Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he turned down an offer of political asylum from the United States during the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, despite being warned that he risked arrest if he returned to Nigeria.

Obasanjo said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted fleeing his country.

The former president made the revelation in an interview with BBC News Pidgin published on Tuesday, where he recounted his experiences during the Abacha administration, including his arrest and eventual imprisonment.

Reflecting on his retirement from the Nigerian Army, Obasanjo said he had not envisaged leaving the military at the age of 42, having risen to the rank of a four-star general and served as military Head of State.

He explained that after leaving the military, he ventured into agriculture, a business he said was flourishing before the Abacha government began targeting him.

Obasanjo recalled that while he was travelling, the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him and disclosed that the US government was prepared to grant him political asylum over fears that he would be arrested upon returning home.

However, he said he declined the offer, questioning why he should seek refuge abroad when he had committed no wrongdoing.

“This was difficult for me. I haven’t done anything. What do they want to arrest me for? Um, I don’t want political asylum,” he recalled saying.

The former president further alleged that Abacha had ordered his elimination, although he said he was initially unaware of the alleged plan.

He disclosed that upon his return to Nigeria, his passport was confiscated before he proceeded to his farm.

According to him, one of his security personnel informed him on arrival that government security operatives had surrounded the property.

Obasanjo said a police officer in plain clothes subsequently approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted to see him.

He rejected the officer’s approach, insisting that if the AIG needed his assistance, he should personally come to the farm.

Obasanjo recounted that he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had received instructions to arrest him.

He also disclosed that former United States President Jimmy Carter intervened in his situation by appealing directly to Abacha.

According to Obasanjo, Carter’s intervention initially secured his release into house arrest after he had been detained at an undisclosed location.

However, he said the situation took another turn when security operatives arrived at his residence at about 1am while he was playing squash and announced that they were taking him away.

“They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in support of a consensus opposition candidate capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu.

Duke said he would willingly support another candidate, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar or the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if opposition parties collectively agree on a preferred flag bearer.

The former Cross River State governor made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of his running mate, Malam Sule Mohammed, and the PRP’s manifesto.

Responding to questions about whether he would step aside for a stronger opposition candidate, Duke said any decision reached through a democratic and collective process would receive his support.

He, however, argued that opposition parties must first establish a common vision and agree on the future direction of Nigeria before settling on who should lead the proposed coalition.

According to him, the objective of an opposition alliance should not be limited to selecting a presidential candidate but should focus on developing a shared agenda capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

Duke said he would respect the outcome of such negotiations, regardless of who eventually emerges as the consensus candidate, insisting that political leaders must demonstrate commitment to democratic principles.

He added that he expected other aspirants to show the same spirit of sportsmanship if he eventually emerged as the preferred candidate.

The PRP presidential candidate also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that opposition parties were facing deliberate or unfair obstacles in securing campaign venues, billboards and other advertising platforms across the country.

He claimed that the APC enjoyed overwhelming visibility in several states, leaving opposition parties struggling to publicise their activities and reach voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Duke further alleged that political advertising had become prohibitively expensive in some states, with reports suggesting that parties could require as much as N1bn to commence serious campaign publicity.

He disclosed that the PRP had repeatedly postponed its retreat because of difficulties securing suitable venues.

Meanwhile, the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the party was committed to strengthening opposition unity but would not surrender its political structure to another party.

Baba-Ahmed explained that the PRP was considering supporting one or more credible opposition candidates with the capacity to defeat the APC, while maintaining its identity and organisational independence.

He stressed that the party was not participating in the 2027 elections merely to make up the numbers, expressing confidence that negotiations among opposition parties could produce a winning strategy.

The PRP chairman also said the emerging opposition coalition would focus on electoral strategies, inclusion of women and young Nigerians, improved security and the protection of vulnerable communities.

He maintained that the ultimate objective was to build a country where citizens would enjoy equal opportunities irrespective of their religious beliefs or geographical backgrounds.
Baba-Ahmed expressed optimism that Nigerians would make the right choice in 2027, adding that the PRP was prepared to contribute meaningfully to the political change the country needed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to set aside a subpoena directing its Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to produce electoral documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1999 Lagos State governorship election and 2023 presidential election.

Court documents obtained by DAILY GAZETTE indicate that Amupitan, through his lawyers, filed a Motion on Notice dated November 10, 2026, seeking to nullify the subpoena issued on October 26.

The subpoena was issued by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the ongoing criminal case instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore is standing trial over his description of President Tinubu as a criminal.

The court had directed the INEC chairman to appear as a witness for Sowore and produce specified electoral documents submitted by Tinubu to the commission.

The documents include Tinubu’s INEC Form CF01 submitted during his 1999 Lagos governorship election, alongside an affidavit relating to lost certificates, as well as the Form CF01 submitted for his 2023 presidential election.

The subpoena, titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, also required Amupitan to remain in court throughout the proceedings until the matter is determined.

It directed him to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, Courtroom 5, at 9am on October 26, 2026.

The court had ordered the INEC chairman to appear and produce the requested documents in connection with Sowore’s trial.

The development was also made public by Sowore, who shared copies of the subpoena and hearing notice served on Amupitan in a Facebook post.

However, by filing the fresh motion, INEC is now asking the court to overturn the order compelling its chairman to produce the president’s historical electoral records and testify in the criminal proceedings.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, has pledged to end what he described as excessive taxation in the state if elected governor in 2027.

Nnaji alleged that the state’s taxation policies were driving businesses and investors away, making Enugu one of the most expensive states in Nigeria in which to operate a business.

The former Minister of Science and Technology made the remarks while addressing Enugu indigenes resident in Aba, Abia State, during a meeting organised by the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Abia State chapter.

He accused the state government of imposing heavy tax burdens on traders and business owners, including those operating in rural communities, warning that the situation was worsening economic hardship among residents.

According to him, his administration, if elected, would prioritise industrialisation, job creation, security and economic recovery rather than imposing taxes that could suffocate businesses.

Nnaji also expressed concern over what he described as the resurgence of armed robbery in parts of Enugu State, linking the development to unemployment, hunger and rising economic difficulties.

He promised to establish industries that would provide employment opportunities, reduce poverty and take more than 50,000 youths off the streets.

“What is happening in Enugu State is condemnable. Enugu is for all, but today, businessmen and investors are relocating from the state due to excessive taxation. And the state government doesn’t care,” he said.

He alleged that traders in rural communities were being subjected to unreasonable levies, claiming that some deliberately delayed opening their shops until tax officials had left.

Nnaji further claimed that government officials collected as much as N36,000 from some rural traders, despite their limited earnings.

“Tax is based on profit, not on shops, as they are doing in Enugu. People are hungry. Armed people now invade homes at midnight to collect phones, computers and food items such as rice, beans and garri. This is something that happened more than 20 years ago,” he added.

The PDP candidate also questioned the state’s internally generated revenue, alleging that it had increased from N26 billion to N406.7 billion.

He compared the figure with the revenue profiles of Abia and Anambra states, arguing that the development raised questions about the state’s revenue collection methods and their consequences for businesses.

He equally accused the current administration of significantly increasing Enugu’s debt profile, although he did not provide specific figures to support the allegation.

Nnaji said his proposed economic recovery programme would focus on wealth creation, industrial development and improving the standard of living of residents.

He disclosed that an Enugu State Recovery Committee had been established under his chairmanship as part of efforts to mobilise support and communicate his plans to indigenes living outside the state.

“We have set up the Enugu State Recovery Committee, with me as chairman. This is why we are visiting Enugu people residing outside the state, telling them about the poor situation of things in their state.

“Last week, we were at Alaba International Market, and we have visited many places. I want to recover Enugu. Once we win, we will build industries based on coal, iron ore and cement. There will be no more excessive taxation in Enugu when I win,” he said.

He also criticised the condition of roads in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, questioning how the state government had deployed its internally generated revenue and monthly federal allocations.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of the Uche Nnaji Campaign Organisation, Charles Ndukwe, and Chief Uche Ugwu backed the candidate’s position, arguing that the state’s taxation policies had placed undue pressure on traders and business operators.

They maintained that the campaign’s agenda centred on industrialisation, employment generation and economic recovery, while expressing confidence in the PDP’s grassroots support in Enugu.

Similarly, PDP senatorial candidates, including Kingsley Chizoba Nweke, representing Enugu East, and Nestor Ezeme of Enugu North, encouraged Nnaji to remain committed to his governorship ambition.

Earlier, the President of the Enugu State Consultative Forum, Hon. Sunday Okonkwo, said the candidate’s manifesto addressed critical challenges confronting the state, particularly industrialisation, insecurity and youth empowerment.

Okonkwo said the forum was interested in governance proposals capable of improving the business environment and addressing the concerns of Enugu residents.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally scheduled to take place at the Dutse Township Stadium.

Shettima touched down at the Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi International Airport, Dutse, where he was received by Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Umar Namadi, alongside governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

He was also welcomed by members of the National Assembly, senior government officials, APC stakeholders and other prominent political figures from different parts of the country.

The rally is part of the APC’s ongoing mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, although Jigawa State was initially excluded from the 12 states listed in the party’s presidential campaign tour schedule.

However, while inaugurating the Jigawa State APC Campaign Council on Saturday, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had added Jigawa to his campaign itinerary because of his confidence in the state’s leadership and people.

Before attending the rally, Shettima is expected to join Tinubu in inaugurating four projects executed by the Jigawa State Government.

The projects include the Renewed Hope Technical Services Centre, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre, the state’s agricultural mechanisation programme and a dualised road project in Dutse.

The initiatives are designed to strengthen technical education, expand vocational training opportunities, improve agricultural productivity through mechanisation and enhance road infrastructure across the state.

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed $500 million World Bank loan, describing it as a potential debt trap for his incoming administration.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to saddle his successor and Nigerians with additional debt shortly before leaving office.

He argued that an outgoing president should not commit the country to fresh borrowing in the final days of his administration, insisting that such decisions could constrain the economic choices of the next government.

Atiku described the Tinubu administration’s borrowing pattern as economically dangerous, warning that excessive loans could plunge Nigeria into further financial difficulties.

“Taking loans as if you were a drunken sailor is a road to economic bondage, a second slavery. If this government is determined to mortgage Nigeria’s future and place our country at the mercy of creditors, we will not accept it,” he said.

The former Vice-President maintained that Nigerians would vote for a new direction in the January 16, 2027 presidential election, promising an administration focused on affordable living and responsible economic management.

He also accused the Tinubu government of pursuing what he described as poverty-inducing economic reforms, arguing that its latest borrowing plan could undermine the next administration.

Atiku specifically questioned the timing of the proposed loan, saying reports indicated that the $500 million facility was scheduled for consideration by the World Bank on May 25, 2027, just four days before the May 29 presidential inauguration.

According to him, the timing raises serious concerns about the propriety of an outgoing administration committing the country to fresh financial obligations so close to the transfer of power.

He invoked a Swahili proverb to illustrate the dangers of borrowing, saying a leader who incurs debt towards the end of his tenure could leave his successor with limited economic independence.

“As the Swahili proverb warns, ‘If you borrow a man’s legs, you will go where he directs.’ A leader who borrows on his way out leaves his successor walking on the lender’s legs, constrained by obligations and choices the people did not make,” he said.

Atiku consequently appealed to the World Bank not to approve the proposed facility under the current timetable, demanding full disclosure of its terms, risks and repayment obligations to enable Nigerians scrutinise the commitment.

He further declared that his administration, if elected in 2027, would not commence governance with additional borrowing.

“I will not accept it. The Atiku administration will commence on May 29, 2027, and we will not begin our government by taking another loan. We will begin with a commitment to responsible leadership, fiscal discipline and the protection of Nigeria’s future,” he said.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged to deliver at least three million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, assuring him of massive support from the state through the Rainbow Coalition.

Fubara made the commitment on Saturday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The governor said Rivers would reciprocate Tinubu’s intervention during the state’s political crisis by supporting his re-election bid.

According to him, the President stood by Rivers State during a difficult period, helping to restore political stability and ensure the continuation of his administration.

“Mr President, we all know that a good gesture calls for reciprocity. As you have stood for us, we will stand for you. As you have supported Rivers State, Rivers State will support you equally,” Fubara said.

He assured Tinubu that his administration would deploy its grassroots political structures to mobilise voters across the state.

“We will campaign, mobilise our people to secure and deliver a decisive victory with a vote not less than three million for Mr President,” he added.

Fubara, however, explained that the political alliance in Rivers State would operate beyond party lines, noting that the Rainbow Coalition would bring together different political interests ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Notwithstanding that I am an APC member, we are doing Rainbow Coalition. And in Rainbow Coalition, we have a slate,” he said.

The rally also provided an opportunity for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reaffirm his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election and launch fresh attacks on former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Wike declared that political stakeholders and parties in Rivers had united behind Tinubu, insisting that the impressive turnout at the rally reflected the strength of the coalition.

He maintained that the gathering was organised by political stakeholders in the state without importing supporters from other states.

“We did not mobilise anybody from any other state,” he said.

The FCT minister also challenged Amaechi to account for projects he allegedly abandoned during his tenure as governor, particularly the proposed Caribbean White Specialist Hospital.

Wike alleged that $39 million was spent on the project without any visible foundation.

“Come and show us where Caribbean White Specialist Hospital is, where we paid 39 million US dollars. Come and show us where the foundation is,” he challenged.

He equally questioned the effectiveness of the malaria eradication programme undertaken during Amaechi’s administration, asking whether the exercise had succeeded in eliminating mosquitoes from the state.

On the Port Harcourt monorail project, Wike also questioned whether the former governor completed the project before leaving office.

He further criticised Amaechi’s political record, particularly his involvement in the APC presidential campaigns of 2015 and 2019, arguing that he failed to deliver significant electoral support for the party.

Wike urged Rivers residents to support Tinubu, citing federal infrastructure projects and political appointments involving indigenes of the state as evidence of the President’s commitment to Rivers.

Among the projects he highlighted were the Bori-Bodo Road, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Federal University of Marine Technology.

President Tinubu, in his remarks, thanked Rivers residents for their support during the 2023 presidential election and appealed for their renewed backing in 2027.

He recalled the contribution of the state to his emergence as President, urging the people to give him another mandate.

“Give me the mandate. The mandate that I use to govern today, you are a positive contributor. I must thank you for going out there to vote,” Tinubu said.

The President also defended his administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system, insisting that Nigeria was gradually moving towards economic recovery.

He claimed that 27 of the 36 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries when he assumed office but maintained that his policies had helped reverse the situation.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient with the reforms, adding that outstanding pensions and gratuities were being paid to retired workers.

He also commended Fubara for maintaining peace during the political crisis in Rivers State, describing his response to the intervention as a demonstration of maturity and respect for leadership.

The President further urged young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 general election.

“This election is about you. It is not about me. Your future depends on this election,” he said.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima also canvassed support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the administration needed another four years to consolidate its economic reforms.

Shettima defended the removal of fuel subsidy and the foreign exchange reforms, claiming that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had improved significantly.

He also projected that the country could attain a $1 trillion economy within the next five to 10 years.

Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed confidence that Rivers State would support Tinubu in 2027, commending Wike for his role in the political mobilisation.

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, also defended the President’s economic policies, saying a second term would focus on employment generation, security, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure development.

The rally attracted APC leaders, governors, political stakeholders and supporters as the party intensified its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

A leadership crisis has erupted in the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the purported removal of the State Chairman, Princess Oyeronke Bolajoko, by a group of party executives, aspirants and members.

The group, at a press conference held at the party’s state secretariat in Ibadan on Monday, announced Bolajoko’s removal and named Akeem Aderogba as her replacement.

The State Secretary of the party, Adeolu Adewuyi, who addressed journalists on behalf of the group, said the decision was driven by the need to protect the party’s unity, internal democracy and constitutional principles, rather than personal grievances or political vendetta.

Adewuyi accused Bolajoko of allegedly suspending principal party executives without following due process or granting them a fair hearing.

He argued that the alleged unilateral action violated the party’s constitution and raised questions about the chairman’s commitment to internal democracy.

The group further accused her of abuse of office, administrative high-handedness and a lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the party’s affairs and resources.

According to Adewuyi, party members deserve clarity on how the party’s resources are managed and the decisions taken on their behalf.

Also speaking at the briefing, the NDC Campaign Director-General in Oyo State, Adeola Ebisemiju-Olamide, announced Aderogba as the new chairman, describing the move as a collective decision aimed at restoring accountability, unity and democratic discipline in the state chapter.

The group subsequently called on the national leadership of the NDC to intervene, investigate the allegations and take appropriate steps in line with the party’s constitution.

It also appealed to party members to remain calm, law-abiding and committed to the ideals of the party.

However, reacting to the development, Bolajoko rejected the purported removal, insisting that those behind the decision lacked the constitutional authority to remove her.

She described the action as illegal, arguing that the individuals involved were largely candidates and not recognised party executives empowered to remove a state chairman.

“This is not how to remove a party chairman. Those who carried out the illegality are not the party executives. They are candidates. Candidates don’t have the power to remove executives of the party,” she said.