The Senator Nenadi Usman faction of the Labour Party (LP) has ruled out the possibility of its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stepping down for any coalition or rival aspirant, calling such speculation a betrayal of the hopes of millions of Nigerians yearning for genuine change.

Speaking to DAILY GAZETTE, Tony Akeni, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, made it clear that the Labour Party has no intention of withdrawing Obi from the race.

“Forcing Peter Obi to withdraw from the race is to take away 90 per cent of the hope of Nigerians for redemption and a new beginning,” Akeni said.

He added that while opposition parties may eventually unite, any decision on alliances or coalitions will come closer to the party primaries. Still, Akeni emphasized that the LP remains committed to its own path, stating:

“Our motto is: forward ever, backward never.”

Akeni urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to put national interest above personal ambition, appealing to him to support Obi’s presidential bid in 2027.

“Let Atiku consider how he wants to be remembered as the man who sacrificed Nigeria for ambition and still lost, or as the man who gave up ambition for Nigeria and helped redirect the nation toward progress,” he said.

He also referenced the emergence of a group called “AGOBI’27” (Atiku Give us Obi 2027), a coalition of political actors urging Atiku to back Obi as the unified candidate for the opposition.

Also weighing in, Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, stressed the need to respect Nigeria’s informal North-South power rotation, insisting the presidency in 2027 should remain in the South.

“It is still the South’s turn. If you’re replacing one southern candidate, it must be with another southerner,” Tanko said.

He cautioned that attempts to shift power back to the North in 2027 could threaten national unity and stability.

Tanko reaffirmed the movement’s unwavering support for Peter Obi, describing him as the best candidate with the competence, character, and compassion to lead Nigeria.

“Wherever Peter Obi goes, we will go,” he declared.

The Labour Party’s remarks follow recent speculation that Atiku Abubakar might step down in favour of Obi in 2027.

However, Atiku has denied such claims, clarifying that he merely expressed openness to supporting a younger candidate, but only if such a candidate emerges through a fair party primary.

In a statement from his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said:

“Young people and other aspirants are free to contest. If I run and a younger person defeats me, I’ll accept the outcome.”

The statement followed a BBC Hausa interview in which Atiku’s comments were widely interpreted as suggesting a willingness to back Obi or another younger aspirant.

Despite the denials, talks about a possible unified opposition front for the 2027 general elections continue to gain traction.

Some believe the fragmentation of opposition votes in 2023 played a key role in the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

So far, however, no formal agreement or joint ticket has emerged between the Atiku and Obi camps.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could require as much as N870 billion (about $600 million) to successfully conduct Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, according to a projection by Professor Bolade Eyinla, former Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Eyinla shared the estimate during his keynote speech at the Yiaga Africa 2027 Elections Scenarios and Election Manipulation Risk Index (EMRI) Retreat held in Abuja.

His address came shortly after Prof. Yakubu completed his tenure as INEC chairman on October 7, 2025.

He emphasized that Nigerian elections are among the largest peacetime civil operations globally, requiring massive financial, technical, and logistical resources.

The projected N870 billion cost considers inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, and expanded electoral operations.

“This is a country with over 93 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units, and 1,558 constituencies,” he said.

“At about $6.72 per voter, the projected cost is in line with global standards for transitional democracies.”

Eyinla provided a historical comparison of previous election budgets;

2015: N109 billion (US$662 million)

2019: N189 billion (US$619 million)

2023: N355 billion (US$628 million)

He argued that despite perceptions, Nigeria’s per-voter cost remains low compared to other African democracies:

Kenya: $25.9 (2017), $14.9 (2022)

Ghana: $13.1 (2016), $7.7 (2020)

South Africa: $5.1 (2019), $7.1 (2024)

DR Congo: $22 and $14.37 (2023)

Liberia: $22 (2023)

India: $8.5 (2019)

Eyinla stressed that, under the Electoral Act 2022 (Section 3(3)), election funding must be made available at least one year before the polls.

For 2027, this means budget allocations should be spread across the 2025, 2026, and 2027 fiscal years.

He also pointed out that in 2023, around 35% of the election budget went to technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), AFIS and ABIS devices, and similar or increased costs are expected in 2027.

Logistical challenges include delivering election materials to over 200,000 locations, some in hard-to-reach or conflict-prone areas.

This requires partnerships with private service providers for transport (boats, aircraft, vehicles) and armed security escorts.

Eyinla concluded that while the projected cost is high, prudent financial management is key to ensuring credible, secure, and cost-effective elections.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is scheduled to officially defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

The announcement was made by Enugu State APC Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, following his swearing-in at the APC National Secretariat on Friday. According to Nwoye, the governor will be joined by a broad delegation of political leaders and officeholders in the state.

“After a decade of opposition, Enugu State is turning a new page. Governor Mbah will formally declare for the APC, along with the entire executive council, 260 ward councillors, 24 members of the House of Assembly, and members of the National Assembly,” Nwoye said.

The mass defection comes on the heels of the APC’s decision to dissolve the Enugu State Executive Committee on Wednesday, a move party leaders said was necessary to accommodate the incoming leadership.

APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Deputy National Chairman (South), Emma Eneukwu, inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee to oversee party affairs in the state.

Yilwatda said the party is committed to rebuilding and expanding its base in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We recognise the need to rebuild the APC in Enugu. Our goal is growth, inclusivity, and unity,” Yilwatda said.

“New members will have equal rights, but we must also honour and retain those who have sustained the party through the years.”

He also cautioned the newly inaugurated committee against factionalism and urged them to uphold fairness and the party’s constitutional values.

“As leaders, your duty is to serve all, friends and critics alike. Office bearers must rise above personal interests to deliver on the party’s broader vision,” he added.

The Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo, has assured that the people of the area will repay Governor Peter Mbah’s goodwill and developmental strides with unwavering political support in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a civic engagement forum in Agbani, the council headquarters, Ogbodo praised Governor Mbah’s leadership style, describing it as “purposeful, people-centred and transformative.”

He said the governor’s commitment to grassroots development has not gone unnoticed, especially by the people of Nkanu West.

“Governor Mbah has redefined leadership in Enugu State. His projects are speaking for him, from road infrastructure to healthcare, education and water projects. In Nkanu West, we are seeing the results of a government that listens and delivers,” Ogbodo said.

According to him, the governor’s efforts, particularly in tackling insecurity and war against illiteracy, have won the admiration of the people who now feel included in the state’s development agenda.

“Gone are the days when communities were remembered only during elections. Today, under Governor Mbah’s administration, our villages are feeling the impact of government every day. Our people are watching and come 2027, we will speak with one voice, with our votes, to say thank you,” he added.

The chairman also lauded the state government’s investment in agriculture and youth empowerment.

He emphasized that the loyalty of Nkanu West to the governor is not based on political sentiment but on visible and measurable progress delivered by his administration.

“Our support is not based on promises, but on what we are seeing and experiencing. Our people are wiser now. They reward performance and Governor Mbah has performed beyond expectations,” he said.

The Enugu West stakeholders meeting with Governor Peter Ndubsi Mbah held on 4th October 2025 in Enugu brought before the people, the realities in the saying that ‘deviance is the mother of change’ and that ‘Change’ in itself, is the only thing permanent’ in the phenomenal life of man.

By his mantra of “disruptive innovation…”, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah has no doubt placed the state under a process of social, political and economic transformation targetted at changing the tempo of development from the immediate past system of administrative politicking to that of impactful governance where equity and balance is supreme.

Judging from strides already made within the past two years, Enugu state is occupying the prime front seat among the federation units that have peformed well viewed from both the national and international prism.

As a matter of fact, the 4th October 2025
Enugu West Senatorial meeting with Governor Mbah was assessment oriented and provided avenue for direct contact with the man so much talked about in recent time.

This is a man who has taken steps to turning felt adversities to visible prosperity and in a clime where great number of deviants and doubting Thomases never sieze to exist.

The forum provided the much needed vista to enable His Excellency the Governor speak oh his disruptive innovation which until that fateful had been a remarkable deviation from staus-ante.

Viewed critically, that 4th October 2025 outing also was incisive and direct as it optimally addressed areas in the agenda of government which the opposition clandestinely turned upside down with clauses of misinformation, misperception, misbranding as a means to creating lines of incongruities against genuine efforts of Governor Peter Mbah the state to better their lot.

Sounding soft but with deep eloquence, Governor Peter Ndubisi Mba clearly reeled out his record of service in the past two years and satisfactorily placed before his Enugu west audience his well researched eight year socio-economic development blueprint for Enugu state.

Opening up on the health sector, the state’s number one citizen assured that Enugu would in no distant time become the grand destination for persons seeking world class medical attention.

According to him, work is progressing on the world-class health facility sited in the state capital which upon completion would end the reign of foreign health tourism by Nigerians.

Governor Mbah told participants at the meeting that expert support is being sort from foreign medical giants for the facility while the 260 type 2, hospitals at the ward level is recieving due attention.

He announced in addition that the 21 functional medical centers are also due for upgrade under his health system improvement program.

The state Chief Executive took his audience made up of distinguished professors, erudite legal personnel, Engineers and professionals through the mind buggling journey of industrial and infrastructural development going on across sectoral divides in the state and while not claiming 100% perfection in all the steps taken, he classically enumciated reasons behind noticeable delay in the actualisation of his total dream on water supply.

He however assured the Stakeholders that all observed setbacks impeding progress in that sector are being sorted out as water would soon be reticulated to homes as pledged.

He did not hesitate in taking a swipe at those looking down on the green smart schools projects noting that the growth and development of any country’s economy greatly depends on the number of digitally equipped productive population.

According to him, by deliberately making a total of 33% budget allocation to the education sector this year, the smart school project has been inaugurated and would facilitate the state’s smooth trajectory towards a digital and technological takeoff just as he highlighted the fact that the development of any economy is greatly hinged on the availability of skilled and smart man-power population.

He cited the examples of China, Japan and other nations in the Asia Tiger region pointing out that they took advantage of advanced digital technology to become the envy of the Western world today especially in the areas of high-tech-innovations and manufacturing of exportable products.

The governor remarked that although his administration may not be there to see the initial harvest of maiden products of this huge investments beung made in the smart schools, records would forever be there to prove him right in due time.

All through his 45 munutes straight address bridged by intermittent ovations, Governor Mbah resonated the consciousness of the people when he announced the decision of his administration to institute a viable and functional tourism and hospitality industry in Enugu state.

He pointed at landmark locations within Enugu West where advanced moves had been successfully initiated to ensure immediate flag off of projects associated with the new concept.

In the same vein, he took time to speak on hotel and hospitality subsector and told his audience that work is equally ongoing on a standard hotel complex beside the International Conference Center, Independence layout Enugu which would on completion complement services rendered by the imperial Presidential Hotel in the center of Enugu capital territory.

As a matter od fact, many present at the meeting who had come believing it was an opportunity to throw political punches got disappointed because they coud not see in Governor Mbah the character and personality for that.

Yours sincerely who had been watching on the sideline since May, 2023 took the opportunity of that gathering to reconnect with friends I had not sighted for long owing to unwarranted divide insuanated through personal interests of those in power.

Now, today, the flood has come and gone leaving the surface dry. No more smokescreen iand all can now see clearly so one can comfortably say: “Physician heal thyself”.

May I say to my friends, welcome to the house and for those who missed that 4th October speech by His Excellency, I humbly urge you to queue in and never be left out anymore “maka na mmiri-ezogo-gbachaa”.

Call me an Aposle of PNM and see if I won’t answer Yesss !

These are: My Views:My New Mindset.

Ndewoonu !!!

A civic advocacy group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has called on the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Ojo Amupitan, to use the upcoming November 8 governorship election in Anambra State as a turning point to restore public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

In a statement issued in Enugu, Intersociety noted that electoral credibility in Nigeria has steadily declined since the return to civilian rule in 1999.

The group argued that no INEC chairman in the democratic era has matched the standards set by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who oversaw the acclaimed 1993 presidential election.

According to the statement signed by Intersociety’s chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the country’s electoral processes have suffered due to poor leadership and alleged manipulation under successive INEC administrations.

“Nigeria has yet to produce a consistently competent and credible electoral umpire since 1999,” Umeagbalasi stated.

“In contrast, the military-era electoral bodies showed better professionalism, especially under Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who remains the most effective electoral commission chairman in Nigeria’s history.”

The group was especially critical of the last three INEC chairmen.

Prof. Attahiru Jega (2010–2015) was accused of overseeing a voter register allegedly riddled with underage and non-Nigerian entries, especially in northern Nigeria, while systematically excluding eligible voters in the south based on ethnic and religious bias.

Prof. Maurice Iwu (2005–2010) was alleged to have maintained a voter roll filled with fictitious entries, including inanimate objects, human skulls, studio photos, and even images of foreign nationals.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (2015–2025) was described as presiding over the “worst-managed elections” since Nigeria’s return to democracy, despite having access to modern digital tools and innovations that could have transformed the voting process.

“Prof. Yakubu had the advantage of modern technologies like electronic transmission of results and biometric verification, yet these tools were either misused or not implemented effectively,” the group added.

Intersociety stressed that with the exit of Prof. Yakubu, Nigeria now has an opportunity to rebuild confidence in its electoral system, starting with the Anambra governorship election.

The group called on Prof. Amupitan to demonstrate impartiality, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to free and fair elections.

“This election must be a benchmark for a new era. It is time for INEC to reclaim its integrity and deliver credible outcomes that truly reflect the will of the people.”

In furtherance of government’s intervention in the microeconomic indices Enugu state government under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah has built and repaired over 293 roads statewide in places and areas the government has never seen intervention before.

From the abandoned Emene roads to Umuchu street, to coal camp roads to Emeka Ebili to Mbanugo to Achara layout to Odudukoko are filled with expansion of infrastructure and upgrading of road networks which has kept caterpillar parts owners busy. Caterpillar owners have expanded their businesses by buying new machines.

The government due to the over 2000 projects ranging from 260 smart schools, 260 type 2 health centres and 260 farm estates has swallowed over 1500 caterpillar machines, over 20,000 workers thus boosting local economic activities across the state.

The government has invested in the microeconomic level putting money into the local economy and helping productive ventures and skilled workforce to earn higher wages.

A typical caterpillar owner rents an excavator or a dozer for over 300,000 per day and an operator makes 20,000 per day(8 hours of work).

The government through these projects in agriculture with over 52000 farmers and over 1000 extension workers expected to be busy boosting food security in 260 farm estates, state owned industries revived and in production, road construction with state owned asphalt plant built and in use, 260 smart school constructions, 8 new technical and vocational education training (TVET) schools and estate development from both government and private sector has improved the microeconomic indices of the populace with estimated 3 million people expected to move into the state in the next 4 years.

This led Enugu State to grow its internally generated revenue to over 180 billion this year which shows there is a high level of productivity going on in the coal city state.

The Enugu State government is establishing the structure and systems that will leapfrog Enugu from a civil service state to an economic hub.

The government is getting Enugu ready to be on a sound pedestal as the nation is migrating from a revenue sharing economy to a tax paying economy from January where every kobo of government is spent wisely and the people demand accountability and support which the government is providing through the citizens charter.

Enugu is building a smart economy and a smart city which will be ready to access the skill set our new educational system is building. Enugu is fast becoming an economic hub and tech capital of Nigeria.

Enugu will become a billion dollar self reliant sub national economy. A modern smart city is emerging.

The government is getting Enugu ready to be on a sound pedestal as the nation is migrating from a revenue sharing economy to a tax paying economy from January 2026 when the new national tax laws will take effect where every kobo of government is spent wisely and the people demand accountability and support which the government is providing through the citizens charter. Enugu is building a smart economy and a smart city which will be ready to access the skill set our new educational system is building.

Enugu is fast becoming an economic hub and tech capital of Nigeria. Enugu will become a billion dollar self reliant sub national economy. A modern smart city is emerging.

Enugu State is taking shape. The government is not claiming perfection. Far from it. They are promising 100 percent effort and commitment to excellence in governance. The sacrifices being made by all are appreciated.

Ndi Enugu are beckoned to support the government, bring their businesses home, protect our common assets and the government of Governor Peter Mbah is committed to use every fibre of their being to give a better future to all irrespective of who they are or where they live.

Ndi Enugu tomorrow is here.