Politics

A spate of resignations has hit the Edo State Government after Governor Monday Okpebholo directed political appointees and civil servants nursing electoral ambitions to relinquish their positions. The governor had ordered all affected officials to step down on or before March 1 in compliance with the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026. Among those who have complied is the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Washington Osifo, who formally submitted his resignation. Osifo is said to be preparing to vie for the Uhunmwode/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency seat, currently occupied in the House of Representatives by Billy Osawaru. Also exiting the administration is the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plus Alile, who has declared his intention to contest the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Consti...

Six members of the House of Representatives from Osun State have officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Accord Party. The lawmakers announced their defection on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Accord Party in Osogbo. The declaration was made by Clement Akanni, who represents the Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency, speaking on behalf of his colleagues. Others who made the switch include Mahruf Adewale (Osogbo Federal Constituency), Bamidele Salam (Ede Federal Constituency), Soji Adetunji (Ikirun Federal Constituency), Mudashiru Lukman Alani (Iwo Federal Constituency), and Lanre Oladebo (Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency). Addressing party members at the gathering, Akanni expressed optimism that Ademola Adeleke would emerge victorious ...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other opposition figures of hypocrisy over their criticism of provisions in the newly signed 2026 Electoral Act. Speaking during a media chat on Monday, March 2, Wike reacted to opposition objections to the clause permitting manual transmission of election results where electronic transmission fails due to poor network coverage. The minister claimed Amaechi had previously opposed the electronic transmission of results while serving under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and questioned why he was now demanding its full implementation. “Remember under Buhari, the issue of electronic transmission came. People like Rotimi Amaechi, they were in government, they sa...

“I had said it more than one year ago, Senator Ireti, you won’t come back as a senator. That’s why you people don’t like people who tell you the truth. It’s bitter. Let her show one project,” he said. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that Senator Ireti Kingibe will not secure a second term in 2027, citing a lack of tangible projects during her tenure. Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike linked his prediction to what he described as Kingibe’s failure to deliver meaningful development for residents of the FCT. “I had said it more than one year ago, Senator Ireti, you won’t come back as a senator. That’s why you people don’t like people who tell you the truth. It’s bitter. Let her show one project,” he said. Kingibe...

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that its 2026 State Congress will hold on Tuesday, March 3. This was contained in a notice issued on Monday by the Chairman, Lagos State Congress Committee. The congress will take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, formerly Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island, by 10am. The statement read, “Pursuant to the provisions of Article 12.8 of the party’s Constitution, the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State Chapter, hereby announces the scheduled 2026 State Congress.” The party listed those qualified to attend the congress to include members of the State Advisory Council; the State Chairman and members of the State Executive Committee; the State Governor and Deputy Governor who are members of the party; and al...

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has stated that while the commission is committed to conducting a credible election in 2027, Nigerians should not expect a flawless process. Speaking on Sunday at a Citizens Town Hall on the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan said INEC would make every effort to organise the best possible election but acknowledged that achieving absolute perfection is unrealistic at this time. He appealed to Nigerians to moderate their expectations, noting that although the commission has the capacity to electronically transmit election results and intends to do so, concerns remain about expectations surrounding real-time transmission. “INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best electi...

A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pat Utomi, has refuted claims that the party’s South-South leaders endorsed former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket. Earlier, ADC chieftain John Odigie-Oyegun had suggested that leaders from the South-South region resolved to back Amaechi’s presidential ambition after he met with them to formally declare his interest in contesting under the party’s platform. Odigie-Oyegun stated that the leaders appreciated Amaechi for informing them of his plans before building political structures in the region and described the reception as positive, adding that support was unanimously pledged for his ambition. However, Utomi countered the endorsement narrative in a post on 𝕏, clarifying th...

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has praised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, saying they have contributed significantly to stabilising Nigeria’s economy and improving purchasing power. Speaking during a media chat held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Saturday, the former Ogun Central senator said the administration’s reforms have produced noticeable gains over the past two and a half years. She highlighted the relative stability of the naira as a major achievement, explaining that exchange rate predictability allows businesses to better plan imports, pricing, and revenue projections. According to her, improved economic coordination and enhanced international engagement have also strengthened trade and i...

Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has declared that he will resign from office if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not secure victory in the 2027 general elections. Okpebholo made the statement on Friday during an appearance on African Independent Television (AIT), where he expressed confidence that Tinubu would win Edo State based on ongoing development projects. According to the governor, Edo residents would demonstrate their appreciation for the President’s efforts through their votes at the polls. “Edo people have not yet thanked Tinubu, and the way they will do so is with their votes,” he said. Highlighting infrastructure and other projects across the state, Okpebholo insisted that the President’s performance would guarantee electoral success in Edo. “Those proje...

Convener of the Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, has lamented that Nigerians have reduced democratic participation to “skit making.” He argued that democracy without active citizen participation helps politicians manipulate the process. He stated this on Friday while receiving members of the Action Alliance and the Labour Party at his residence in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain added that voter cards belonging to non-participants are often used by politicians to rig and inflate votes on election days. Showunmi said, “The first is that, what is the point of a democracy that you all are not participating in? Nigerians, you have reduced this democracy to skits. Instead of joining political parties, you will not join. They wil...