Some leaders of the African Democratic Congress in the South-South have endorsed former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, a move seen as heightening internal competition and mounting fresh pressure on other southern aspirants such as Peter Obi.

The endorsement was disclosed on Friday by party chieftain and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, during a consultative meeting of ADC leaders from the South-South held in Benin City, Edo State.

Odigie-Oyegun said Amaechi formally informed leaders of the zone of his intention to run for president and received unanimous backing from stakeholders at the meeting.

He commended the former minister for consulting leaders in his region before formally launching his ambition.

Amaechi had earlier, in July 2025, declared his readiness to serve a single term if he secures the ADC ticket and wins the 2027 presidential election.

He has consistently advocated for the party to zone its ticket to the South, citing the principle of power rotation.

According to him, the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure before power shifts back to the North.

He warned that presenting a northern candidate at a time when many Southerners believe power should remain in the South could undermine the party’s support base in the region.

Amaechi previously contested the presidential ticket of the APC in 2022 but lost to President Bola Tinubu.

While several aspirants stepped down in support of Tinubu, Amaechi remained in the race and finished second.

The South-South endorsement is expected to trigger further alignments and strategic consultations within the ADC as it prepares for its presidential primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has directed political parties to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

However, the ADC has rejected the timetable, alleging that it confers undue advantage on the ruling party.

Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the schedule as creating an “almost impossible hurdle” for opposition parties.

He cited Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that any political party that fails to submit its membership register within the prescribed timeframe would be ineligible to field candidates, arguing that the provision is exclusionary rather than merely administrative.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, and 24 other lawmakers have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party, further reshaping the political landscape in the state.

The development was announced on Friday in a statement signed by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, in Osogbo.

The mass defection follows the earlier exit of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the PDP in December 2025.

The governor subsequently emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the August 15 election.

According to the statement, the lawmakers reached their decision during a parliamentary meeting and later proceeded to the Banquet Hall, where they met with the governor and key leaders of the Accord Party.

The formal declaration of their defection was made by the Speaker on behalf of the group.

Tiamiyu said the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to Governor Adeleke and pledged commitment to quality representation, transparency, and responsive leadership.

He noted that they called on their supporters across the state to remain steadfast and align with them as they begin what they described as a new political phase aimed at sustaining development and governance continuity in Osun.

He further disclosed that the lawmakers had resigned from the PDP weeks before the public announcement.

After extensive consultations with constituents, political allies, and other stakeholders, they resolved that the Accord Party offers what they termed a more stable and inclusive platform to better serve the people of the state.

With 25 former PDP members now in Accord, the 26-member Assembly is left with only one opposition lawmaker, Femi Popoola of the All Progressives Congress.

Former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Enugu State under the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Engr. Greg Nnaji, has officially assumed office as the new State Project Coordinator (SPC) for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Nnaji succeeded the Acting SPC, Mr. Boniface Madu, a key member of the foundation team that facilitated the project’s initial rollout in the state.

Speaking after the official handover ceremony at the RAAMP State Project Implementation Unit office on Friday, Nnaji thanked the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, for the appointment and pledged to build on the ongoing efforts to ensure that rural infrastructure projects across the state are executed on schedule and in line with approved standards.

He highlighted the significance of RAAMP in driving rural economic growth, improving agricultural value chains, and unlocking economic opportunities for Enugu State communities.

Nnaji also commended the foundation team for their work in establishing the state’s successful participation in the programme.

The new SPC promised to run an open, inclusive, and accountable system aimed at delivering measurable impact and economic development.

“I am personally committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering measurable results. We will adhere to the standards of the donor agencies from start to finish. Timely execution is central to the World Bank’s expectations,” he said.

Emphasising his execution philosophy, Nnaji added: “Start and finish is the mantra of every project. If we begin, we must complete it on time and according to specification.”

He stressed that strict compliance with funding partners’ standards, including those of the World Bank, would be enforced.

Robust quality assurance and control measures will be deployed to ensure the durability and sustainability of rural road infrastructure.

With nearly four decades of professional experience, Nnaji brings extensive technical expertise, public sector leadership, and hands-on project delivery experience to the role.

A civil engineering graduate of the former Anambra State University of Technology, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (FNICE), as well as a COREN-registered professional.

Nnaji previously served as Commissioner for Science and Technology (2015–2017) and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure (2017–2023), overseeing major urban and rural road projects across the state.

His portfolio also includes consultancy on airport and defence infrastructure nationwide. With this wealth of experience, Nnaji is widely regarded as well-positioned to drive the World Bank-supported RAAMP initiative, accelerate rural connectivity, and foster economic inclusion across Enugu State.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. S. N. Chukwu and do not represent the views of the DAILY GAZETTE.

History rarely announces itself quietly. It arrives at moments when a people must decide whether progress will be built on appearance or anchored on substance.

Today, Enugu State stands at exactly such a moment.

Against the backdrop of a staggering ₦1.62 trillion state budget and ambitious projections of transforming Enugu into a $30 billion economy, citizens are beginning to confront an uncomfortable question: Is rapid development replacing responsible governance?

Across communities, concerns are mounting over the durability and transparency of flagship projects celebrated as symbols of modern governance.

Structural failures reported in some Smart School projects following routine weather conditions have ignited public debate – not merely about construction standards, but about priorities.

For many observers, the issue is no longer infrastructure. It is credibility.

Political analysts describe the current situation as a widening gap between developmental propaganda and institutional reality.

Massive spending announcements dominate headlines, yet citizens increasingly demand evidence that governance is guided by long-term planning rather than political speed.

Enugu, long regarded as Nigeria’s intellectual capital, now faces a defining dilemma: Should leadership be measured by projections – or by proven competence?

It is within this atmosphere that Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji has emerged as a compelling alternative.

Unlike the traditional political archetype, Prof. Nnaji enters the conversation not as a career politician, but as a globally respected Professor of International Law whose academic and institutional engagements span Europe and the United States.

Supporters describe him as the embodiment of disciplined governance – a leader shaped by law, systems, and accountability rather than political theatrics.

At a time when public trust appears strained, Prof. Nnaji’s message is strikingly simple: government must first work before it can impress.

His governance philosophy emphasizes restoring abandoned economic assets, strengthening institutional processes, and ensuring that public projects are built to endure not merely to attract headlines.

Perhaps the greatest infrastructure deficit confronting Enugu today is not roads or schools, but trust.

Questions surrounding transparency, procurement practices, and equitable distribution of state resources have intensified calls for leadership rooted firmly in the Rule of Law.

Observers argue that Prof. Nnaji’s international legal background uniquely positions him to rebuild governance credibility – introducing global standards into local administration while preserving community-centered development.

As political permutations toward 2027 gather momentum, the coming election is shaping into more than a contest of candidates. It is rapidly becoming a referendum on leadership philosophy.

Will Enugu continue on a path driven by grand projections and accelerated political optics?

Or will Ndi Enugu entrust their future to intellectual depth, institutional discipline, and measured development?

Increasingly, a growing chorus across professional, youth, and civic groups is echoing one message:

Enugu deserves its best. And our best must represent us.

In Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, many believe the state has found a leader capable of matching Enugu’s historic reputation with governance worthy of its future.

The question now is no longer whether change is necessary — but whether Ndi Enugu are ready to choose excellence above mediocre, Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji is the man.

Dr. S. N Chukwu
For Enugu State Young Intellectual

President Tinubu,

Nigeria has officially declared its intention to contest for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2027–2029 term, reaffirming its commitment to global human rights advocacy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, announced the country’s candidature in a video shared on his verified X handle, describing the council as a critical platform for dialogue, cooperation and conflict prevention in the promotion of human rights worldwide.

Tuggar stated that Nigeria stands ready to engage constructively with the council’s mechanisms, noting that they play a vital role in strengthening accountability and advancing international human rights standards.

Highlighting domestic efforts, the minister said the Federal Government has intensified measures to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children affected by insecurity.

He referenced ongoing investments in safe schools and secure learning environments to safeguard the right to education.

According to him, Nigeria’s internal reforms are also focused on integrating international human rights and humanitarian standards into security operations, with an emphasis on civilian protection.

He reiterated the country’s commitment to religious freedom, stressing that peaceful coexistence among diverse faith communities remains central to national unity.

Tuggar further linked human rights to broader development goals, pointing to economic reforms, social investment programmes and growth in the digital economy as strategies to promote stability and inclusion.

He added that Nigeria recognises the intersection between environmental protection and human rights, pledging continued action on climate adaptation anchored on sustainable development.

He assured the international community that Nigeria understands the responsibilities that come with council membership and is prepared to work with partners across Africa and beyond to promote peace, justice and sustainable development.

Nigeria previously served on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2018–2020 term. Membership elections are conducted annually, with successful countries serving three-year terms on a rotational basis.

Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political shift in the state.

Fintiri announced his decision in a statewide broadcast on Friday, stating that the move was taken in the overall interest of Adamawa people and in pursuit of national unity.

He explained that aligning more closely with the Federal Government would enhance the state’s access to development opportunities and strengthen collaboration on key projects.

The governor disclosed that he defected alongside all members of his cabinet, political appointees and elected local government chairmen, signaling a coordinated transition into the ruling party.

The development follows a similar move earlier in the week by the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Wesley Bathiya, who resigned his membership of the PDP along with 14 other lawmakers.

During plenary, the Speaker read out letters of resignation submitted by the affected legislators, formally confirming their exit from the party.

Mahmud Kallamu, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and one of the defecting lawmakers, described the action as strategic and well considered.

An APC lawmaker, reacting to the development, said the party was open to receiving the new entrants should they complete the process of joining.