Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said he is qualified to lead Nigeria, pointing to his experience in governance and the private sector amid growing speculation about his presidential ambition.

Makinde made the remarks during a media interaction with selected journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he addressed questions on his suitability for the nation’s highest office.

The governor said his leadership of Oyo State over two terms and his professional background as an engineer adequately prepare him for national leadership.

He noted that serving as a state governor has often been a stepping stone to the presidency, citing President Bola Tinubu’s two-term tenure as Lagos State governor.

Makinde added that by May 2027, he would have completed his second and final term in office, stressing that his performance as governor is open to public scrutiny.

He also referenced his private sector experience, saying he managed an engineering firm at a young age and worked with multinational oil companies, including Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron, without relying on government patronage.

While acknowledging reports linking him to the 2027 presidential race, Makinde said it is still too early to formally discuss the contest.

He maintained that Nigeria needs a viable democracy with strong opposition parties and criticised the defection of governors and other senior politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress, describing the trend as unhealthy for the country’s democratic growth.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has urged the people of Rivers State to support the ruling party in the 2027 general elections, backing President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Basiru also commended Fubara for his governance achievements and the delivery of key projects across the state.

The governor’s potential bid for a second term has been a subject of debate, following political tensions triggered by a rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Reports indicate that a resolution mediated by President Tinubu was signed by both parties, reportedly including an agreement that Fubara would not seek re-election in 2027.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly completed Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters at Elimgbu community in Obio-Akpor LGA, Basiru described Rivers State as a model of APC governance.

He said, “The achievements recorded under Governor Fubara reflect the APC’s commitment to people-centered leadership.”

Basiru emphasized the significance of Fubara’s membership in the APC, noting that it strengthened the party’s presence in the South-South region.

“With Governor Fubara in the APC, the South-South geopolitical zone now has all APC governors,” he stated, attributing the development to Tinubu’s leadership.

On the housing project, Basiru highlighted the broader impact of providing official accommodation for senior civil servants.

“By ensuring that public servants are comfortable in their jobs, the state reduces the temptation for corruption and boosts loyalty and transparency,” he said, urging residents to reciprocate the governor’s efforts by supporting the APC in upcoming elections.

Governor Fubara explained that the estate was designed to enhance productivity, improve civil servants’ well-being, and strengthen institutional stability.

He assured that other categories of public servants would also benefit from similar welfare initiatives.

The estate consists of 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings, equipped with modern amenities such as a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV, gymnasium, recreational areas, and landscaped green spaces.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who commissioned the project, praised Fubara for prioritizing the welfare and dignity of public servants, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in institutional continuity.

Members of the APC National Working Committee, senior government officials, and stakeholders attended the event.

Six members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The lawmakers are Robinson Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nwaeke, all of whom were elected on the PDP platform.

Announcing their defection on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the legislators cited internal divisions and an unresolved political crisis within the PDP as reasons for their decision.

In their separate letters, the lawmakers noted that the lingering crisis in the opposition party had made it difficult for them to effectively pursue their political goals.

They also pledged their support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Following the latest defections, the PDP’s representation in the Rivers State caucus of the House has dropped from 12 to just two members.

The development comes barely a week after three other Rivers lawmakers; Boniface Emerengwa, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, and Boma Goodhead also defected to the APC.

The remaining PDP lawmakers from Rivers State are the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and Kelechi Nwogu.

Similarly, two senators from Rivers State, Allwell Onyesoh and Barinada Mpigi, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The senators announced their defections separately during plenary sessions of the Senate, citing deep-seated divisions within the PDP and the necessity of aligning with the Federal Government to better serve their constituents.

Their defection took place in the presence of senior APC leaders from both the national and state levels, underscoring the political significance of the move.

Speaking during plenary, Onyesoh, who represents the Rivers East Senatorial District, said his decision followed extensive consultations with political leaders and stakeholders across his constituency. He explained that his loyalty was first and foremost to the people who elected him rather than to any political party.

He noted that while political parties serve as vehicles for political participation, recent developments had highlighted the importance of working with the centre to attract development and strengthen governance structures in Rivers East.

Onyesoh assured his constituents that his development agenda, particularly in the area of human capital development, would remain unchanged despite his switch in party affiliation.

Similarly, Mpigi, the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, anchored his defection on constitutional grounds, arguing that the PDP had become mired in unresolved leadership and factional disputes.

Citing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, Mpigi said the persistent divisions within the PDP at the national, state, local government and ward levels had eroded party cohesion in Rivers State, making his continued membership untenable.

While expressing gratitude to the PDP for providing him the platform to enter the Senate, Mpigi said the party had failed to create a stable and functional environment for its elected officials.

Senior APC officials, including members of the party’s national leadership and the Rivers State chapter, formally received the defectors, describing the development as a major boost for the party in the South-South region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled February 21, 2026, for the conduct of bye-elections in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.

The decision was reached at an extraordinary meeting of the commission held on Monday in Abuja.

INEC also reviewed arrangements for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, which are expected to hold on the same date.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Information, Voter Education and Publicity Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said it had approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the Rivers bye-elections in accordance with its constitutional responsibilities.

INEC cited Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the commission to fix election dates and conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies arising in legislative houses.

According to the commission, the Ahoada East II seat became vacant following the resignation of its lawmaker, while the Khana II vacancy resulted from the death of the constituency’s representative.

INEC noted that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly had formally notified the commission of both vacancies.

Under the approved timetable, notice of the elections will be published on January 22, 2026.

Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of any disputes, between January 23 and January 27.

Campaign activities will commence on February 8 and end on February 19, ahead of the bye-elections scheduled for February 21.

INEC has rejected a request to recognise the national working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Turaki, citing subsisting court judgements restraining it from doing so.

In a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission said it was legally bound to obey final court judgements which expressly barred it from recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

The letter, addressed to Akintayo Balogun and Co., legal representatives of the PDP, stated that INEC could not publish or update the list of national officers purportedly elected at the Ibadan convention due to existing judicial orders.

INEC explained that the request followed several letters written by different PDP legal representatives between November 14 and November 21, 2025, all demanding recognition of the officers said to have emerged from the convention.

The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. With their support, the PDP held a national convention in Ibadan in November, producing a new set of national officers.

However, the convention was preceded by conflicting court rulings.

While some Federal High Court judgements in Abuja halted the exercise over alleged breaches of party constitution and electoral laws, a High Court in Oyo State cleared the PDP to proceed and directed INEC to monitor the convention.

Opponents of the exercise, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, later formed a parallel national working committee, board of trustees and national executive committee.

INEC said it carefully reviewed the demands for recognition against existing laws and court decisions, stressing that two final judgements of the Federal High Court in Abuja were central to its decision.

These include Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 delivered on October 31, 2025, and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2299/2025 delivered on November 14, 2025.

According to the commission, both judgements expressly restrained INEC from supervising, recognising or giving effect to the outcome of the PDP convention.

Although notices of appeal have been filed against the judgements, INEC noted that the filing of an appeal does not amount to a stay of execution.

“Until the judgements are set aside or stayed by a competent court, the commission remains bound to obey and give full effect to them in line with Section 287(3) of the Constitution,” the letter stated.

INEC also addressed an interim order issued by the Oyo State High Court, noting that it had been struck out of the suit for want of jurisdiction and that an interim order could not override subsisting final judgements.

The commission further disclosed that the PDP had filed another suit seeking an order mandating INEC to recognise the NWC elected at the Ibadan convention, adding that the existence of pending suits and appeals made the request for recognition prejudicial.

INEC said it had communicated the same position to PDP representatives during a meeting held on December 19, 2025.

Grammy-nominated Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has announced plans to formally join the Accord Party, following the recent defection of his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Davido disclosed on Tuesday via his social media platforms that he would visit Osun State to collect his Accord Party membership card at the Government House in Osogbo.

“I will be live in Osun to pick up my @AccordPartyNG membership card at Imole House, Osogbo tomorrow,” the singer wrote, tagging the governor in the post.

The announcement comes amid significant political realignments in Osun State after Governor Adeleke officially dumped the PDP for the Accord Party.

The governor publicly declared his defection on December 9, 2025, at the Banquet Hall of the Osun State Government House, in the presence of national and state leaders of the party.

At the event, Adeleke also announced his intention to seek re-election for a second term on the platform of the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

According to the governor, he formally joined the Accord Party on November 6, following extensive consultations with political stakeholders and opinion leaders across the state.

He explained that the decision was driven by the need to pursue continuity in governance and complete ongoing development initiatives, noting that the party’s welfarist philosophy aligns with his administration’s focus on citizens’ welfare.

Adeleke assured party leaders and supporters that the Accord Party would provide a united front for inclusive governance and electoral success in 2026, describing it as the platform for continuity and victory.

The governor had earlier confirmed his resignation from the PDP on December 1, attributing his exit to prolonged leadership crises at the party’s national level.

He said his resignation letter was submitted to party officials in his ward in Ede North Local Government Area on November 4.

Davido had previously reacted to his uncle’s resignation from the PDP by reposting the announcement on social media with the caption, “Jeje…”.