Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has dismissed claims that his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, signals support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, Saraki stressed that his political stance remains independent, noting that he does not engage in covert alliances.

“I’m not somebody that says things I’m not going to do. I don’t operate at night. If I’m taking a position, I come out openly and stand by it,” he said.

Saraki explained that his relationship with Wike is rooted in shared concerns about the survival and strength of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rather than any alignment with the ruling party.

“You can’t extrapolate that. My friendship with Wike is about what we can do to keep the PDP alive and competitive. I believe in the party’s ability to provide a credible platform for elections,” he added.

Wike, though a prominent PDP figure, has repeatedly expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, a stance that has deepened divisions within the opposition party.

Saraki’s comments come amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP, which has seen rival factions emerge since late 2025.

While one bloc backs the leadership that emerged from the Ibadan convention, another aligned with Wike has set up a caretaker structure to steer party affairs.

Amid the internal wrangling, Saraki called for reconciliation, urging party leaders to close ranks and restore confidence among members ahead of the next electoral cycle.

“If we don’t believe in the PDP, we can leave and join another party. But for those of us who remain, we must make it work. A credible convention and legitimate processes will rebuild trust,” he said.

He expressed optimism that ongoing reconciliation efforts and a transparent convention process, monitored by the electoral body, would help reposition the PDP as a viable opposition force.

By Dr. Johnpaul Anih, Ph.D

Politics they say, is a game of numbers, but leadership is a test of impact. And in Enugu today, the conversation is gradually shifting from empty promises to visible progress. At the centre of that shift stands Barr. Peter Mbah, a man whose style of governance has stirred both conversation and more importantly, results.

There is something about momentum, it is hard to start, but once it builds, it becomes dangerous to interrupt. That is exactly where Enugu finds itself today.

As any seasoned traveler knows, you don’t jump off a moving vehicle simply because you’re curious about another ride.

For Governor Mbah, no noise, no grandstanding, no long speeches. He chose laying foundations quietly but deliberately.

Take a walk, or better still, a drive across parts of Enugu metropolis today, you will notice something different. Roads that once tested the patience of even the calmest drivers are being reworked. Public infrastructure is gradually shedding the tired look of neglect. There is a sense, subtle but undeniable, that governance is no longer asleep at the wheel.

But beyond the physical changes lies something deeper, “a shift in attitude”.

Leadership at its core is about setting a tone. When the man at the top treats governance like serious business, the ripple effect travels down the ladder.
Civil service begins to wake up. Institutions start to respond. The entire system, slowly but surely, begins to realign.

Of course, no administration is without its critics and rightly so. Democracy thrives on scrutiny. But even the harshest critic would agree that what Enugu needs at this stage is not abrupt disruption, but consolidation.

Development is not a sprint, it is a relay. And it makes little sense to change runners just when the baton is being carried steadily.

There’s a familiar saying “you don’t abandon a well you’ve just started drawing clean water from.”
Enugu under Governor Mbah has begun to yield signs of that clean water, progress that may not yet be perfect, but is clearly promising.

The real question is whether the state has the patience to see the process through.
A second term is often where intentions mature into legacy. The first term lays the groundwork, the second builds the structure.

If Mbah’s current trajectory is anything to go by, then continuity may be the missing ingredient needed to turn incremental gains into lasting transformation.

It is also worth noting that leadership is not just about what is done, but how it is done. There is a growing sense that Mbah understands the urgency of time, that governance is not eternal and that every day wasted is a disservice to the people.
That awareness reflects in the pace and direction of his policies.

Enugu stands at a crossroads, as it often does in moments like this. One path leads to continuity, staying the course, refining the process and deepening the gains already made.

The other leads back to uncertainty, to starting over, to rewriting plans that have only just begun to take shape.

In moments like this, history tends to favour patience over impulse.

No one is suggesting perfection.
No leader achieves that. But governance is not about perfection, it is about progress.
And by that measure, there is a case, a strong one, that Peter Mbah has earned the opportunity to finish what he started.

Because at the end of the day, Ndi Enugu are not just choosing a leader, they are choosing a direction. And most times, the wisest decision is not to change course, but to stay on it.

Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, has challenged a High Court bench warrant issued against him, describing the order as unjust and seeking its immediate reversal.

Turaki, through a statement released on Thursday by his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, clarified that the case is a personal legal matter and not connected to the PDP or its internal affairs.

Earlier, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had issued a bench warrant for Turaki’s arrest after he failed to appear in court over allegations of providing false information to the police in a petition he filed as a private citizen in 2022.

According to the statement, Turaki’s absence was due to an unexpected hospital visit. It also noted that his legal team had already filed an application to quash the charge—an application they argued did not require his physical presence in court.

In response to the court’s order, Turaki’s lawyers have swiftly filed an appeal, alongside an application seeking a stay of execution of the bench warrant.

While distancing the case from party politics, the statement hinted at possible external influence, noting that political interference could not be entirely ruled out.

“We urge all party members to remain calm as Turaki’s legal team is effectively handling the situation,” the statement added.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has discharged former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, following the restitution of funds linked to an alleged ₦2.46 billion fraud case.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Hamza Muazu struck out the charges against Oduah and her co-defendant, Gloria Odita, after the prosecution confirmed that the Federal Government had recovered the value of the funds in question.

“The charge dated October 13, 2025, is hereby struck out, and the defendants are accordingly discharged,” the judge ruled.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that he was acting on the directive of the Attorney-General of the Federation, confirming that the government had received full restitution of the disputed funds.

Following this development, the prosecution amended the charges to retain only two companies—Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore Marine Limited—effectively removing Oduah and Odita as defendants.

Counsel to Oduah, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and counsel to Odita, Wale Balogun, SAN, urged the court to formally withdraw the charges against their clients.

Although the prosecution initially maintained that the former defendants could still represent the companies, both parties later agreed that only the companies would stand trial, with representatives appearing on their behalf.

The Federal Government subsequently arraigned the companies on two counts of fraud.

According to the charges, Sobora International Limited was linked to ₦838 million suspected to have been illegally obtained from the Ministry of Aviation through a security firm, while Global Offshore Marine Limited was accused of receiving ₦1.629 billion from the same source.

Oduah, appearing as a representative of the companies, pleaded guilty to the amended charges.

The court consequently convicted the companies and ordered the restitution of ₦1.2 billion to the Federal Government, alongside the forfeiture of ₦780 million recovered during investigations.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that 8,453 delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to attend its national convention in Abuja, scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

The disclosure was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, during a media briefing at the APC World Media Centre in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the convention, themed “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects the party’s vision, achievements, and plans for the next political cycle.

“The convention will bring together delegates from across the country for policy discussions, leadership elections, and a transition to a new set of party executives,” Malagi said.

“We are expecting a total of 8,453 delegates to converge in Abuja for this important exercise.”

Malagi added that preparations at Eagle Square have been finalized to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible exercise.

He emphasized that the convention will showcase the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, highlighting the Renewed Hope Agenda as central to national development objectives.

Speaking on behalf of the National Convention Central Coordinating Committee, its chairman and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, confirmed that 25 sub-committees were set up to ensure proper planning and execution of the convention.

He reassured that the party is fully prepared for the event.

Addressing concerns over possible litigation related to zoning arrangements, Masari said the APC has not been served any legal notice. “APC is a responsible political party. Offices are zoned across regions in line with the federal character principle.

Anyone seeking to contest must comply with this arrangement,” he said.

Despite this, some aspirants have raised grievances. Fubara Dagogo has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge his exclusion from the South-South Zonal Congress in Asaba on March 25, while Paul Yovwe Oyiborume has expressed concerns but has yet to pursue legal action.

The APC national convention, a statutory gathering, will elect members of the National Working Committee and make critical decisions on party administration, policies, and strategies, shaping the party’s internal structure and strategic direction ahead of future elections.

The Federal Government has directed civil servants operating within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to work from home on Friday, March 27, 2026, in preparation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

The directive was issued in a circular signed by Abdul Garba, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack.

According to the circular, all access roads leading to and around the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phases I, II, and III, will be closed from Friday, March 27, through Saturday, March 28, 2026.

“All Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies, and Offices located within the Federal Secretariat, Phases I, II & III, are hereby informed of the closure of all access roads leading to and around the said Federal Secretariat Complex from 27th to 28th March 2026,” the statement read.

The government explained that the measure was necessary due to the use of Eagle Square for the APC national convention, which is expected to host party leaders, delegates, and supporters from across the country.

Personnel in affected offices, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are required to stay off-site on Friday, March 27, while heads of ministries, departments, and agencies have been tasked to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

The APC convention, set to take place at Eagle Square, Abuja, is a major political event where party officials will discuss internal affairs and outline preparations for the 2027 general elections.