Politics

Former Ogun State governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyabo Obasanjo, has dismissed claims by the party's governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, that she left the APC because she was denied financial support. Adeola had alleged that Obasanjo defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he refused to refund her campaign expenses. He further claimed that she later sought financial assistance from the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu. Responding in a statement, Obasanjo described the senator's allegations as false, accusing him of lacking integrity and attempting to distort the facts surrounding her departure from the ruling party. She questioned why Adeola allegedly tried to persuade her to remain in the APC...

The Peoples Democratic Party and the ruling All Progressives Congress have commenced the upload of names of their governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections. Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, disclosed that the party commenced the upload process on Saturday. Also, a senior APC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, told our correspondent that the party would upload only the governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates whose nominations had been cleared by the primary election appeal panel and the National Working Committee. Earlier, in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable, political parties ...

Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has rejected claims that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are leaving the party because of persecution. The governor insisted that those exiting the APC are doing so based on personal decisions rather than any form of intimidation or victimisation. Bago made the remarks while addressing journalists after a stakeholders' meeting attended by APC members from the 25 local government areas of Niger State at the Hauwa Wali Multipurpose Hall, Government House, Minna. According to him, there is no persecution of politicians in the state, adding that individuals who choose to leave the party do so for reasons best known to them. He said the issues being raised by defectors were largely personal and driven by individual interests....

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports alleging it failed to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for submitting its presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 general election. The group insisted it successfully uploaded the names and details of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to INEC's nomination portal at exactly 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2026, in line with the commission's guidelines. The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the PDP faction's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed. The response follows reports claiming that the Wike-backed PDP faction, a...

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has announced the passing of his mother, Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour (née Waboso(. Rhodes-Vivour shared the sad news in a post on his social media accounta on Monday, describing his late mother as a loving wife, devoted mother, and grandmother whose love touched everyone around her. “With sadness in our hearts and gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the call to glory of Nkechi Stella Rhodes-Vivour (née Waboso). A loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother. The epitome of love. She will be sorely missed. May her beautiful soul rest in perfect peace,” he wrote. The statement was signed by his brother, Olawale Rhodes-Vivour, on behalf of the family. In a memor...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently involved in at least six major legal disputes that could have significant implications for preparations for the 2027 general elections. The cases, which are before the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, challenge the commission's powers, its revised election timetable, and the legal standing of some political parties. The litigation comes just months after INEC unveiled its revised election schedule, which required political parties to submit membership registers between March 24 and April 25, conclude party primaries by May 31, and upload presidential and National Assembly candidates through its nomination portal between June 27 and July 11. Campaigns are scheduled to begin on August 19, while the presidentia...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised Major Agbo as the National Chairman of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), replacing Bala Yusuf on its official records. The development was announced during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, with checks confirming that Agbo's name now appears as the party's national chairman on INEC's online portal. In addition to the chairmanship, the electoral commission updated its records to reflect other members of the party's National Working Committee (NWC), including Olaposi Oginni as National Secretary, Prince Adetoyese Omokanye as National Treasurer, Anthony Apugo as National Financial Secretary, and Asuquo Ibok as National Legal Adviser. Leadership Crisis Takes New Turn The latest update marks a ...

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has argued that President Bola Tinubu should not seek another term, insisting that the President should step aside and "go home and rest." Obi made the remarks during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where he criticised the Tinubu administration's handling of the economy and security. The former Anambra State governor alleged that poverty and insecurity have worsened since Tinubu assumed office, questioning the rationale behind any campaign for a second term. According to Obi, a government that has failed to deliver on its promises should not be asking Nigerians for another mandate. He also stressed that his interest in the presidency is driven by a desire to...

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed reports alleging that he has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting he remains a loyal member of the ruling party. In a statement issued on his behalf by his former Commissioner for Information and Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the reports and posters circulating on social media as false, misleading and politically motivated. He said the alleged defection campaign was deliberately designed to misinform the public, create confusion among APC supporters and fuel unnecessary political speculation. Ganduje maintained that the APC remains Nigeria’s largest political party and continues to enjoy growing support under the leadership of President Bola...

Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims of opposing the selection of Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice presidential candidate. He further clarified that no individual from the South-East was qualified to be chosen as Atiku’s vice presidential candidate as they were not registered members of the ADC prior to the primary election. Okonkwo had rejected the Atiku-Amaechi ADC presidential ticket after the party made the announcement. Okonkwo criticized the ADC’s decision to select the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the South-South as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, asserting that the position should have been allocated to someone from the South-East. Okonkwo ...