinubu charged members of the council to work towards securing victory for the APC in the January 2027 presidential election, urging them to make his administration’s achievements the centrepiece of the campaign.

Lawyers, activists and other stakeholders have urged Nigerians to emulate the vigilance displayed by Osun voters during last Saturday’s governorship election ahead of the 2027 general elections. The call followed reports of residents monitoring the movement of election materials and gathering at collation centres to ensure that their votes were properly counted. Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke was later declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The stakeholders said the Osun experience showed that citizens needed to remain involved in the electoral process beyond casting their ballots. They encouraged voters to observe counting, document results and follow the collation process through lawful and peaceful means. However, some commentators warned against citizens putting themselves at risk in the name of protecting their votes. They stressed that INEC, security agencies and other institutions had the responsibility to safeguard election materials and ensure credible results.

Suspected hoodlums on Wednesday attacked the convoy of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, shortly after he visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji. The incident reportedly lasted about 12 to 15 minutes, as the attackers exchanged gunfire with security personnel attached to the governor. The hoodlums were said to have arrived in an unregistered Sienna bus through the Ita Olokan area. Adeleke had visited the palace after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission following his re-election. The attack reportedly began as he and his entourage were preparing to leave the palace. Witnesses said the attackers fired at the palace gate, forcing traders and residents around the area to flee for safety. The assailants later escaped towards Ita Olokan along the Osogbo-Ilesa Road. The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, confirmed the attack and said the governor’s security personnel successfully repelled the hoodlums. He initially stated that no casualty was recorded.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said his administration’s major projects across the state would give the All Progressives Congress, APC, strong achievements to highlight during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election. Fubara made the statement while inaugurating the reconstructed 19.79-kilometre Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, which connects communities across Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas. The governor said the road would improve transportation, reduce insecurity and boost the socio-economic activities of residents in the affected communities. He added that the project would end the loss of man-hours and security challenges previously associated with the route. Fubara said he had personally committed to rehabilitating the road after seeing its poor condition during an earlier visit, noting that the project had been awarded in September 2024. He said the completed projects would give him something to point to while campaigning for the APC, adding that even projects his administration could not complete would be continued by the party. The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to completing the Trans-Kalabari Highway, which he described as another important project for communities across the state. He thanked residents for supporting his administration and allowing contractors to carry out their work without obstruction. The Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Prof. Temple Nwofor, said the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road met the required state standards and included the rehabilitation of seven bridges, streetlights, concrete walkways, culverts and drainage channels.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said opposition parties often accused the Federal Government of manipulating elections whenever they lost, but celebrated their victories when they won. Wike made the remarks in Abuja while reacting to the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, which was won by the opposition. He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for allowing the electoral process to run without interference. He contrasted the 2023 general election with the current political climate, saying the previous election had been surrounded by uncertainty and tension, while the 2027 elections would be different. Wike also described the 2027 presidential election as an easy contest for President Tinubu, arguing that the opposition was currently weak and divided. He said unseating an incumbent government required a strong and well-organised opposition that had spent years preparing for the contest, rather than one still struggling to find direction. The minister also dismissed the chances of the opposition against Tinubu in 2027, saying governorship elections were influenced by local factors, while a presidential election was a completely different contest. On economic challenges, Wike urged Nigerians to assess leadership based on concrete actions taken to address problems rather than sentiments.

Civil servants in Osun State on Monday gathered at the state secretariat in Abere to celebrate Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the recently concluded governorship election. Videos shared on social media showed workers dancing and celebrating the governor’s re-election after he was declared winner of the poll. Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salam, came third with 17,180 votes. Meanwhile, former Osun State governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, congratulated Adeleke on his victory. Aregbesola also praised ADC supporters for their commitment during the election and commended the party’s candidate, Najeem Salam, for accepting the outcome with maturity. He urged political actors and residents to respect the result and allow the state to move forward in peace and unity. Aregbesola called on Adeleke to use his renewed mandate to unite Osun, promote development and govern inclusively, regardless of political affiliation. He also encouraged the governor to extend a hand of fellowship to his political opponents and make the next phase of his administration more inclusive. Bamidele urges Oyebamiji to congratulate Adeleke The Senate Leader and Chairman of the National Assembly South-West Caucus, Opeyemi Bamidele, also called on APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji to congratulate Adeleke on his re-election. Bamidele said the election had demonstrated the power of the electorate and urged all candidates to accept the people’s decision. He further urged Adeleke to unite residents across political divides and ensure that governance was focused on the interests of all citizens. Bamidele specifically asked Oyebamiji to reach out to Adeleke, congratulate him and share policy ideas that could contribute to better governance in Osun State. He also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission on the conduct of the election and said the APC and its candidate remained important stakeholders in the development of the state.

A political pressure group, G-100, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election in Osun State as a model for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Sunday by Salihu Lukman, the group congratulated Adeleke and praised Osun voters for their determination during the governorship election. G-100 said the significance of Adeleke’s victory went beyond his return to office, arguing that the election demonstrated what opposition parties could achieve when they put aside personal interests and unite behind a common candidate. The group identified division among opposition parties and their leaders as their major challenge ahead of 2027, rather than a lack of public support. It noted that some opposition candidates in Osun had stepped down and backed Adeleke, describing the decision as an example of political maturity and willingness to prioritise the wider democratic interest over individual ambitions. G-100 therefore urged opposition leaders seeking to challenge the All Progressives Congress in 2027 to adopt the same approach at the national level. The group stressed that no individual candidate or political party should place its interests above the country, urging opposition politicians to demonstrate courage, compromise and unity. It said the Osun election had shown that cooperation among opposition forces could create a strong alternative to the ruling party when political leaders were willing to work together. The statement followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the August 15 Osun governorship election. Running on the platform of the Accord Party, Adeleke defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.